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Falling: I worry he may fall and I won't be able to help.
My husband has stage iv lung cancer and advanced copd. He ended up in the hospital last september because he took too many of his pain pills. They then discovered the cancer, although they said it had been there for awhile. His pcp wanted him to go for tests for a year prior to this because of his weight loss, but he would not go. It was diagnosed at stage iv. He ended up taking two chemo treatments and then decided to quit because it made him so sick for weeks afterwards. It has been an up and down ride for us since. Sometimes, he will sleep for 2 days without eating or drinking. Then he is up for 2 or 3 days without sleeping. He refuses to use his oxygen. But in the last week, he has fallen 4 times. The last fall was this morning. I have been able to help him back up as he only weighs 90 pounds. But this morning while i was trying to help him up, we both fell. He is 68 and I will be 70 in march. My concern is that if I fall again, I may get hurt and then who will take care of him? I am the only caregiver. I just don't know what to do. His sister bought him a new recliner but it is not a good fit for him. It swivels when he tries to sit down in it, and you have to use your legs to bring the footrest down. He is not strong enough to do that, so he tries to slide over the footrest causing him to fall. Yes, I should probably get him a new chair but it is hard to pick up one for someone who can't be there to try it. We do have another recliner but he doesnt like it. And my income is limited so I don't know how I can add another payment. I had to quit my part time job so I could be home with him. I didn't mind that because he needed me at home. But this falling is really concerning. I can't go anywhere because I worry he may fall and I won't be there to help. I know that he does not want to go to a nursing home, etc., but if he keeps falling, he may have to. Hospice is supposed to contact me about a home visit to evaluate his condition. And like many of you, I feel trapped. It is starting to get to me. I try to be patient but it sure takes a lot of effort. And prayer.
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My husband has Alzheimer's, and he has fallen several times. One time the fall caused a spinal fracture. The last time he actually went unconscious, and I had to call for an ambulance. His diagnosis at the hospital was dehydration. So, falling can actually be the result of not drinking enough water. I don't know if this has anything to do with your husbands falls but it might.
I really sympathize with what you are going through.
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5 ReactionsThanks for the response. Yes, I am sure that my husband is dehyrated. But I am blaming it on the new recliner his sister bought for him. It swivels and when he tries to sit down on it, he has to be careful that it doesn't move. One time, he was reaching for something on his coffee table and the whole chair tipped with him in it and he could not right it again. Then the foot rest has to be pushed down with your legs. There is no handle to push and he is not strong enough to push it down so sometimes he tries to slide down over the foot rest and boom, he is down again. I asked him today if he wanted me to get him a new chair but he said, "NO. I will be better before they can deliver it." I don't think he is going to get better anytime soon as he quit his chemo treatments and with stage iv lung cancer, he may not have alot of time left. What a mess. We won't tell his sister because she will feel really bad. Have a good day and prayers for you and your husband.
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2 ReactionsThat's awful. How frustrating.
Sorry....
I helped my husband once when he fell and hurt my back. The PT staff gave me a band to wrap around him and help him get up if I can; but they have also taught him strategies to be able to get up by himself which was helpful when he fell again.
I also found that there is a number where you can call and the firefighters will come to help your husband get up.
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3 ReactionsThanks for your response.. I did know that the firemen would come and help him up. I never heard
about the band that you are talking to. He had physical therapy coming about two months ago and he told them not to come back. But he has gotten worse since then. He has fallen 6 times in a week. we are now involved with hospice. I am not sure that they have physical therapist but I will learn more today as they are coming back. They will come twice a week. I am so happy about that. Have a good day. 🙂
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4 ReactionsYes, it is awful and very frustrating. But he doesn't want to go to a nursing home and I don't blame him. But he is only 90 pounds and I am afraid that one of these times he will fall and break a hip or something and that is where he will end up. Oh, the joys of being a caregiver.
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