General Update #71

Andrea (nurse at Aspen Park) attempted to call Dusty earlier in the evening to update Dusty on Joyce's condition. Unable to reach Dusty (who was in a troop committee meeting at the time), Andrea contacted Craig to provide the update.

Dusty returned Andrea's call and she repeated the information provided to Craig. Andrea, the floor nurse, reported that Joyce was found coming down the down hallway earlier in the day with no oxygen line in use, and was looking for room and could not find her room to return to it. This was a huge red flag to the nursing staff that Joyce may be suffering from effects of a urinary tract infection (UTI) as she was self transferring without notification, was out of her room in hallway by herself, and had no oxygen line on her person. Joyce was escorted back to her room and made comfortable. 

Joyce is continuing to have hallucinations about the little boy and girl, but they are still non-distressing in nature.

Andrea also noted that Joyce is having more frequent urination with blood now present. Dr. Collins was consulted and she asked for a urine sample to be collected and cultured as she also is suspecting a UTI occurring in Joyce. The sample collected is currently down in Aspen Park's basement lab. Aspen Park awaiting results on urine culture. Andrea estimating culture should be ready for review later tonight. Culture will be reviewed by Dr. Collins tomorrow and antibiotics most likely will begin on Friday to eradicate infection.

Dr. Keizur had stated that the stint could cause risk of a urinary tract infection UTI for Joyce. Aspen Park medical staff now working under assumption that urine culture will confirm UTI. 

Andrea is the floor nurse on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and worked with Joyce over the last weekend. She wanted to ensure the family that Joyce is doing fantastic. Joyce is able to raise herself up using the electric recliner and can then take herself to bathroom under her own power using her purple walker. Andrea noted that this is a significant improvement over Joyce's 1st day as originally Joyce was a 2 person transfer case, requiring 2 nurses to rise up from her chair or bed as they could not use a gait belt). Joyce's bruises have improved in their coloration and are diminishing. "You can barely notice the bruise over Joyce's left eye now," said Andrea. 

Andrea stated that younger folks feel pain first with UTIs and then seek medical assistance. Elderly people's sensory mechanisms don't work as well and so confusion and disorientation occur for them as they suffer the effects of the UTI before pain from the infection sets in and they then seek help. Joyce's confusion and hallucinations are symptoms consistent with UTI according to Andrea.

Andrea said that once antibiotics are administered and the infection starts to clear up then the confusion should be one of first things to go away.

Dusty will ask if the UTI will affect the appointment with Dr. Keizur in removing the temporary stint left in place from Joyce's kidney stone removal when he checks in with Jennifer for follow up information (or Aspen Park follows up with him with urine culture test results, whichever occurs first). 

Dusty and Jess called Joyce to check in with her ~8:30 p.m. this evening.
Joyce reported that she had a weird day. "So many things I didn't understand," said Joyce.
When Dusty asked for clarification, Joyce said she doesn't really understand what is going on. Dusty relayed summary of the UTI information and Joyce seemed to comprehend.

Beets, a chicken thigh (very tender, cooked well), rice with carrots and tomatoes, and mandarin orange slices for dessert. The mandarin oranges were "lucious!"

Joyce has continued to sleep in her recliner. 

Joyce stated that she has been going without pain pills "because the nurse hasn't been around." Joyce stated that the nurse hasn't been around to take her request for pain pills. Joyce was assured that was not going to happen to her this evening. Joyce reports that she is still experiencing significant pain in her back. "Whatever I did to that one vertebrae is what the uproar is over in there [area of back that hurts so bad]. And that will probably take some time to heal." 

Joyce stated that she was not in her room for most of the day, "probably off gallivanting with the family." 

Dusty and Joyce reminisced about Alan Carson, Estes Club, and discussed human evolutionary traits and technological advancements/toolkit developments. 

Joyce didn't get her shower in today for unknown reasons. Dusty stated that today ended up being complicated in lots of ways for Joyce and the Aspen Park staff, so maybe they'll revisit a shower for Joyce tomorrow. 

Joyce was glad to report that she managed to find The Red Green Show a few times while channel surfing on her room's television. "He's pretty good." Dusty concurred. Dusty stated that they should make time to watch the entire Red Green Show series together once Joyce gets back to the farmhouse. 

Joyce wishes everyone a good night and thanks them for their concern for her.


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