Just an Idle Question, then an Update
Idle Question:  Why is it, when a man wants information and works diligently to get it and make sure everyone with whom he is dealing on any particular issue is on the same page with information, he's considered smart and perspicacious, but a woman doing the same thing is considered to be a control freak? Even women make this assumption about other women, it seems. I might elaborate on why I'm questioning this, later. Then again, when I calm down a bit, I may not. Still, it's a legitimate question.

Update:  My mother awoke this morning a bit before 0900 with a breathing crisis. In hindsight, this probably happened because:

• Her concentrator only goes up to 5/lpm and she probably should have been at 6/lpm, at least through this current period.
  This problem is being solved at 1300 today when a concentrator capable of handling loads above 5/lpm is being delivered.
• She probably has needed to have the humidifier attached to her concentrator, which hasn't been happening, for reasons explained previously. Circumstances have, obviously, changed, which requires a change in O₂ delivery methodology.
  I've taken care of that problem this morning and the humidifier is now attached.
• She probably needed morphine again this morning, although I didn't think this was it; I thought she was having a crisis that spelled "d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y p-n-e-u-m-o-n-i-a". One of the Hospice RNs guided me through giving it to her over 45 minute period, from 0945 through 1030. We discovered that she can not only tolerate .25 mL at a clip, but probably needs that, at least right now. If necessary, I can give her this dose every four hours. I am to cut back if it makes her sleepy (other than at her usual sleep times), loopy or rubbery (pertaining to her body and her ability to move). As it turns out, about an hour after she received .25 mL, I had her in the bathroom changing out her underwear and cleaning her, which including her transferring and standing for a period of up to about four minutes and turning this way and that. She did fine.

    Because of my concern about possible pneumonia, our Hospice MD sent out an RN to give my mother a brief check-up and gather a little information (here we go with the information gathering again) before making a determination in connection with reconsidering prophylactic treatment with antibiotics. By the time the nurse got here my mother had eaten two pieces of toast and a bowl of Mandarin orange slices, drunk quite a bit of fluid, more than usual by this time of day, her breathing was very good, her color was good considering that I hadn't administered her usual iron pills, since they interfere with the systemic delivery of many antibiotics, and she was feeling good and calm. In addition, although on Tuesday she had wheezing throughout her lungs, she has none, today. I'm very pleased about this; it means that she continues to successfully fight whatever it was she was fighting earlier this week. Feet edema continues at an approximate +2 level, which is unusual for my mother, but is nowhere near where it was the when I first gave her 10 mg furosemide, then followed it with a second dose one or two evenings later. One of the nurses recommended I go ahead and give her a dose this morning, which I did, but the edema is isolated to her feet; it is not involving her legs, her torso or her face. Her unusually (for her) high blood sugar numbers have returned; she was at 200 this morning immediately after she awoke, before eating anything. However, her speech remains fine. It was decided, with my full concurrence, that prophylactic antibiotics are not necessary at this time. At any rate, as the visiting RN reiterated and as I'm fully aware, that Hospice is on call 24/7 should another crisis occur and another assessment becomes necessary.
    A few miscellaneous details: Her Blood Oxygen was at 93%, which is good, at 5/lpm when the visiting RN took it; axillary temp was 96.0, normal for my mother; Pulse at 95, which is a little high for my mother, but it's been an exciting morning. Blood pressure was not taken and I'm fine with this.
    She is now sleeping, again. I'm going in for my shower before the oxygen company arrives. I have one errand to run after delivery of the concentrator and will do this as my mother continues to sleep. Otherwise, I think we're good for the day.
    Whew. Later.
- posted by Gail Rae @ 12:02   email  this post