Well, a big week of change, taking Karen from a big high, to a real low by the end of the week

In a nutshell, one of the new support workers (Laura) started this week. We had discussed this week previously, and knew it was going to be quite a culture shock, going from a week, where Karen’s week was focussed on all of the appointments she attends (2 physio, 1 OT, 1 psychological & 1 pscychiatric in a busy week), to a week where she still had all these appointments, but now had someone motivating her to do much more.

I think it’s safe to say now that we have got the balance wrong and gone too fast at the “new regime”, but I’ll come to this later.

The last part of Sunday saw Karen develop pain between her knee and groin. The pain was so bad, it limited her walking at her normal pace, but what was extra strange, is that the pain seemed to move around as the day continued. We were actually relieved when we found the pain was moving around, because at the start of the pain, we were thinking it could be a problem with the hip, but when we found out the pain was moving around, we started to think it was a muscular thing, which means it will probably self heal.

So, Monday came and the pain was still there, but not as acute. Karen was keen to make the most of Laura and after a cup of tea with her, they both went off to the local gym where Karen did 18 minutes on the treadmill in the hope of walking the pain away. I think it helped, well, it certainly didn’t make it any worse. From the treadmill, she went and did 12 minutes on the bike.

Back to the house for lunch, then the girls spent some time planning their week. It definitely helps Karen (as it does all of us) to have goals. It was a lovely day, so Karen decided to take the dogs out (with Laura). They had a nice walk, shorter than the usual weekend walk. Following that, the girls went to Sainsburys for the weekly shop.

So, the first day was over, and already Karen was feeling tired, physically and mentally. I don’t think it helped that her sleeping was still all over and she hadn’t had much sleep. Monday night was the same.

Tuesday, and she needed to slacken the pace off a bit, so rather than go out and do the gym or take the dogs, she chatted with Laura. Laura is very intelligent and is just right for Karen with her wit and sense of humour. Karen chose well ! After their chat, Laura took kp off to her physio session in Seaham. Good progress was made there. Laura had Karen try and map read on the way home to try and stimulate her. Karen has real issues reading maps, especially ‘cos of the spatial awareness issues, but according to Laura, did really well. Well done kp.

In the afternoon, I was busy doing my own thing and it went very quiet in the dining room, so I went through to investigate, to find them both playing a game of “pickup sticks”. It’s one of the games the OT got for Karen and the idea is that Karen (and Laura) can only use the left hand, to try and make Karen’s hand better at fine motor skills. Well, I stayed to watch for a few minutes and was amazed to see how well Karen was doing with her left finger. Karen has amazing fingernails now (all her own), and she did a cracking job at finely picking sticks out. The thing I think let her down wasn’t her left hand, but her vision. She’s not very good at measuring distance (only having usable site in 1 eye). So, her motor skills were great, but she was trying to pick the stick out 1cm behind where it was. But, good job kp. Not sure I have mentioned this one before, but it’s always funny watching Karen try to light a fag. She will try and light it 2cm from the end of the fag, and I have to keep saying “closer, closer, closer…”

Same kind of thing.

Dr Parry (psychiatrist) rang in the afternoon to discuss how she was getting on with the Amitrypteline and to see if it was aiding her sleep. It wasn’t, so the dose was doubled.

To top off all of this day, Karen and Laura prepared the evening meal. Well, since the accident, I have been preparing the evening meals, so it was a lovely treat for me to have all the veg prepared for our Roast Chicken dinner – Thanks love.

Another busy day in the end, and things were starting to take the toll on Karen.

Wednesdays are Karen’s sacred day. A day with no rehab and no activities linked to the accident. Syd – take note !! Syd, the Case Manager, came for a planned visit to see how Karen was getting on. It’s always good to see Syd, although I think it got in the way of her plans for the day. In the morning, we had looked at the possibility of her going to Whickham Villa for a massage, but Syd’s arrival time, kind of, ruled out any trip like this. Instead, the girls went to the Arnison Centre to pick up some sheets (another of Karen’s projects).

Whilst there, Karen met a colleague that she used to work with (Diane) when she was the manager of Durham Cathedral’s restaurant and they had a good natter and agreed to meet up in the future.

Another busy day for kp. Lots of physical activity and more importantly, lots of mental activity were starting to build up and take their toll on Karen.

Thursday, Laura came early to take Karen to Seaham for her physio session with Joanne. Joanne focussed on Karen’s left arm, which had stiffened up a bit, given that Joanne had been away and Karen had missed out on her lovely massages. By the end of the session (which kp found a bit painful), it had loosened up somewhat which is great.

By this stage, the mood in the house was well on a downward trend. Karen was going quieter and quieter on the evenings. I recall on Wednesday, when Syd visited, he asked me how I felt Karen was. I had joked…..

David :- She’s doing great. If anything Syd, I think her mood is too good. She doesn’t stop talking ! Can we bring her down a little ?

But, thursday night, we had tears.

Karen :- I don’t feel my life’s my own anymore.

Of course it is, but lack of sleep, and an increased activity level by two or threefold have been too much for her.

Thursday night, with her low mood, I thought we were in for a hellish night, but hold the press, she had a good night’s sleep !!!! 10 hours solid !

Friday and Adele came to clean the house, and then Debs and Lydia (ex-work colleagues and pretend friends) visited with goodies and lots of banter and high-pitched laughing !! And she put on a brave face, but she was gagging to be on her own and to have a chat with me. She enjoyed Lydia and Debs’ company a lot and it was a great distraction, but as soon as they left, there were more tears.

Laura was due at about 1.45pm and no sooner than she arrived, I asked if she would leave it for the afternoon and come back on monday. Karen wanted to be on her own (with me). More tears and a very upsetting afternoon. In fact, things got so bad, and I was so concerned for Karen’s state of mind, that I called the psychiatrist. I felt, and Karen was with me, that she was having irrational thoughts and she described herself as being paranoid. Karen likes to have goals and be busy, but I think her mind and body can’t keep up the pace that she wants them to. So, we put these scary thoughts down to the double dosage of Ametrypteline as the likely candidate and the phonecall with the psychiatrist confirmed that “this drug” (much easier to type than Ametrypteline, bugger I have typed it anyway now) can cause paranoia. It’s listed as one of the side effects, although uncommon. I was hoping he would say, ditch the double dose, but instead he said to carry on, given it’s had the desired effect (a good night’s sleep), and discuss the situation more to calm Karen’s paranoia.

Friday night saw Karen have 12 hours sleep. Another success !!! But her mood remained low and the atmosphere around the house was horrid. Saturday night, the highight of the week normally, wasn’t the usual highlight and today has been a pretty down day. We had some plans for the day, but apart from the dog walk, they have mostly been scuppered with Karen wanting to just get out of it (sleep) and this when she had yet another good night’s sleep !!!

I am hoping that she will wake up, feeling a bit better. Because, the one thing we must do, is plan this next week better.

She needs to feel in control (paramount), and to pace herself better. And, with a bit of luck, her mood will return to the 100% it was just a few days ago !