Gransnet forums

Health

OH has fractured femur - not a good situation

(937 Posts)
Luckygirl Tue 26-Mar-19 10:35:34

As many of you will know, OH has had PD for many years and is very frail. He only weighs 6.5 stone. Sadly he fell yesterday and has a displaced fracture of his femur. He is not a good candidate for surgery - but there is no choice.

It is a worry that the ward do not have the air mattress that he needs and that he has at home - we had just got on top of the skin problem. He was on a trolley for 12 hours yesterday which will not have helped.

I am waiting to hear when the op will be.

Charleygirl5 Sun 07-Apr-19 15:37:35

Lucky I have tried looking at it from the other side. He has been to hell over the last week and still has not returned. That will take love, care and some drugs.

Was he paranoid before this admission? If not I would give him some more time to attempt to recover and then maybe decide with your daughters. He has had little time to rest and his drugs work since he moved wards.

Mamissimo Sun 07-Apr-19 15:14:59

Luckygirl a very wise consultant took me to one side when my DM had a stroke after ten years with Alzheimer’s. She asked whether I wanted her admitted to a ward from A&E. She told me that treatment in hospital should be seen as a means to treat a condition, thus improving the quality of life of the patient.

She went on to say that in my mother’s case no treatment could improve her condition in a meaningful way and that in her view my DM would have a far kinder experience in her own surroundings, with the same outcome.

I thought she was hard for about a minute....and then I knew 100% she was right in this case. Mum had nothing to gain from medical interventions.

They would def. have admitted her if I’d insisted on treatment. I had to make the choice as Mum had no mental capacity by this time. I believe I did the right thing. It was the most loving thing I could do for her.

Take your time, make your choice with him at the centre of the decision. My heart goes out to you and your daughters. ?

Luckygirl Sun 07-Apr-19 14:28:06

I am afraid that sadly that is not the case here. The paranoia is pretty consistent whoever is there and it has not responded to drug therapy.

Thank you for the good wishes.

aggie Sun 07-Apr-19 14:22:01

Oh Luckygirl so sad for you , perhaps OH will need his meds adjusted for the paranoia . I felt the same when OH went off his feet and his quality of life was dismal , but when Family and some of his friends came he was much more cheerful , keeping the good side out as they say

Lona Sun 07-Apr-19 14:21:26

Thank goodness he's been moved Lucky, I hope you at least got some sleep.
My heart goes out to you too, it's a very difficult time for you and your girls.
A big but gentle hug for you flowers

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 14:16:28

No square brackets on this computer for flowers - what a difficult time for you all. You will have to trust your instincts, with the girls' support. Certainly I would not wish to force feed him against his wishes.

Hugs and xxx

Mamie Sun 07-Apr-19 14:14:46

Love to you and your family. ?

midgey Sun 07-Apr-19 14:09:11

Thinking about you and all your family. flowers

Jane10 Sun 07-Apr-19 14:04:55

Such a sad and difficult time for you all. I hope the staff are as helpful and kind as possible. Would there be a chaplain about? I mean an informed but supportive person to help you work through this awful time? Absolutely no easy answers though. Very best wishes to you and your family.

Sparklefizz Sun 07-Apr-19 13:57:08

Luckygirl Which of these is the "real" OH? Is it him who is saying please just let me go now? - or is it the paranoia? Either way his future quality of life is going to be so poor, I feel we should make the decision to go with his wishes and let him go. It is agony and feels like a huge responsibility.

My heart goes out to you Lucky. There's nothing I can say, just sending you a warm hug and caring thoughts. flowers

Tuppnce Sun 07-Apr-19 13:55:06

Please see my PM when you have a moment.

grandtanteJE65 Sun 07-Apr-19 13:53:45

Luckygirl, please do look after yourself too. I'm glad the hospital are easy to get on with.

Best wishes for your OH's recovery.

Luckygirl Sun 07-Apr-19 13:48:02

Very difficult morning with him. He is quietly and continuously paranoid - e.g. would not let me put his earpieces in so he could listen to his iPod - he thought I was trying to strangle him.

But he is also saying he does not want to eat or drink and wants to be left in peace. He just wants pieces of chocolate every now and again.

Which of these is the "real" OH? Is it him who is saying please just let me go now? - or is it the paranoia? Either way his future quality of life is going to be so poor, I feel we should make the decision to go with his wishes and let him go. It is agony and feels like a huge responsibility.

Jane10 Sun 07-Apr-19 10:53:22

We have indeed Lazigirl. Have a good visit and enjoy each other's company Luckygirl. Then have a relaxing evening if at all possible.

Lazigirl Sun 07-Apr-19 10:50:22

Thank you for giving updates Luckygirl and glad he is more settled. We have been worrying with you smile

aggie Sun 07-Apr-19 10:27:31

Everything sounds so much better , gentle rehab is the way to go , not gung ho like the other ward they were going to send him to .

jura2 Sun 07-Apr-19 10:22:55

So glad to hear you'll all be together today - even if he is sleepy, I'm sure he will be fully aware that you are all around him. xxx

Ginny42 Sun 07-Apr-19 10:06:21

It must be so comforting to have your girls around you both and he's going to get a boost from seeing you all today. flowers

kittylester Sun 07-Apr-19 10:03:43

Morning lucky. I'm glad things seem calmer now. I'm sure it will give your DH a boost to see all his girls together.brew

Bathsheba Sun 07-Apr-19 10:01:17

So pleased to see things are now going smoothly Lucky. I think you can be hopeful now that his recovery will be steady, going in the right direction. Thank heavens he is now under the care of someone who recognises that aftercare for a hip replacement is not 'one size fits all'.

I do hope he enjoys seeing his 'gaggle of girls' today smile

Luckygirl Sun 07-Apr-19 09:53:52

I will see him later this morning with all 3 DDs, as one is returning up north today and we thought it would be good for him to see his whole gaggle of girls together.

He is slightly less confused on the new medication. But he is asleep most of the time, which may of course relate to the meds. He has not been out of bed yet, which is fine. Not standard procedure for someone whose hip has been replaced, but the right thing for OH, for whom rehab would be lots of pain for very little gain, if any. It is the right decision, but hard.

Jane10 Sun 07-Apr-19 09:36:36

How are things today Luckygirl?

ffinnochio Sat 06-Apr-19 14:33:34

Luckygirl I’m delighted to hear your husband has been moved to a better, calmer ward, and that you have faith in his PD Consultant. I do hope this will provide the much needed comfort you will both need in the weeks to come.
flowers

Charleygirl5 Sat 06-Apr-19 13:17:25

Today will hopefully be calmer for both of you and once he starts to get his medicines on time again he will be more lucid.

From now you will be going as a visitor, not as a full time carer in a hospital.

sodapop Sat 06-Apr-19 08:07:36

Same here Lucky you must be so relieved, hope things continue to get better for both of you.