h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*warning: the following journal entry is about the bodily functions of a bedridden patient. Might be offensive to some*

I wanted to give updates on how the renovation is going (perfect but expensive), how things stand with my brother (lets just NOT talk about it, shall we?) (do we have a smiley?) but this is something I HAVE to talk about now…
About two weeks ago Dad went to bed again. Shoulder fine, heart fine, we finally got a doctor in who diagnosed a severe spasm in one of the abdominal muscles, which means he can just about turn and sit/lie in the bed, but any attempt to even sit upright is futile – the muscle can't support the upper body weight. Meanwhile, we got a physiotherapist in who exercises dad's arms and legs so the muscles won't atrophy more. (and I'm taking advantage to get more therapy for my wrist. It's no contest – I scream the loudest). Over the past couple of days we tried to get dad to use a "walker", but it was after the therapy sessions, he was tired, we only figured out that he can't lift the walker but somebody has to pull it for him.
So, over the past few weeks (and I have moved downstairs for the renovations) I got used to fetch and carry. Tea and food is fine, dentures were more wiggy (I don't want to even THINK about my parents having dentures!). and there are the other bodily functions. The, erm, fluid ones. Fetching the receptacle, take it back and wash it out. Ewww! And for some reason he is more comfortable with me doing it, rather than bro (when he is home). And of course we don't want to have mom running around. So…
But… no bowel movement. For two weeks…
So, last night he took a laxative. And another one this morning. And about one hour ago he called me and said he needed to go – somewhere. So I got the carpets out of the way, helped him up and pulled the walker to the bathroom, where, thank god, mom took over. After five minutes he complained that nothing is happening, and we got him back to the bed. Only five minutes later he needed to go again – because the walk had finally loosened his bowels. So, up again, really fast, and then he is RUNNING, with me running backwards pulling the walker and barely keeping up. He stayed in the bathroom for about half an hour this time, and afterwards mom had to change all of his clothes, and I made him tea with nabat (crystallized sugar, good for stomach ache, cramps and low blood pressure), and now my baby is sleeping- with a smile.
It might not seem funny to others, but this escapade is proof that he is mending. So I can't stop grinning. Sue me!

Bless your heart, you ARE having a time of it!
Good to hear from you. You must be taking very good care of your dad for him to depend on you for so much.
Hang in there!

Hi Nim, glad to see you around.

Sorry to hear about your dads spasms, seems like your the domesticv goddess in the house in his eyes, lol.

Should be careful with laxatives. When I was younger and in state side for a while me, Craig and loraul bought some choclate lex-lax, reomed the box and three pieves, making out we had eaten some, and gave the rest to her slightly younger brother saying it was really nice. He scoffed the lot, ment ot have one and he had about 23. He was on the toilet all night. No long term damage though thankfully. the ingnorance of youth. So in my estimation, take less than needed of laxatives....

Sorry to hear about your toilet trips, an unpleasant choure, glad I don't have to do anything like that...

I am glad you can see the funny side, and its good your dad is on the mend.

Take care Nim.

Adib

today he had a bath! (dances around) back to the bathroom, and he sat on a plastic chair while my mother washed him.

i don't spend much time on my pc/internet right now, because my parents' guest room is small, dark and airless, so my therapist gave me a kick and told me to get out of there. now i take my laptop and sit on the balcony in front of his room, where i can hear him calling. i still mostly play duel monsters on the laptop but i also started on editing the translation project.

of course, considering we now have 30 to 40 degrees celsius during the day

Wow sounds nice and warm over there. Hope your computer has good cooling.... Over here it touched 25oc a few days ago but now its closer to 18oC. My computers processer is at 49oC which heats up my room though, who needs a heater...

Glad to hear your dad was able to have a bath, getting init is achievment enough! I'm sure he is enjoying having you all chase around him.

Adib