We’ve had more experiences with hospitals in the past month than I’ve ever wanted in my life! And Felix has been SO good through all of it.
Cousin Tamara has been in the hospital since Friday. Felix and I have gone every day. We usually show up between 8-10AM and stay until 5-6PM.
Tamara’s room is SO nice and there is a comfy recliner and a couch and lots of space for visitors and all the equipment. That helps a lot.
I spend most of my time in the recliner so my feet don’t swell, and Felix spends his time sleeping on my lap or my chest. When I have to get up to show the nurses or doctors something, I just put him in my wheelchair and he hangs out there.
Tamara and I spend our time talking or watching TV together. Altogether, since her room is so nice, it’s not as hard as it could be spending days in the hospital visiting her. I still feel very stressed having to leave the house, but once I’m in her room, it’s a much lower stress level, almost as low as being at home since we are just relaxing and talking and watching TV. And laughing. Lots of laughing!
Sabrina has been ill or injured (yesterday she injured herself on the way to the hospital!) so after spending the first night there and coming back later that second day to give Tamara a stuffed elephant to cuddle and a nice foot rub, she’s been missing out on the fun!
The day before yesterday, Brad’s parents stopped by twice, and Brad came for several hours!!!!! He was SO happy to see Tamara and laugh with her. He’s really missed her at home. But it really was not good for his body. So he had to stay in bed all day yesterday.
He also had a phone appointment with his ME/CFS specialist while I was at the hospital (normally I’m very involved in his care, but Tamara needed me more), and he now has a couple of new meds to try for the next six months until our next appointment. Fingers crossed that one (or both!) of them work. Unfortunately one of them is a shot, and Brad is not good with needles. So that should be interesting. Nurse Veronica to the rescue!
Fingers crossed, hopefully Tamara should be coming home today. Right now it’s all an insurance and home health holdup keeping her there. So we really really hope that can all get sorted out today ASAP!!!! Plus, while it’s not as stressful as it could be in her hospital room, I am nearing my own personal breaking point for how much I’m having to leave the house.
She will need a lot of help at home at first, so I am officially nurse Veronica LOL! I know the doggies will help a lot, too. And Brad will help as much as he can, too, which will mostly be in the entertainment and computer help departments.
Unfortunately I woke up at 2AM worrying about Tamara and leaving the house, which is why I am writing this blog entry at 3AM LOL. Looks like my psychiatrist’s plan of increasing my antipsychotic to stop my nighttime racing thoughts is not working. So far I’ve woken up in the middle of the night the past three nights, so I’m really not getting enough sleep.
But at least I know I won’t miss my grocery pickup window early this morning so I can get the groceries home and unloaded before heading to the hospital!
BTW, I’m giving Felix his Composure Pro Advanced chews from the vet every day that we’re going to the hospital. This is what the vet prescribed for when we travel and have to be out and about a lot to help him not get any stress tummy. So far it’s working well! He’s been having good poops, and really doesn’t seem all that stressed considering we are out most of the day every day for the past 4 days and today will be the 5th. Granted, again, the room is really comfy and we feel pretty relaxed while we are there, so that does help a lot!
Good thoughts that cousin Tamara gets to come home today!