Hospital Trip for my Grandfather in a Blizzard
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Just a quick update on my grandfather. Mother Nature dumped about a foot of snow on us yesterday and apparently, the snow gods thought my grandfather needed an ambulance ride in the thick of it. Seriously. What are the chances of that happening? So many of you have emailed checking in since my grandfather update earlier this week and I am sorry I haven’t responded. It’s been a little crazy here. My grandfather was taken yesterday to the hospital for stomach issues and low and behold, he had two very large ulcers. One at the start of the small intestine and the biggest one in his stomach. Boy, I am getting an education in all kinds of stuff this past week.
On a side note, here is a picture of my gram last week when we were out and about riding around. We went through the McDonald’s drive thru because she was starving and she said, “Jessie, no wonder why your grandfather likes to ride around with you all day, you get food!” You see, I had already taken my gram through the Dunkin Donuts drive thru for coffee so two drive thru’s in 3 hours was pretty crazy to her. -ha.
Ok back to my grandfather, did you know that coffee grain vomit is an indication of internal bleeding? I had no idea. He wasn’t feeling well and had a few episodes of being nauseous and then started to vomit stuff that looked like coffee grains. The good news is, the ulcers were not bleeding and they appeared to be old. So he is on meds to reduce the acid and get rid of them. He was in great spirits last night at the hospital, in fact, probably the best he has been in a while. I had no idea that internal bleeding could also change an elderly person’s state of mind. I mean, his dementia is bad enough never mind add a couple bleeding ulcers on top of it. So we are taking this opportunity while he is in the hospital to get him on some meds to help with the dementia and alzheimer’s as well as hydrate and pump him with nutrition. Geez, getting old is not easy! Have a great weekend and thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers ;). UPDATE: Short Term Rehabilitation for my grandfather is now posted.
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
Prayers to both your Grandparents…………..they are so lucky to have you.
You are a special lady.
Hugs !!!
Awww thanks Libby 🙂 Hope you have a great rest of the weekend and you are not in the snow belt like us! -ha
Prayers and cheers to GPa! A little advice get some Yogi Eygptian Licorice tea per Dr. Weil great for stomach ulcers! Last March i had some erosions which were so painful, i was on many stomach meds but no effect on the pain. I started drinking one large cup of this tea and it improved all my symptoms. I am down to one GERD med 2x day. Worth a try!! And it doesnt taste like licorice!
I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather. They are both so blessed to have you by their side. I will keep your entire family in my prayers and may God give you the strength and wisdom to continue to be there for them.
Thank you Toni 🙂 Happy weekend
I feel your pain. Alzheimer’s is a difficult journey that I traveled with my mom. Fever will also affect his Alzheimer’s and will move the disease down a notch or two. Thanks for sharing. Your generation needs to be prepared to deal with this. Take care of yourself.
Thanks so much for the sweet comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and share 🙂 It’s amazing how so many little things like a fever, UTI and other random health issues can change an elderly person’s well being. It’s crazy! I told my parents I will be very prepared for them when they are old after all this! -ha. They laughed and said, hopefully we won’t end up like gramp but I guess it is what it is, right?
Thank goodness your Grandparents have you to help them! Sometimes these emergency health issues can end up being a real blessing in disguise – so maybe your Grandpop will be ever so much better once he gets back home. Thoughts and prayers for all.
Boy I hope so. Many of us in the family have said the same thing about being a blessing in disguise. Hopefully we get him squared away soon 🙂
Sending wishes for good health and strength to your whole family, and especially your grandfather.
Thanks so much!
Blessings and prayers for you all on this journey.
Thank you 🙂
So glad to learn things ended well. We survived the storm (could have been worse, as we know) but the one thing we dread is an emergency during it. Bet he will be missing Camp! Jacquelyn
All he talks about is camp! It’s the one thing that he remembers well, smiles about and gets excited when he talks about it. Hopefully we can get him back there soon 🙂
Prayers for all. Glad that the memory issues are being addressed in the hospital—he might be more accepting.
THat is our hope! We are hoping this week is a good week for him. Thank you 🙂
Glad to hear all is well. And yes there is a lot to learn as we go along. He is so blessed to have you there for him as are you blessed to him there for you. you are a wonderful granddaughter and daughter.
Thank you Diane! This getting old stuff stinks! I know you went through difficult times with your mom in the end and I never really understood the full extent of dementia and ALZ until now. It’s crazy how one minute they are one person and the next, they are completely somewhere else in time. The time traveling trips are sometimes even funny but lows and agitation are for the birds :(.
Hang in there, Jessica. My prayers and thoughts are with you. You are so correct about getting old, it is not for the weak. I wish you a pleasant week-end with a fabulous week to come. Please tell you family that we are lifting them up in lot’s of prayer. God bless.
Thanks so much Jaunita! You are always so great at leaving sweet uplifting comments. I am sitting here tonight returning emails and responding to comments and it’s so nice all the encouragement from everyone. Hope you have a great rest of the weekend!
So glad to hear he is doing better and getting a good check up. I am sure that was scary for everyone with the snow and all. You really have your hands full but you always are so positive. Good for you. I loved my grandparents so much and grew up at their house summers and every weekend so I know the nice memories you have being around them. Glad to hear and see your gram was out and about too.
Thank you Sharon for your kind words 🙂 Sometimes I feel like a total bear lol! -ha. THat is so cool that you have great memories of your grandparents. So many friends of mine never even met their grandparents. I can’t even imagine life without them. Getting old isn’t easy. That’s for sure!
Sending love and prayers for your sweet, funny, grandpa.
Thank you Tonya!
Oh Jess – Getting older is not easy but you are making such a big difference in your grandparents’ lives. You are such a loving example to your son who sees the compassion you have for your Gram & Gramps. I have the biggest soft spot in my heart for the elderly because I remember my mother always took care of her elderly parents, my daddy’s parents, and my elderly great-aunts & uncles. Four generations under one roof is blessings upon blessings for each of you and you will realize this more & more as the years go by
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Thank you Jill for your sweet comment and encouragement. It came at a great time as today was a tough one. That’s great you remember your mom taking care of everyone. That’s a lot of people she took care of! -ha. Have a great rest of the weekend and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂 It made me smile.