to navigate this. My husband (age 75) had his bladder removed in early November. His doctors felt this would buy him a few good years.
But they were wrong. He is a shadow of his former self. He developed two pelvic abscesses which caused severe sepsis and was hospitalized for two and a half weeks. Now he’s in a rehabilitation center to get stronger and be able to take care of himself. This isn’t working either. He’s not getting any better and it feels like he’s getting worse.
I don’t know how to get through this. I go there everyday and everyday I end up trying, and often failing, to hold back the tears. He is forgetting so many things, like where he is. I’m afraid he’s never going to be able to come home again.
If you experienced like this, how did you get through it?
Continue to visit and support him. Let the Social Workers know NOW, this week, that his care is beyond you and you are going to need placement.
Ask them for their support; considering seeing an elder law attorney as regards keeping finances separate in a way to protect your own finances for your own are when it may be needed.
Do you have family or friends who are supportive at your side?
My heart goes out to you.
This extra support can bring about some improvement and greater comfort.
So very sorry for your struggles.
There is no shame in not knowing what to do. His health is a great concern, and we need to keep trying for those few good years still.
Have you talked to the staff about how he is doing and what to expect? Don't give up quite yet. He could rally.
If he does not, he very well might not be able to come home again. Slow down and take it more day to day. You've been through a lot too.
Talk with social worker,
crying is all part of it… I’m a very leaky faucet right now. It hits and I cannot control it. My DH isn’t going to make it.., and it is so freaking hard..
people ask me what will I do when he goes?.., Really?
my short answer is: Sleep.
Sleep.
It never gets easier. I’m noticing that this is as hard if not harder when I went through this with my mom. Breathe, just know, its ok to be a leaky faucet. Although he is “sleeping “ I will get extra steps in by removing myself from his sight…
I just feel like screaming .
He was in the hospital for over 2 weeks, then to the hospice home for a week(as they thought he would be dead in 2 days)and when he eventually came home, he was completely bedridden and under hospice care for the last 22 months of his life. And even though I initially had help from my oldest grandson who was living with me at the time, and had to hire an aide after he moved out to come help me, it still was very hard on me to watch the man I loved so in this helpless condition.
I would talk to your husbands doctors today about putting him under hospice care, and let hospice find a facility for him to be placed in where you can spend whatever time you may have left with him.
I'm sorry you're going through this right now, but know that you're stronger than you realize and that you're going to be ok when it's all said and done.
God bless you.
Mom couldn't accept that Dad could possibly be dying at such a young age. The doctors were not taking his underlying neurological condition into account. They kept giving mom hope that he could get better. He ended up with a tracheotomy, a feeding tube, and a colostomy bag. Then he contracted MRSA in the hospital.
As painful as it is, you are doing the right thing by considering the fact that your husband may not be able to come home again. Of course, if he does start improving you can opt to do everything you can. But sometimes accepting the reality is the most humane thing you can do. It was awful the way my Dad died, and he lingered for months with zero quality of life.
They kept telling mom everything was reversible, and he could recover. But those of us watching his neurological decline over the previous year felt strongly that this was all false hope, which mom really hung onto every word of.
I can't imagine how painful this must be for you, but I pray that the doctors will be honest with you, and that you can make decisions based on reality. Please keep us posted.