What Is Normal?
The Patient continues to heal and every day is a little better. The surgical wounds look good. Last time it was just glue holding the man's leg with the cow vein together. It wears off slowly. This time the wounds are larger and more irregular. The longest incision is on the calf and it has a jagged Z shape at the top and some sturdy stitches that will be removed in 11 more days. He has been careful with his Oxycontin and has discovered the pain relieving value of Tylenol. After ignoring my advice last time, he is finally listening .... selectively.
His foot was swollen in the hospital from the sudden influx of circulation. Everytime the doctor or the PA came in his room they would tell him his leg should be elevated. Nobody made any move to elevate it, though. When I mentioned it to him, he would ignore me and my efforts, so I just let the mumbling beast alone for the most part. My only use was to escort him to the bathroom.
The ride home did not help with the swelling as he was in a seated position, then came the fiasco with his pain meds and he had to call Susan. Susan is the surgeon's nurse practitioner and is not one to retreat from a challenge. She talks loud and I can always hear her with out the speaker. After assuring him that she would fix the RX problem she fired out questions about the surgery. When he told her his foot was swollen, she barked out orders, "Get that foot up! Nose to toes, I want it as high as your nose! Right now!"
He was motioning wildly for more pillows, like he was afraid she would come to our house and reprimand him! When Susan tells him to do something, he does it!! She reminds me of my baby girl, nobody argues with her demands, either! Had me wondering if I could record Susan's voice with my demands and play it back as needed.
He is able to navigate without his cane, but still uses it to go outside and walk around a bit. Yesterday he was craving a burger. I was in my chore outfit, working my vegetable garden. Told him I could either shower and change, then go to a restaurant and get the burger, or I could make it myself. No buns, but we did have bread.
He opted for me making it and I must say it was delicious! He ate his on sliced bread, while I left off the bread and sliced a medium sized tomato with mine and just had the beef and tomato. Now I have a package of ground beef in the fridge waiting to be cooked today.
Problem is my morning blog reading has me craving Chinese. Most Chinese food does not call for ground beef! This calls for some deep diving into Pinterest!! Things are supposed to be getting back to normal. Is this normal, Chinese burgers? I will let you know later.
Ooh! I would eat a Chinese burger! Make sure to take a picture of your creation. I wish you could record Susan's foot-elevating advice, and play it on a loop through The Patient's hearing aids as he sleeps.
ReplyDeleteI never looked up a Chinese burger, but I did cook the meat and add cabbage to it, along with garlic and fresh ground pepper and a dash of lite salt (Morton makes it, but it sounds iffy to me. Salt is salt!). I had cooked sweet potatoes the day before and The Patient said they were especially good (considering he usually doesn't care much for them unless they are ina casserole with brown sugar and butter. These weren't), so I gave him the leftover and the beef and cabbage. He went for seconds. It was good.
DeleteIf it were me I'd cook off the hamburger and put it in the freezer for next time....then have the Chinese food!
ReplyDeleteEnd of the season garden chores has had me occupied since we came home from the hospital. Then I tackled the shed of The Patient. I have organized half of it once. Then we found some shelves on market place and he seemed to be incapable of making a decision about where he wanted them. He does better with someone organizing for him.
DeleteI'd say, get over the craving and make another hamburger. Sounded delish!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just cannot recreate the perfection you have tasted.I t was really good.
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