One foot doctor appointment, and another on Monday.

Last Friday was for the wound clinic. It was a little disconcerting to have both the Nurse Practitioner and the Doctor compliment me enthusiastically about the condition of Jim’s foot. It seems they were expecting it to be a lot worse.

Let’s face it, it’s not going to get any better, it a matter of keeping his foot clean, dry and prevent the gangrene from getting any worse. Jim has dry gangrene. If it turns wet, we’re in big trouble.

This time, the NP gave me a bunch of tips on how to do my nightly inspection, cleaning and topical application. I didn’t get that at the hospital, but then again I was dealing with general nurses, not wound care specialists. Those nurses trained me on changing Jim’s diaper and the proper way to move and bath him. I’ll be eternally grateful to all of them.

We’re going to continue the IV antibiotics for another six weeks. Unfortunately, it seems we’re going to have to deal with another case of thrush as well. A common side effect (which I was hoping to dodge by avoiding the oral antibiotics)

Monday’s appointment is at the vein clinic. So that should be interesting.

Jim has blood pooling around the back of his ankle, likely from his lack of mobility and always having his feet up. There seems to be a fair bit of swelling there too, and it’s painful for him to walk. Worse than it was after we got home from the hospital.

I’m hoping the pain means increased circulation that’s making the nerves tingle. If not, let me live in my fantasy until Monday. I’m glad they’re taking the time to try and make Jim comfortable. It’s not like they can cure him so he’ll have a long, healthy life.

I tweaked a muscle the other day while helping him down the stairs. It’s not a pulled muscle, but it reminded me how vulnerable I am until he can be placed in Long Term Care. If I fall, he can’t call 9-1-1.

Dementia sucks. Foot neuropathy just adds insult to injury.

Happily, he seems to have regained a little of what he lost in the hospital. He’s not back to the same comprehension levels but the drugs are helping with the delusions/hallucinations.

He knows me about 50% of the time. Pre-hospital, he always knew I was his wife, just not always my name. Now I’m often just someone he knows or the other night, he complained that he couldn’t find me, so I offered to go get me. I stayed on the porch for a few minutes and came back into the room.

He said, “Oh there  you are. Some skinny bitch went out to find you.”

So at least I’m skinny in his mind. He doesn’t have to correct himself on that. 🙂