Some of you have gotten bits and pieces of the story today about Linda, but I’ll try to summarize it as best I can right now. Linda has given me permission to share with family members.
First, you know that Linda had hip replacement surgery in January. Her recovery at home went very well, with an in-home physical therapist twice a week for about six weeks. She was able to use a walker outside for about half a block. Up until about a month ago, she was able to walk indoors and out to the car with just a cane, no crutches. Then she started having Restless Leg Syndrome, progressively worse and worse, until she was unable to sleep at night more than a half hour or hour at a time.
She went to her rheumatologist on May 11 (for a routine appointment), and when she mentioned the insomnia, the doctor prescribed Trazodone, a combo sedative and anti-depressant. It did help her sleep without the RLS, but kept her sedated throughout the day. She also experienced weakness, nausea, compromised vision, and lightheadedness, and was unable to walk to the bathroom, even with crutches.
This morning at 5 a.m., she used the bedside commode and was trying to get back into bed when she fell and was not able to get up. She told me to just get her a pillow and blanket and she would sleep on the floor for a while. She told me to go to Alameda (it was our regular day for farmers’ market and grocery stores) because we needed eggs. When I got back, she tried again to get up and still couldn’t, plus she was getting uncomfortable on the floor. She finally admitted she probably needed help from paramedics.
I called 911 and a fire truck was out here in minutes, followed by an ambulance. The paramedics provided routine checks for vital signs and put her on a portable oxygen tank. I rode with her in the ambulance to the hospital, with no earthly clue on how I was going to get back home. The E.R. was extremely busy, and it took 4 hours to even get her in the E.R. from the ambulance.
In the E.R. they hooked up an I-V and started monitoring multiple functions. They drew blood for testing. By this time of day, she started having RLS again since she didn’t take her nightly Trazodone. She was also fiercely thirsty and no one would bring her water or ice chips.
By this time, I was texting with Daughter #1 who, quite appropriately, was alarmed. So as soon as Son #2 got home from work, they put supper and Grandson #3 in the car and started out from Tracy (a 45-minute drive). They went to our house first because I was worried about Emily in the house by herself. None of us had anything to eat all day. Emily was fine, still in her bed in the living room where she had water and a pee pad, so Lisa fed her. Then they drove back to Castro Valley to the hospital where Linda was still in the E.R., waiting for a hospital room. By that time, though, someone finally brought her ice chips. I had to go with the kids because they had work and school tomorrow and they were my only ride home. (I had not brought my wallet so I couldn’t call Uber.)
Lisa brought me a salad for my supper, and Aaron took the keys to my car and went to get gas in it (since I had mentioned I had to get gas plus figure out a Google Maps route to the hospital from home). This should not be that hard, since I drove there every day for a week when Linda had her mini-stroke (TIA) in 2016. But, then, my foggy brain is six years older now.
It’s very quiet in the house tonight, although it’s really no more quiet than usual since I can’t hear the TV in the bedroom from where I sit at my desk in the living room. I’m just extremely grateful for such loving kids who gave of their time and resources to help these three old ladies in San Leandro.
P.S. If you’re getting this information twice, it’s because some family members are either not in the “Hegarty-Wright Life’s Journey” Facebook group or don’t ever bother checking it, so I sent it separately to those family members.
P.S.#2. I clearly watch too much “New Amsterdam,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “General Hospital,” and “The Good Doctor” to have any realistic concept of Emergency Rooms!
To Rose & Jeanette: I hope you two will be able to keep things afloat in the AVD group for a while. Just responding/reacting to posts. You don’t have to do any research and stuff. But if you see a good low-carb recipe and want to post it, please do. Or memes of encouragement. Or anything about low-carb foods, whatever appeals to you. I’m staring at a blank wall right now. I had to leave the hospital when Linda was still in the ER, waiting for a hospital room. They’ve done blood work, have her hooked up to all the monitoring devices, etc. but no prognosis yet from a doctor. Emily and I are fine. Just lonely.
Emily is bigger than Barley was and not able to go incognito like he was. I knew she would be safe at home. She has a big soft bed in the living room, plus water and a pee pad. But I don’t think we’ve ever left her alone this long. After 5-6 hours, I was getting concerned, so I was relieved that Lisa and Aaron stopped at our house first to check on her and feed her. When Linda had her mini-stroke in 2016, not only was I able to sleep in her hospital room, but Barley was there, too. Linda even sneaked Barley under the covers with her in her hospital bed when no one was looking!
Emily was alone 6 hours today, but at least I fed her breakfast before I left. Made sure she had water and snacks and, of course, her big bed which is a bean bag bear with a lavender blanket. We bought the bean bag bear for Alex when he was a baby but he never liked it much. Emily, on the other hand, claimed it immediately when we first brought her home!
