I will continue to pray that he will can rest well and recover..
"Sun, 29/11/09
Evening - Edi agreed to have some mashed potato and mashed peas but ate no more than two spoonfuls. When sis arrived with the congee cooked in pork broth, Edi was keen to have it right away. He got a bit impatient when I spooned small portions to his mouth and took the spoon and cup from me to feed himself. Always one who is keen on efficiency and effectiveness, he proceeded to take big mouthfuls. It was pretty hard for me not to say anything, he might choke and the speech therapist did say to swallow and rest in between mouthfuls. Earlier at lunch, he had asked the nurse to slow down in giving him food and requested smaller portions. I'm learning to go with the flow and respond accordingly to his needs.
Hei Meng's family came and I hope that this brought him some cheer. Edi asked us to leave as he wanted to sleep and didn't want Hei Meng's children hanging around in the ward for too long (exposed to germs). Because he was teary twice in the afternoon hence feeling vulnerable, I wasn't going out for dinner but at his request for us to leave, I changed my mind.
Mon, 20/11
8.05 am visit - Edi seated up and two nurses preparing to take blood. First attempt, unsuccessful; 2nd effort some blood but not enough. A doctor will return to get some more. He was very tired and wanted to get up and climb into bed; would have sat up for just over an hour by now. Before the nurse could help him do that, the doctors came. In following their conversations and speaking with Nurse Rachel, they need to get the right medication and dosage to stop Edi's heart fibrillation (AF is the term the doctors use) which is happening less frequently and for very short periods of time since they changed the med last Fri. AF occurred during the night after our departure and during my visit this morning.
Rachel also brought up the subject on getting Edi's favorite food to stimulate his appetite as he ate very little for brekkie today. I thought if we can eat but cannot drink, how much will we want to eat anyway? Rachel suggested that we cook some more when preparing his dinner and they can feed it to him for brekkie tomorrow - wonderful suggestion. She also said the speech therapist may not come by today (why not!). I want her to assess if Edi can graduate to thinner fluids because this development will help him to eat better.
They will send a psychiatrist to assess Edi and if necessary, give him something temporarily to lift his spirit. I feel this is a sound move as there is only so much he can do to be optimistic when his body is so frail. I saw him cry twice yesterday in my presence and another time before Asst Nurse Lauren. I know he's not indulging self-pity because this is not him. He weeps because he is feeling unwell.
Hei Meng brought in a radio last evening and I brought in a walkman this morning but Edi is not up to any of these.
Hei Meng saw him late morning but they didn't talk much as he was tired and in bed.
2.10 visit - decided to risk being asked to leave the ward and to return at 2.30 pm but no such drama. The psychiatrist has been and sees no reason yet to prescribe antidepressants but she will bring her consultation tomorrow to obtain his opinion. Nurses Julian and Stephen brought in a machine and set up connections to Edi's chest and legs. They wanted a printout of his heart rhythm and Julian told Edi not to think something's wrong with him. What they were doing is routine (well, it was the first time we've seen it but bless him for reassuring Edi).
A doctor, Luisa, came in to draw blood as this morning's sample wasn't enough for various tests. She was successful at her 2nd attempt. She also had a quick look at the heart beat printout and commented that except for one spike, the pattern looked normal. Some patients require medication to manage the AF while in other cases, the heart just suddenly kicks in to do the right thing.
The speech therapist has come by too and now Edi is put on Grade 2 fluids (consistency of food compared to honey). When Edi heard the nurse telling me this, he shook his head and told William, a friend visiting him from Sydney, he didn't want honey - his aversion to sweet stuff. William advised him we were only using honey to illustrate the texture of food that he is now allowed to consume. I asked the dietitian to give him milk and water (in grade 2 form). For dinner today, they would try scrambled eggs for him. As he drifted in and out of sleep, William and I left the ward at 3'ish. Sam, William didn't ring you from the ward because Edi was not up to it.
Terry, the pendant has been put around his neck by the nurses today and when I left, it was sitting on his chest between skin and his pyjamas top , close to the heart. Previously, it was taped onto his right arm - easier to be managed as nurses at different shifts do different things, eg: they took it off him one day. I considered leaving it under his pillow per one suggestion of yours but the next morning, when they change the bed linen, they will probably move it onto the table top."
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