Since today was a fairly normal day for us we thought we would share our daily routine with you. Keep in mind that our routines are controlled by Lee's medications and record-keeping.
6-6:30 a.m.: Wake - up (which is normally our wake up time anyway)
7:00 a.m.: Check Lee's blood pressure, pulse, temperature and weight and record
7:15 a.m.: Out of bed and personal hygiene
7:30 a.m. Lee checks his blood sugar, I record and give him his insulin (he gets insulin three times a day)
7:40 a.m. We have our first cup of coffee for the morning. Sometimes when I awake before Lee, I have already had my first and maybe second cup!
8-830 a.m. Breakfast followed by Lee's 19 pills
9:00 a.m. Lee takes his anti-rejection medication ( these are four pills and must be taken the same time each day, twice a day, 12 hours apart)
Lee usually rests for a while......maybe even has a short nap while I clean the kitchen.
10:00 This is usually the time for Lee to shower, shave and dress for the day
11:00 Lee checks his blood sugar, I give him insulin
11:30 Light lunch because we have to leave @ 12:00 for the Center for the Living
------------- I pack Lee's snack pak for him to take: Water, yogurt or banana, and candy in case of increased insulin.
12:00 We leave for the 20 minute drive to the Center for the Living
12:30 Lee stays and I leave
-------------I run errands, shop or just do whatever needs to be done at the apartment. Sometimes that will have a bonus like a short nap!
3:30 p.m. Lee finishes his sessions
3:40 p.m. Lee attends the required class (once weekly, I attend a support group class)
4:30 p.m. I pick Lee up to bring him back to the apartment
5:00 p.m. Arrive and Lee rests (He is usually exhausted )
5:30-6:00 Check Lee's blood sugar and give insulin
6-6:30 Lee takes four more large pills with his meal
9:00 p.m. Lee takes another dose of his anti-rejection meds ( at this point, Lee has taken a total of 37 pills in a 12 hour peroid.
I check his temperature, pulse and blood pressure
9:30 p.m. Usually lights out and we fall asleep by 10:00
So there you have it.............an exciting day in Durham! Just in case you thought we did not have anything to do Monday-Friday, we wanted you to know that we fill each minute of the day. Sometimes it is hard to find the time to do the necessary "paying of bills, etc". Even finding time to read books is almost impossible. If I read @ night, I usually falls asleep by the second or third page. Saturdays are nice to go at a slower pace; however, the medicine and stats schedule stays the same. Usually on the week-ends we welcome the children for a visit or if we have no visitors we go for a drive. As Lee gets stronger we will be able to get out more frequently over the week-ends.
In addition to all the schedules above during the week, Mondays are filled with the clinic. Lee must have blood tests, chest x-ray and breathing tests done in the morning and we always have a doctor's appointment in the afternoon. On Mondays, we have to miss rehab at The Center for the Living. Next Friday, July 30, Lee is scheduled for a Bronchoscopy @ 8:00 a.m. A biopsy will be done at that time. This is done to see if he is having any primary rejection of the lung. We have been told to anticipate his being very tired a couple of days following the procedure. His activity will be curbed somewhat at that time.
Today was another good day for Lee. He walked further and in a shorter amount of time. Now that is progress! He does however, continue to have short episodes in the morning with atrial fibrillation. Fortunately the Val-salv manuver continues to reverse it for him.
Well, just writing about all our activities here has made me extremely tired! Guess I'll close for now and go rest a while!
More Later.......................................................Brenda
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