Hit a Rough Patch

On the first of March when returning from a trip to the bathroom about 3:30 am, Bob had a problem getting onto the bed and fell onto the floor with his head taking the brunt of the fall. So he skinned his head on the carpet. After getting to a sitting position on the bed, Magie bandaged the area to keep the blood off the pillow. After being less than successful getting the blood out of the carpet, Magie covered the area with wet wash cloths and joined Bob in bed.

The next morning we discovered that the wound had bled in the night and had soaked through the pillow case and the 3 zip covers on the pillow. The fact that Bob is on coumadin/warfarin aggravates the situation. Fresh bandages were applied. Magie went over to Steph's and borrowed the Hoover carpet cleaner.

Tuesday morning we found that the wound had bled through the bandages , the towel covering the pillow, the pillow case and the 3 zip covers. Wednesday morning Magie only needed to replace the bandage. Hooray!!

Wednesday afternoon Bob had an appointment at Dr. Galli's office to have his INR checked. Dr. Curatola asked about the bandage. After hearing what had happened, he recommended that Bob quit wearing his cap and to leave the bandage off because it would heal faster. The photo was taken after removal of the bandage.

Thursday morning (March 4) was the next to last rehab class. That afternoon the AdvantaCare oxygen people delivered an Invacare Homefill II oxygen concentrator, 2 small portable oxygen tanks with a pack to carry one tank over the shoulder, and 2 larger tanks with a wheeled cart to transport one of the larger tanks. Dr. Beck had gone ahead and ordered the oxygen since Bob had not gotten back to him Tues. afternoon after Bob had had a chance to talk to Pete about his supplier.

On Friday, 5 March, we went down to the exercise room at Sunnyvale Senior Center with a small oxygen bottle in the carrier and Bob was able to use a machine just like the one he has been using at the rehab class at El Camino Hospital. If there are people waiting to use a machine, the current user is restricted to 20 minutes on a machine. Bob was able to use the machine for 25 minutes. Part way through, Bob had Magie turn the oxygen level up to 3 (he had started with it set on 2). Magie had attached the oxygen carrier to the back of the arm rest on the machine since it would be inconvenient for Bob to have the carrier hanging from his shoulder while using the machine.

On Saturday, 6 March, Bob took a walk down to the corner of The Dalles and Wright Ave., with the oxygen attached, to put a couple of items into the mail box. That worked out just fine so he walked over to the school with the oxygen on Sunday.

Tuesday, March 9, was the last rehab class and Bob did the warm up exercises, 40 min. on the machine (with hospital oxygen), followed by the cooling down exercises. He does not use the oxygen around the house or when he goes grocery shopping. He also did not use it yesterday when he met his friend Sal for brunch at the Country Gourmet.

Progress has been made.