The following happened on Monday, April 30th. I wasn't able to post this earlier because I was doing my trip journal:
When they asked at the hospital when Mom had her right tear duct surgery done, Art and I both said last year. What a surprise to find it was TWO years ago. I couldn't believe it! I had to go back to my blog to find out if it was really true. And yes, she had the surgery after the 2010 trip to Japan.
We had to get up early again and take Mom to Kaiser Permanente at Moanalua by 7:30. We checked in without a problem and everybody was so wonderful.
It was disconcerting to see her on the hospital bed with the IV, anesthesiologist and nurses around her.
Everybody was as kind and friendly as can be. The nurses were extra sweet telling her how surprised they were to find her looking so much younger than her 82 years.
Mom's left tear duct is clogged so her tears cannot drain properly and she has to constantly wipe them away. Actually she still has trouble with the right tear duct (even after that surgery), but she was so frustrated with constantly wiping her eyes that she wanted to try the surgery again anyway.
Her surgeon is really about as nice and accomplished a fellow as a doctor can be, and he looks young enough to be my son.
We stopped at the hospital cafeteria to grab some breakfast because a nurse we saw in the hallway recommended it. Ummmm.... It was definitely hospital food.
At noon it was all over and an attendant took mom in a wheelchair to the car. I mentioned to the attendant about the cafeteria breakfast and he said, "Who told you it was good? It's terrible!" That was hilarious!
When we got home mom said she had a headache. I only had Motrin and Bayer aspirin so I gave her the aspirin.
That was a mistake. We forgot about aspirin thinning the blood. Sure enough. There was more bleeding.
Went and got some Tylenol. But by then her headache was gone. This photo was taken right after we brought her home from the hospital. She looked a whole lot worse the next day.
I got a bunch of my small jewelry packet size plastic bags, folded some paper towels, moistened them, stuck them in the plastic bags, put them in a freezer and then had mom apply them to the eye area. It did the job and reduced the swelling and stopped the bleeding.
Unfortunately, Mom can't use her glasses and she can't see much without them so she's a bit bored now.
We got her some turkey jook (soup) that she's really enjoying so I hope she'll get better even faster.
POSTSCRIPT: It was worrying to look at Mom. She looked like she'd been in a boxing ring... and lost... badly.
Tuesday was WORSE! I was going to call the doctor, but Mom said to wait.
Wednesday was a slight improvement, but she was still in bed applying the ice packets.
Thursday was a definite improvement, thank goodness!
Friday, Mom was out of bed and watering her plants. I don't think she trusts me to take care of her plants properly.
Saturday: She's looking like her old self, if you don't look at her face, but the swelling is almost gone and some of the black and blue is lightening.
Tuesday: Doggone it! There's swelling again! We'll be taking her for her post-surgery visit tomorrow and see what the doctor says.
When they asked at the hospital when Mom had her right tear duct surgery done, Art and I both said last year. What a surprise to find it was TWO years ago. I couldn't believe it! I had to go back to my blog to find out if it was really true. And yes, she had the surgery after the 2010 trip to Japan.
We had to get up early again and take Mom to Kaiser Permanente at Moanalua by 7:30. We checked in without a problem and everybody was so wonderful.
Everybody was as kind and friendly as can be. The nurses were extra sweet telling her how surprised they were to find her looking so much younger than her 82 years.
Mom's left tear duct is clogged so her tears cannot drain properly and she has to constantly wipe them away. Actually she still has trouble with the right tear duct (even after that surgery), but she was so frustrated with constantly wiping her eyes that she wanted to try the surgery again anyway.
Her surgeon is really about as nice and accomplished a fellow as a doctor can be, and he looks young enough to be my son.
We stopped at the hospital cafeteria to grab some breakfast because a nurse we saw in the hallway recommended it. Ummmm.... It was definitely hospital food.
At noon it was all over and an attendant took mom in a wheelchair to the car. I mentioned to the attendant about the cafeteria breakfast and he said, "Who told you it was good? It's terrible!" That was hilarious!
That was a mistake. We forgot about aspirin thinning the blood. Sure enough. There was more bleeding.
Went and got some Tylenol. But by then her headache was gone. This photo was taken right after we brought her home from the hospital. She looked a whole lot worse the next day.
I got a bunch of my small jewelry packet size plastic bags, folded some paper towels, moistened them, stuck them in the plastic bags, put them in a freezer and then had mom apply them to the eye area. It did the job and reduced the swelling and stopped the bleeding.
Unfortunately, Mom can't use her glasses and she can't see much without them so she's a bit bored now.
We got her some turkey jook (soup) that she's really enjoying so I hope she'll get better even faster.
POSTSCRIPT: It was worrying to look at Mom. She looked like she'd been in a boxing ring... and lost... badly.
Tuesday was WORSE! I was going to call the doctor, but Mom said to wait.
Wednesday was a slight improvement, but she was still in bed applying the ice packets.
Thursday was a definite improvement, thank goodness!
Friday, Mom was out of bed and watering her plants. I don't think she trusts me to take care of her plants properly.
Saturday: She's looking like her old self, if you don't look at her face, but the swelling is almost gone and some of the black and blue is lightening.
Tuesday: Doggone it! There's swelling again! We'll be taking her for her post-surgery visit tomorrow and see what the doctor says.
Oh poor Mom! The picture is heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteThe nurses in post-op really should give you a printed page and oral instructions what to do in case of various problems that might arise back home.
Good luck Kay. I'm sure this was hard on you.
Give my love to your mom.
They did, but there was nothing about pain medication. Sigh.
DeleteOh goodness Kay. My mother had that surgery for her tear ducts but they put plugs in hers. I can sympathize. Poor thing. OUCH!
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope she is better soon. I wish I lived near you in Hawaii. I would stop by and tell you jokes, but not until you cry, your Mother does not need that!
ReplyDeleteLOVED your trip to Japan. Your Mom could just close her eyes and recall the happy memories!
:-)
Take care.
Love,
Kay
Your mother is definitely a trooper. I hope her eye looks much better now. I understand about her being the one to care for her plants. In this house, I'm the only qualified plant care giver!
ReplyDeleteSigh... it's not looking all that better. In fact, it looks worse than the picture now.
Deletebest wishes to your mum for speedy healing!
ReplyDeleteMy aunt came by yesterday to deliver some papayas and bananas. She said that a few weeks ago, she could not sleep because her eyes filled with tears and she had to blow her nose. Her eye doctor asked her if she had been to Las Vegas, and she said yes, a month ago. He said the a/c in the California Hotel is awful and causes eye problems. Anyway, she went home and noticed the maintenance people had cleaned her a/c while she was away and left the vents wide open. She adjusted them, then decided to turn it off and leave the patio door open for ventilation. SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED. No more teary eyes, no runny nose.
ReplyDeleteHope your mom recovers quickly. Please give her my best regards.
best wishes for a quick recovery, surgery is not fun but she has the best care!
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me that without exception, hospital food seems to be terrible everywhere. I hope she is going to be back to normal soon, she's such a strong person with the constitution of a much younger person. Let's hope we'll find out she doing just fine. Fingers crossed. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope your mom is looking and feeling much better by now. She is so lucky to have you to take such good care of her.
ReplyDeleteKay -- I bet they found some cherry blossom petals in her eyes!
ReplyDeleteYep, the tear duct surgery can be tricky vs. doing nothing vs surgeon installed plugs. Messing around in there, with older folks' really thin skin causes the bleed and bruising. We're pretty sure she didn't go boxing. Keep doing the follow-up appointments. Keep using tylenol for her headaches.
(Hide the aspirin unless someone has a heart attack symptom. If you have heart attack symptoms, chew one 325 mg one or four 81 mg ones and note the time, and call 911.)
You can take care of me too, but I'll never retire. I'll be living at Gigi's to take care of her! One nursing faculty member already told me that it'd be fun if we were both in the same nursing home! Egads!
DrumMajor
We took her to the doctor today for her post-surgery visit. Sigh.... It was an infection as we feared. She's under an antibiotic, but he said he may prescribe something stronger on Friday if it doesn't get better pronto. Actually, everybody was pretty shaken up. We should have brought her in sooner. Arrrghhh!
Deleteshe does look like she was in a fight....hope she gets better soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have good news soon about your Mom's condition. Take care, Dianne
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that she has had such a time. I hope you have good news about this tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHope your Mom is doing better today! I know this is hard for all of you! Surgery of any kind is never fun!! I'll be holding good thoughts for you both!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
1. God Bless Mom
ReplyDelete2. Yes, Kaiser Hawaii people DO treat us like family!
Warm Aloha from Honolulu Town
Comfort Spiral
> < } } (°>
Thank you, Cloudia.
DeleteSaw that comment you made today about it looking worse. So sorry to hear that. Praying that your mother gets comfort, rest, and healing.
ReplyDeleteThank you... It is such a worry.
DeleteHow dreadful to see your mother with a black eye.
ReplyDeleteShe is definitely brave, however, and stoic. Excellent characteristics, although they can lead to complications if carried too far.
Thinking of her and wishing her well.
K
I was amazed at her at the doctor's office today. The nurse said she is too nice. Looking the way she does, she should be really upset. Sigh... Thank you for your well wishes. She really appreciates everybody thinking about her.
DeleteI think she's in good hands!
ReplyDeleteI don't feel like I did a good enough job. It's not a good feeling.
DeleteTear duct surgery does not sound like any fun at all. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteSigh... I guess it's not going to be a speedy recovery. We took her to the doctor today and he said it was an infection. She's under antibiotics, but if the swelling doesn't go down by Friday, he'll have to ... yuuuuck... take it out with a needle. He says it WILL hurt. Doggone it!
DeleteDon't be too hard on yourself Kay. Your mom is strong and healthy. I'm sure she will recover soon with the antibiotics. I agree, amazing how she can maintain her calm and politeness in her state of pain, that's because she has so much respect for others. The nurses have heard and seen it all I'm sure. You are the best daughter in the world so be kind to yourself too. No one could have taken better care of your mom than you.
ReplyDeleteL. from W.