Early Bird Club

[Ellie]

Bowler Yup, and made plenty of honey as a Brucie Bonus 😉😘

[Claireflo]

Not sure it counts as being an early bird if you've been up pretty much all night? Dad is in the hospice for symptom management and support and asked me to stay. He's been wrestling around fighting mucus all night. Finally looks to have settled, hopefully. I've got a feeling it's going to be a long day! May need to sneak in a snooze in the recliner later.
I have to say the hospice is lovely and the staff are amazing so very grateful to be here.

[Ellie]

Claireflo Glad your dad got a bed - just hope now that the doctor can find a solution to his mucus problem and that both you and he can get quality sleep 🤗🤗😘😘

[Deb]

So glad the staff at the hospice are amazing Claireflo.. it's great you can stay with him and I hope you can both get some proper sleep soon. Xx😘🤗

[Zante]

Claireflo I am really relieved to read that your dad is getting some medical attention and support . Hopefully he will get the mucus problems under control and feel more refreshed.

That's really good that you can stay in there with him. Dont forget u need some time too Claire to recharge and have some quality down time. Thinking of u xx

[Claireflo]

Thanks all. Dad has seen the doctor and shown them exactly what the problem is. They want to try and tinker with hydration, nebulisers, meds and feed etc but I'm not expecting miracles. They like him so much the one or two night stay has turned into 2 weeks! (To allow time to tinker) and hopefully we'll get the CHC care in place by then

I feel that finally everything that could be looked at will have been and if nothing improves then there was nothing more that could have been done.

In the meantime I've been relegated to chief pillow fluffer/pillow remover as the hospice are doing his feeds and meds. Hoping he gets a better sleep tonight x

[Ellie]

They like him so much the one or two night stay has turned into 2 weeks!

One or two nights for a symptom management admission wouldn't achieve much for your dad, 2 weeks is way better for his symptoms - great for you too to know that he's in good hands.

Respite for you both - take advantage of it yourself. xx

[Tabbycat]

Claireflo that is good news, so glad you are both getting this support x

[Claireflo]

One or two nights for a symptom management admission wouldn't achieve much for your dad, 2 weeks is way better for his symptoms

There's so much demand on their services that I was grateful for a night or two but the doctor laughed (kindly) at me when i said that! My boss was less keen on 2 weeks but I've been working each night while Dad dozes and get several hours in until dad goes to sleep properly in the early hours so just about keeping the basics going.

I'm so grateful that he's got such focused support. The staff have been absolutely fantastic, if anyone is unsure about a hospice my experience this week is of an amazing team of dedicated staff who can't do more to help. My dad hates change and being away from home but he is comfortable and settled (although still battling mucus).

[Claireflo]

Second early start in a row thanks to the ongoing mucus issues. The hospice tried thinning the mucus but Dad couldn't tolerate it as he felt it was non-stop so meds increases again but it still seems non-stop. 5.5 hours sleep over 2 days (and 4 hrs of travelling back and forth to visit Nan yesterday). I'm hoping for a nap today!

[Bowler]

Claireflo you are an amazing daughter / granddaughter. Take care of yourself.

What worked for me was having a daily 40 winks in the chair. It became our routine that at around 1pm I would sit in an armchair and go out like a light. Usually for no more than 20-30 mins but that was enough to recharge ready for the rest of the day.

[Ellie]

Claireflo I hope you managed to grab 40 winks and recharge. Btw, any chance of in-house Complementary Therapy, a massage could be sublime.

(Sorry, I forget) Has your dad been offered nebuliser plus drugs, maybe ones normally used in COPD?

Sending love 🤗🤗

[Claireflo]

Thanks Bowler and Ellie We did indeed manage a nap! i normally put the sofa bed away each morning otherwise i feel quite slovenly when the doctor visits and i end up watching him nap throughout the day feeling rather jealous. Today I used the rise recline chair for a nap and felt so much better for it!

Ellie dad has had a couple of hand massages and was so relaxed he slept through them!

He's on a nebuliser 7% hypertonic solution, 3 times a day. It seems to stir things things up so he doesn't like it much but I keep saying the fact it's loosening things is good. A different physio went through the cough machine today and changed the settings and he actually got stuff up for the first time since having it so that's positive. Small steps in the right direction! X

[Arcadian]

Randomly awake at 01:50am, but it felt like I'd woken at 05:00am - which gives the dilemma of feeling like I'd had a reasonable night for sleep, but now probably awake until morning...

[Ellie]

dad has had a couple of hand massages and was so relaxed he slept through them!

I meant massages for you 😍😍 but glad your dad liked his.

Yes, onwards and upwards with the cough assist machine - it does feel quite brutal at times but oh my days does it feel good to get that gunk up! xx