Day to day...

A week in now.  Well, a week and a day.  We're still trying to find our routine.  This morning, we tried doing the physical therapy "routine" before cleaning up.  Sleep and getting rest is still a challenge.  I have never been a "back sleeper," and there is no way to get me on to my side (and get sleep) at this point.  Oh, I can be "rolled" onto my side and propped in place with pillows, but there would be no sleeping like that.

I have been advised to stay hydrated (helps with the ever-present constipation)... which means I have to pee all the time.  Which means Joan is awake, as she will not let me move around on my own.  I still can't get in and out of bed on my own at this point.  So, while every move is a challenge to me at this point, Joan is affected by it, too... if I am up, she is up.  She may not be dealing with the pain, but the care-giver job doesn't come with regular breaks or scheduled time off.  I worry that my situation is wearing her out.

One of the side effects of the pain meds is lack of appetite.  Today, I am trying extending the time between doses by adding Tylenol.  So far, it doesn't feel much different from the "heavy" pain meds.  When Joan asked what I wanted for lunch today, I had an opinion: "Some kinda of pasta."  She made a great penne pasta with red sauce and fresh baked bread bites - it really was a delight!

Another change in routine today: I wanted to try taking an "on my back" nap in the bed today.  Apparently, it worked OK, because Joan took this photo of Rufus and I sharing nap time...

Besides capturing a photo while Rufus and I sleep through it, Joan makes sure we are all fed and cared for.  Clean up needs attended to.  I feel bad that I can't take care of her right now.

She also put me through the PT routines today; she has each exercise written down, with the moves and the reps.  I know she worries about hurting me vs doing enough that there is improvement.  Right now, the biggest issue I have with the PT routines is each additional "stretch" causes pain, and when I come back to repeating that exercise, it is like starting from scratch again.  I am aware of the saying, "No pain, no gain"... what I seem to be dealing with is "Pain, lose any gain."

We keep pressing on.

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Vocabulary:

This experience has broadened my vocabulary - I've become personally familiar with words like: constipated.  Stool softener.  Laxative.  Prune juice.

Stephanie asked me about prune juice.  Seems she has never had prune juice.  And for the record, I had never had prune juice until this week.  Prune juice is one of those schtick words from a comedy bit.  You say it and people chuckle.

Steph asked me what it tastes like.  I said, "It tastes like a liquid form of what you hope will appear after drinking prune juice."

She was grossed out by that.  Go figure.