9/24/2021 Linda being Linda

 (Marilyn)

First, you haven't heard much from Tricia lately because she is wearing many hats.  She has her job, she handles Linda's menu to try to control the up-and-down sugar levels, she visits Linda every night for four or five hours, she runs down to NHC whenever Linda refuses to do her physical therapy and Tricia tries to get Linda to cooperate and she is now trying to arrange off-site doctor appointments for Linda (which has become problematic because of the C Diff infection).  But I will try to cover all bases.

I got there today at 8:30 and Linda was dressed and in her wheelchair but not very friendly.  She said, "Why are you back so soon?"  Then she kept repeating, "I think I'll go home now."  They came to get her for physical therapy and she refused.  So we got Tricia on FaceTime and Tricia tried to convince Linda to do her PT, but Linda lowered her head and refused.  Linda did a lot of mumbling and muttering, totally impossible to understand.

When the PT guy left, Linda wheeled over to the bed and pulled the covers back and started making efforts to get into bed, which she was unable to do.  She told me not to get a nurse, she could get into bed without assistance. which she was unable to do.  I was afraid she was going to fall so I got Loretta to come in.  Loretta got Linda in position to get into bed and Linda refused, said she didn't want to get into bed any more. 

As soon as Loretta left the room, Linda again started to try to get into bed by herself, and she couldn't and came close to falling.  I got Loretta again and this time Linda cooperated with Loretta to some extent.  She fought with Loretta a little bit, but she finally got into bed.

And miraculously, as soon as Linda got into bed she was able to talk and even laughed at a joke.  It's maddening.  Part of me thinks she is playing with us but part of me thinks "but what if it is really brain damage."  It's so hard to believe that, as bad as she wants to "go home," she refuses to do the very things that would help her get discharged...

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