update on my mom

[ktgrok]

I posted about her falling and breaking her shoulder a week ago I think. She had a CT scan this week, and yesterday they put her in a hanging cast that doesn't cover the part that was broken, just the rest of her arm. The idea is to help prevent motion and to weigh down the shoulder bones. She will stay in that with a cuff style sling for 3 weeks and then they will see if it is healing well enough to stay the course or if she needs a complete shoulder replacement. Part of me wishes they'd just do he surgery rather than drag this out, but I get that they don't want to unless they have to. Ugh. 

Also, that's 3 more weeks of no showers. I offered to come wash her hair laying down with on of those inflatable basins, or linked to some well reviewed foam shampoo, but she's not even ready to think about that yet. 

 

 

[*Jessica*]

Ugh, so miserable!  I hope she’s not too uncomfortable while it heals.  If she’s vaccinated, maybe going for a wash at a salon every three or four days would keep her feeling less icky?  

[mlktwins]

So sorry!  I know how worrisome all of this is to you!  I get it...

[ktgrok]

8 minutes ago, StillJessica said:

Ugh, so miserable!  I hope she’s not too uncomfortable while it heals.  If she’s vaccinated, maybe going for a wash at a salon every three or four days would keep her feeling less icky?  

She is fully vaccinated (thank goodness, with all the doctor appointments!) but I'm not sure she can even lean back like that right now. In fact, was just reading she may not even be allowed to lie down fully. 

My other thought is to put her in the shower with a bag over her - like cut a hole in a plastic trash bag for her head, and tape it to her so I can stand in the shower and wash her hair. OR might be able to do the inflatable basin thing if Dad helps. But she's just not ready to even discuss it yet. 

[*Jessica*]

Just now, ktgrok said:

She is fully vaccinated (thank goodness, with all the doctor appointments!) but I'm not sure she can even lean back like that right now. In fact, was just reading she may not even be allowed to lie down fully. 

My other thought is to put her in the shower with a bag over her - like cut a hole in a plastic trash bag for her head, and tape it to her so I can stand in the shower and wash her hair. OR might be able to do the inflatable basin thing if Dad helps. But she's just not ready to even discuss it yet. 

Oh man, that’s hard!  Your poor momma. 🙁

[ktgrok]

Just now, StillJessica said:

Oh man, that’s hard!  Your poor momma. 🙁

Thank you. She's hurting a lot. Plus she had already inured her ribs from a different fall out of bed (mattress issue). This type of sling seems to put less weight on her injured ribs at least. But she was hurting a lot yesterday just from the manipulation to put it on, etc. 

[Kassia]

That's awful.  😞  I'm really sorry.

[Starr]

That is so miserable. Poor mom. I think I would use a washcloth and wash her scalp as best I could and put some spray shampoo on her hair. 

[Jenny in Florida]

That looks so uncomfortable, and the no-showers thing would be really miserable. I'm so sorry. I've been thinking about her and wondering how she is doing. I hope you all can figure out some ways to make this time less unpleasant for her.

[Junie]

Hugs and prayers for your mom.

[klmama]

Praying for her.  

[Lady Florida.]

Ugh. How uncomfortable!

When my mom had rotator cuff surgery I helped quite a bit but I lived minutes away from her. One of the main things was helping her wash her hair (or basically washing it for her). I hope your mom takes you up on your offer to wash hers. Sometimes something as simple as getting your hair washed can make you feel a lot better.

 

1 hour ago, ktgrok said:

My other thought is to put her in the shower with a bag over her - like cut a hole in a plastic trash bag for her head, and tape it to her so I can stand in the shower and wash her hair. OR might be able to do the inflatable basin thing if Dad helps. But she's just not ready to even discuss it yet. 

If she's uncomfortable with the two of you in the shower you could suggest that you both wear swimsuits.

[Catwoman]

Katie, would she try dry shampoo? It’s not ideal, but at least she wouldn’t have to get her head wet. 

I feel so sad for her. 😞 

[Kassia]

10 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

Katie, would she try dry shampoo? It’s not ideal, but at least she wouldn’t have to get her head wet. 

I feel so sad for her. 😞 

Dry shampoo is a really good idea if that would work for her.  

[Scarlett]

Oh man.  That seems miserable.  When my mom couldn't get her hand wet for weeks after their accident and her emergency hand surgery, I bought her a cast shower cover.  Similar to this https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/sealtight-original-cast-andbandage-protector/ID=prod3400235-product

 

Then I got a shower chair.  She sat and I washer her hair.  She has A LOT of hair and it was hard to do, but every time she got her hair washed (and she was able to shower the rest of her body that way as well) she felt SOOOO much better.  But I don't think we attempted that until about 2 weeks after her surgery.  She spent 7 days in rehab and they washed her hair there a couple of times.  

[ktgrok]

She does have dry shampoo and uses it before appointments, but I know that starts to feel icky after a while, scalp gets itchy, etc. I'm going to just send her the foam one I found on Amazon. It has great reviews, everyone says it works way better than the dry stuff, and it might help get her scalp refreshed. 

She can't do the regular cast cover for the shower because the cuff would be up close to where the break is, and require manuvering her arm more than they want. The humeral head is basically in pieces. I'm not optimistic she's getting by without surgery, but I know she wants to try at least. 

I figure I'll send the foam stuff via amazon, and then stop by next week and see if I can help her. When I ask to come over she says no. But when my sister went by withou asking they said over and over they were glad she came, so I think I just need to push past the resistance and go. She's hurting more right now from the cast application, but maybe tomorrow. 

[Scarlett]

14 minutes ago, ktgrok said:

She does have dry shampoo and uses it before appointments, but I know that starts to feel icky after a while, scalp gets itchy, etc. I'm going to just send her the foam one I found on Amazon. It has great reviews, everyone says it works way better than the dry stuff, and it might help get her scalp refreshed. 

She can't do the regular cast cover for the shower because the cuff would be up close to where the break is, and require manuvering her arm more than they want. The humeral head is basically in pieces. I'm not optimistic she's getting by without surgery, but I know she wants to try at least. 

I figure I'll send the foam stuff via amazon, and then stop by next week and see if I can help her. When I ask to come over she says no. But when my sister went by withou asking they said over and over they were glad she came, so I think I just need to push past the resistance and go. She's hurting more right now from the cast application, but maybe tomorrow. 

I was afraid the cast cover would not work.  Ugh. I am with you I think a full replacement is going to be the better route, but I am sure they have to try to fix it first.

Mom's clavicle was also broken but they did not do that surgery for about 3 weeks after the accident.  Her hand was so bad they were just trying to save the finger.  Thankfully the clavicle surgery did allow for showers....they put this huge very water proof tape on her and told her showers were fine.  She hated putting the cast cover on though.  Her poor hand was so tender and swollen that any touch hurt it.  

It is a very rough situation.  I am so sorry.

[sheryl]

Aww, Katie!  I do think that is the best course for now.  See if it heals.  However, they should set her up (you may need to initiate) "home services" that will (help) bathe her, wash her hair, etc.   

[mommyoffive]

OH your poor mom.  I am so sorry she is in so much pain.  I am sending prayers that her recovery gets easier.  

[itsheresomewhere]

Get her a leg cast cover.  It works much better than the arm cast cover for the length of her cast. Ask the orthopedist if she can come undone for a 15 minute shower?  A lot will allow this but don’t mention it for some reason unless asked.  
 

Did they send her home with extra stuff to change the “sling”?  They should have. And may I recommend the Palmer’s hemp based lotion for the skin around the neck?  It does work pretty well for cast irritation.

Edited April 22, 2021 by itsheresomewhere

[Tap]

They have heated wipes to wash the body. They are like giant baby wipes but you microwave them for a few seconds first. That, an water free shampoo (sounds like you already found this) will help her feel better. Do you think she will feel more comfortable if her husband washes her? After dd's port surgery we had her boyfriend jump in the shower with her. I knew they were sleeping together at that point, so it wasn't as taboo as it sounds. I don't think she would have wanted me to do it, but she didn't mind if he helped. LOL

[ktgrok]

3 hours ago, itsheresomewhere said:

Get her a leg cast cover.  It works much better than the arm cast cover for the length of her cast. Ask the orthopedist if she can come undone for a 15 minute shower?  A lot will allow this but don’t mention it for some reason unless asked.  
 

Did they send her home with extra stuff to change the “sling”?  They should have. And may I recommend the Palmer’s hemp based lotion for the skin around the neck?  It does work pretty well for cast irritation.

She did ask the ortho, he said no shower for now 😞 

I don't know about stuff to change the sling, I'll ask. And reccomend the lotion.