Update ~ Mental Health

Well the powers that be finally did transfer him to the Mental Health floor.

It is a lock down floor.  It didn't used to be this way, but changes over the past few years have made it so.

My husband's room has no shades, blind, curtains.  No door to the bathroom.
His bed is bolted down.  There is a chair, it is steel and bolted to the floor.
There is no patient phone.
All calls are screened through the nurse's station.


His room is locked.  He can open it up and ask to see a nurse.  Nurses access him by key.

He is not bothered by this as he feels that his cell is a safe place for him to be.

His team of doctors that saw him this morning told him that he needed to socialize.  He said no.  The last thing he wanted to discuss was war stories with other vets.  He just wanted to be left alone.

I know, you are probably thinking that this is anti social behavior, and yes it is.  But he feels safe right now.  
He has made his radiology treatments and says he must be prepared to do chemo tomorrow as he wants to do it whether he is in the 'right place in his head or not'.

He told me that this cancer is not going to beat him.  At least this is a good attitude today.  We have talked often on the phone.

He cannot use his CPAP at night unless his door is open and there is a nurse sitting in the doorway.

He feels bad about that and has decided not to use his CPAP.

His chemo is at 8am tomorrow morning and I will be there to support him.

We are wondering if he'll be discharged on Friday.  We will know Friday.

His daughter and son in law are bringing a futon to put in the living room so he won't have to negotiate stairs for the next few weeks.  They are also coming armed with weed whackers and other tools to help get the yard whipped into shape.

Today I bought a used self propelled mower and started hacking away at the yard.  Last night our wonderful neighbor walked down and started on hacking the grass around the house.

Looking at a nicely mowed portion of yard relaxed me in a way I haven't felt in weeks.  Odd isn't it?

The fellow that we deal with regarding lawn mowers will come out Saturday and give me a lesson on the Country Clipper, which is Rich's pride and joy mowing monster machine.

Back to Rich.  I'll be there for chemo and radiation and then I think I can stay and visit him on the floor or under nurse supervision in a common area.

He is looking forward to the visit.  But is having a hard time with feeling love for me.  He shuts down his feelings while under stress.

The thing is, he still understands what he is doing and knows that he needs help.  We call it Building Emotional Walls.  I'm okay with that as I've been through this before.

~~~~ Update...
Rich will be coming home for the weekend!