<p>I think you have received a lot of helpful information…I’ll be thinking of your family. I hope the surgery and recovery go smoothly.</p>
<p>I have to say, you need that notebook and pen a lot more than you think. A friend recommended this when my mother was ill, it was a lifesaver for all of us. Write it ALL down–the meds, reactions, what questions you or your DH have for the staff, etc. You won’t be able to remember it all, so let the notebook remember for you. Also helpful when you have someone sit with your DH so you can take a break. Remember to take care of yourself…you can’t help your DH if you don’t take care of yourself.</p>
<p>Something to do is good–books, knitting, magazines. For me it was smocking and ribbon work (simple, random patterns). Lifesaver or Jolly Rancher candy, chapstick, lotion and some sort of hand sanitizer all come in handy. I have a 35mm film canister filled with quarters that goes to the hospital when necessary—very useful for vending machines, etc. (There was a period of time where several older family members were in and out of the hospital. Those film canister quarters really helped out. We could use a pay phone, buy a little candy/snack, whatever.)</p>
<p>If it’s possible, I’d second the idea of a private duty nurse, at least when your H is first transferred to the step down unit. In addition to the demands of care, it is often difficult to process what the doctors and nurses are saying when you, yourself are exhausted. You can write down what was said in a notebook but still interpret differently than a second set of experienced ears.</p>
<p>P3T - you had excellent experience caring for your MIL, learning how to be an advocate. That will pay off as you face this event. Yes, it’s in a hospital as opposed to a home setting, but your sense of facilitating information and paying attention to your instincts has been sharply honed. I’d pick you to be my advocate in a heartbeat!</p>
<p>That being said, not like you’d overlook this, but please take avail of the chaplain visits. Since it’s a large teaching hospital, they might even have a Jewish chaplain. Since your husband (and you) will be there for a while, ask that the chaplain touch base with you each day, just so you can vent, affirm and remind you of your spiritual beliefs and how they sustain you in difficult times. And of course, they will tell you what a wonderful job you’re doing!</p>
<p>I agree with all the posters above. I have never heard of a 1:10 nursing ratio. In Calif we have a rule that it can’t be >1:4 on the ward although the Governator put it on hold.
As a doctor I have a few suggestions.
Check all the bags they hang for the iv and make sure it has his name on it. In my hosp they scan the nameband and make sure it scans with the iv bag but this is a new system.<br>
Make sure everything is locked up when you leave the room because electronics can disappear. If the nursing ratio is really that bad, make sure you look at his back everyday and see that there are no red pressure spots.<br>
I would get a bottle of hand gel sanitizer and put it right in front of him on the bedside tray so people can use it. Most hosp have them in every room now but you can’t have too much. </p>
<p>Bring lotion, extra foot powder for your husband. Also get some of that waterless shampoo for him. I always bring a towel, toothbrush, paste, comb and shampoo for my self if I am at friend’s bedside long periods of time as well as a few extra shirts and underwear.<br>
Massage your hubby’s legs and calfs so he doesn’t get any clots. Sometimes they will have him anticoagulated or have TED /compression stockings on so he won’t get a clot.<br>
Bring his slippers-or get some with the back open incase his feet are a bit swollen. Bring a bathrobe-one you don’t mind blood or pee getting on. This is especially helpful even draped over shoulders when you take walks so his crack isn’t hanging out.
A portable DVD player is worth getting if you don’t have one or a computer to watch dvds.<br>
The nurses love bagels and muffins if you get them on your way in one morning or a large bag of ground french roast coffee from Sams or Costco for their breakroom. I don’t think of it as a bribe but something that will make them more pleasant especially if they have a real busy shift.
The notebook is important. I would get a 8x11 spiral size so you have plenty of room and can have him write notes to you if he can’t talk due to tubes etc.
I am not sure how old he is but bring a calender to put on the wall or window so he stays oriented. </p>
<p>Also it is July so look at nametags and ask people who they are. The new interns start in July, some are 3 weeks out of medical school and inexperienced. Ask who the head resident or fellow is on the service.</p>
<p>If the nursing ratio is really that bad, make sure you look at his back everyday and see that there are no red pressure spots. </p>
<hr>
<p>The nursing ratio in the Surgical ICU in my mom’s hospital was 1:2. Even so, I discovered a HUGE red pressure spot that was torn & bleeding when she was moved to the regular surgical floor. As some may know from my prior posts, this progressed to Stage IV, her bone became infected, and then she contracted MRSA. This is why I would NEVER again trust my loved ones in a hospital alone if they are not able to completely & fully advocate for themselves.</p>
<p>^whoosh, thanks doc (Futureholds, post #45 above)! Matching IV bags (Gucci, Prada…?) Hmm…July brings new interns. Again, who knew? SRSLY, your suggestions are so helpful.</p>
<p>I’m remembering an early Bill Cosby routine where he calls out for an intern, “Hey, YOU! Almost a Doctor!” And yes, Teri, thanks for reminding me of chaplain services. Most definitely. The cobbler needs shoes, too.</p>
<p>I will watch spouse’s back – much experience with that in everyday life. I wonder if red pressure spots (that can lead to bedsores) are more common in very elderly folks with thin, fragile skin. That was certainly of issue for my MIL and I sympathize with kelsmom’s situation. I will keep aware although he’s in his early 60’s. D’oh so that’s why they turn patients and change sheets so often.</p>
<p>The DVD player mentioned earlier is one option for when your husband is on the mend and looking for some entertainment. You could also consider audio books. One relative really liked when I read aloud from a book. I suppose the sound of my voice was comforting.</p>
<p>Hospital waiting area mocha: mix an envelope of dry hot chocolate mix with the coffee. </p>
<p>Best wishes to your husband for a speedy and complete recovery.</p>
<p>My dad had aortic valve replacement at the The Cleveland Clinic three years ago at age 83. They recommended a CD player/headphones with soft soothing music for dad to listen to while he was in the ICU/CCU post op. It was a very good recommendation.</p>
<p>His only real distress came from the breathing tube post op and then from having the chest tubes in. Once the breathing tube came out his stress level dropped enormously. Being only able to communicate via nodding his head or squeezing hands unnerved him a bit. The music seemed to really help keep his mind off the things around him as the CCU can be a scary place…even more so for those of us seeing the WHOLE place…we took comfort in the fact that despite his age, dad was otherwise very healthy and in far better shape than most around us.</p>
<p>In contrast to a previous poster’s experience, Dad actually had more color post op than before…guess his blood flow really was being impacted more than anyone knew since he was completely asymptomatic.</p>
<p>Bring something that will occupy your time well and have a support team with you…the procedures can be long and tough on those waiting.</p>
<p>I got a full sized spiral notebook that had section where loose papers could be inserted for my MIL. For my son I got a looseleaf notebook and hole punchers to put all of the papers that were given to me sinc I knew that one was going to be for the long haul.</p>
<p>I had surgery about a month ago and am a voracious reader; I prepared for the recovery with a dozen library books and one book on CD. I did not read a single book the first three weeks, just could not concentrate.</p>
<p>However, I really like to have a TV or book to pass the time when i am ill so that it does not feel endless. Even the TV was too much for me the first two weeks, but I had a book CD. It was a book I have read dozens of times over the past 30+ years. With 20 CDs I kept it going much of the time…if I dozed off it did not matter as I knew the entire story by heart so could pick up wherever it was. </p>
<p>Obviously a book on iPod would be even better with no CDs to change.</p>
<p>paying3tuitions…Wishing your husband a full and speedy recovery. Take care of yourself and try to rest up. I hope that you have some family that could pitch in to relieve you for a couple of hours each day so so you can recharge a bit. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your husband.</p>
<p>On Chaplains–Perhaps everyone already knows this, but since HIPAA, the hospitals no longer post lists of patients-in-residence for the local clergy to check. This is not so much for the teaching hospitals, I suppose, but at my local hospital, your own clergy would check to see who was in the hospital from their congregation and stop by. Now, you need to be sure that someone gives them a call to let them know when you’re going for a planned admission or that you are in following an emergency admission. You will likely know if this is important to your patient.</p>
<p>^^^ however, if you’re Roman Catholic, the local eucharistic ministers will get a list of all the RC patients and stop by their rooms and offer them communion. At some hospitals, parishes share this task with other parishes. So parish clergy may stop by and not be able to find out who from their congregation is a patient (as it should be… some people don’t want the people from their church knowing their business), but if you’re RC, then it’s likely somebody will stop by and offer you communion (not necessarily from your parish).</p>
<p>Paying3tuitions, Wishing your hubby a quick recovery. It has been 5+ yrs since my hubby had same surgery. Thankfully he did very well being operated on Tues afternoon ( triple bypass) and coming home on Fri. His age & good health going in served him well. As a home physical therapist I see a good amt of post op bypass pt’s who do great. I second other’s who say encourage leg exercises in bed and deep breathing and short freq walks once he cleared by the doc’s. Way back when I worked in the hospital I would see the open heart pt’s day one after surgery in the ICU to begin chest physical therapy, bedside dangling and the walking ect till they were discharged at that time 10-14 days post op. Today on average 3-5 days with uncomplicated surgeries. Do keep eyes and ears open and don’t hesitated to ask questions, double check what meds he is being given ect because in today’s medical climate you have to be proactive. As soon as he is medically cleared to go home get him out to decrease chance of hospital aquired infections and talk to the discharge planner about getting homecare ( nursing & PT)</p>
<p>I want to reiterate about pain meds. Pay close attention to what the doctor has approved for pain meds and what the schedule is. Sometimes there may be two or three different pain meds on a staggered schedule so it can get complicated.</p>
<p>Keep a close watch so that when the time is approaching for a pain med that you make sure the nurse gets in there to give the pain med on time. I would make a point to confirm with the nurse (or aide) periodically when they come in, exactly when the next pain med is due.</p>
<p>It is important to stay ahead of the pain by making sure the meds are administered when they are due. If your husband seems to be having breakthrough pain ahead of the schedule, tell this to the nurses to see if a med change needs to be initiated with the doctor.</p>
<p>This is true, but also know that in many instances, pain meds are not scheduled, they are written prn, i.e., “as needed every x hours.” Therefore, they won’t ever be “due.” You must ask for them each and every time if this is the way they are written.</p>
<p>p3t, I don’t have anything new to add to the list of advice you have already received on this thread. I do want to let you know that you and your husband are in my thoughts. I wish him a successful operation and a speedy recovery.</p>
<p>As I read through this thread, the importance of staying on top of medicine schedule has come up a few times. It occurs to me that it might be helpful to have an alarm of some kind to remind you when x hours are up. </p>
<p>I’m sure people who’ve already been in the situation could relate what “reminder” method worked for them much better than I can guess.</p>
<p>I used my iPhone notes page to note when I took my pain pills and how much, then set the time for the next interval before I could take another one. That worked very well for me.</p>