8/23/23
Still not much going on , Life in a nursing home is boring ,,, bordering on mind numbing .
Different nurses and or Doctors come in every Monday morning ask questions about how you are doing , questions about you're pain level ,
They then make suggestion's or reckamend things that never get done . Monday The head nurse ,,, The one in charge of all the nurses , The one that tells all the other nurses what to do , Came and sat with me , asked how I'm doing , and did I get a suppository and have a bowel movement this week.
One Doc came in took a close look at my head where i was wounded ,,,, Asked what my surgeon had to say about it ,,,, I told him I don't remember ever seeing a surgeon . He said he would make an appointment and was gone . I didn't get the time to tell him that when i was first wounded ,, could have been the first day ,, When I was going in and out of awareness I remember overhearing two doctors debating on wither or not to do brain surgery or just close the wound and hope for the best .
They always come to ask questions that are important ,,, And that is when my brain has done a disconnect and I can barely speak or even slipped into a catatonic state . Like all Monday though Tuesday , Here it is Wednesday and I am just becoming a where of my soundings . I can remember bits and pieces of the last three days but there are distinct holes in my memory and its as if little or no time has passed . My brain still insists its Sunday .
Comments
Secret-sub 3 months ago 1
I understand how boring a nursing home can be. I worked in one for over 25 years either as carer or as activity lady.
A paper diary would indeed be a great way to communicate how you feel. And keeping busy is a great way for the mind numbing to stop.
Are there activities organised in the home? If there are, attend them if you are able/ allowed , even if you are not sure they are " your thing"
Do some chair Excercise, there are lots of YouTube videos that can help you and any excercise is a great help to help you recover or at least feel better.
Also word searches, wordle, sudoku etc is a great way to help your brain work.
Just writing in a paper diary is also a fantastic cognitive exercise and as you remember little bits, you might be able to piece the jigsaw pieces together.
Showing this diary to the senior nurse, or Dr will help them help you.
Stay safe x
SuppoEnemaGirl 3 months ago 3
I agree with @Rigel that you should keep a -paper- copy of your concerns and questions. Make sure to leave it out, within arms reach so that if necessary, you can just hand it to them if you are unable to voice your concerns and questions.
P.s. I will not be replying to your posts as I'm going to the north country to visit my sister at the bear camp. I get to see her for the first time in 3 yrs! I am jazzed. The bugs and outhouses don't bother me but lack of wifi and cell???? I will be having withdrawal symptoms!
Take care my good Sir!
Rigel 3 months ago 1
@SuppoEnemaGirl’s suggestion is a good one. Keeping a log or diary of changes, complaints, etc. paints a better story. Even us who haven’t had a brain injury benefit by writing down visits, questions and concerns that we forget or don’t think of when talking to a doctor. You can always add or amplify when you recall things.
I have a 13 page history I keep updating for my wife - some docs just scan it, some read it in detail. I use it myself to recall events. It may help if you ever take legal actions as well.
SuppoEnemaGirl 3 months ago 2
Hello again dear man,
Would showing them your journal here, help communicate your thoughts and feelings to a Dr, nurse or surgeon? Could you pre-arrange it with a nurse to make sure these writings are available to them incase you are out of it on the day the Dr or Surgeon visits? You would have to put a permanent notice on your laptop and keep logged on to Zity at all times which might be too private or dangerous. And I'm sure having a nurse print out ALL of them since your injury wouldn't be followed through on. (Even some of your basic needs are not followed up on.)
Could a couple of the most important ones (or the important parts of a few of them, with your symptoms and feelings in them), be put into one DM (Zity mail) by one of us make it easier?
A Dr, nurse or Surgeon will not go through all of your blogs. Could Miss Hildie (or Matt?) print out this one DM?
If so, either myself (or 2 others that I can think of), might create this single summary for you? (I'm going on vacation in two days, for 2 weeks so if you don't answer here or in a DM, I will pass this idea on.
I really think having a couple of pages attached to your file extremely helpful to your ongoing treatment.
I'm sorry that I haven't commented on your last 2 blogs. (Serious life things have gotten in the way.)
Rigel 3 months ago 4
Time can become very confusing and seem to run together for anyone isolated with little or nothing to do. Keep busy as best you can, reading and posting on Zity is a good outlet and many of us here look forward to hearing from you. Any word on getting you transferred to a less restrictive part of the home or (better yet) another facility?