Not been on for a while

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Catherine, now that is good news, i'm so pleased for you all.

I'm sure your M.I.L will appreciate all you have done for her, how nice it will be for her to come home to a clean, fresh house with flowers, i should think that will give her a real lift.

Hope you're soon feeling better soon.
Now just take it a little easier and get yourself well, there's a long gardening season ahead.

[glallotments]

Glad that things have gone so well for MIL. Take care stress is a peculiar thing - let's hope the better weather continues and you can get some r and r gardening

[Catherine]

Thanks Glallotments. MIL not allowed home today, started a cold and a temperature, they are not sure if the temperature is due to the cold or whether she has an infection. have to wait for more tests in the morning.

[Elaine]

Dear Catherine. I'm so pleased your MIL is doing well. My dad is now aged 83 and has had 2 triple heart by-passes, 13 years apart, the last one when he was aged 73. The rate at which he recovered amazed me, especially the last one. Please reassure your MIL that the scar disappears to a fine line and is barely visible. Dad has been fit and well, heart wise since his last by-pass op.

Remember to take care of yourself Catherine...I know from experience how stressful it is, caring for someone in your MIL's situation.
Very best wishes to you all.
Cheers.

[Catherine]

Thank you very much Elaine, I must admit that the scar is getting fainter every day. We are just more worried about her leg scars as they are not healing as they should and we think that this must be where there is a possible infection, which is not really unexpected as she keeps being given different information. Some nurses say that she should not keep changing her stockings which she has to wear and she should wear them for two or three days. Another nurse says she should change them daily. She does not know where she is with them.

She has been having showers daily until Sunday when she was told to only have body washes and not change the dressings. Up till then she had no infection, but hey ho now with not changing she has one.

I hope your dad continues in such good health. He has done so well to go through this twice. I really hope we (MIL, OH and me) have to go through this ever again. I dont think I would survive the stress.

I wish I was a more chilled person, I have three sisters, including a twin, nothing like me, in fact I am sure that my twin was swapped at birth in the hospital (my mum did not find out that she was expecting twins until almost as we arrived). because she is the exact opposite of me and we dont get on very well.

[Elaine]

Dear Catherine. My Dad had problems with his leg healing after the removal of the vein they use for the grafts. Especially after the last op....he ended up with an infection too, in his thigh, where the wound was deepest. I think he had to wear the stocking for a couple of days before changing it but he had a lot of trouble with it "leaking". It did heal up eventually and again, the scar is barely visible now, although it looked rather livid for a long time. Not so important for a man....Dad wouldn't dream of wearing shorts!!

I do hope it clears up ok.....my thought on the showers are, go with your instincts. I used to bathe Dad's leg wound with a very mild salt water solution.....after all, that's what we ladies were advised after childbirth!

Cheers.

[Elaine]

P.S.
I used to be so laid back, my family wondered how I managed to walk up right. This came in very handy whilst I was looking after Dad, as he was quite a difficult patient. I had the devils' own job getting him to do the 5 minutes walk, never mind increasing it daily! It was only when I threatened (with phone in hand) that I was going to have him back in hospital, that he decided he was well enough to try a little amble around!! He was afraid, I think, of exercise causing him damage but all was well and he improved daily after that. Having said that, he did get a chest infection when he first came home, which was no fun at all for him...coughing with a broken breast bone is not pleasant :shock
As I said, his confidence grew and within 8 weeks, he was fine and I was able to move back into my own home again.

[Catherine]

Thanks for that Elaine. We have just got back from bringing my MIL home from hospital and settling her in her home. She is really happy and so are we. Many thanks from listening to my woes. I really appreciated every comment and thought. I wont be posting anything else here as I think you might have all heard enough. But thank you all again.

[Elle's Garden]

Hi Catherine,

I am glad to hear she is home safe, and well. You must take the opportunity to celebrate this and relax a little, even just for a day or two, otherwise your stress will cause you problems. We must take care of the carers .

Best wishes,
Elle

[Catherine]

Thank you Ellie. we will.

[Elaine]

Dear catherine. Glad your MIL is home and happy! If you ever need an "ear" please don't hesitate to pm me.
Best wishes to you all. x

[Catherine]

Thank you Elaine, I will.