BABY STEPS – GIANT LEAP TO WELLNESS

 My mother-in-law, a fairly healthy lady suffered severe vertigo problems while walking about four years ago. After diagnosis and treatment, she began using a walker with wheels and her mobility improved. The onset of the pandemic in March 2020 posed several hiccups that were manageable. Domestic help was kept away, and so were guests and visitors. The house was kept sterile with sanitizers and essential oils and smelt good and safe. And she was fine, all along even though she was a little bored without visitors

After a holiday at her older son's place, she came to stay with us at the end of 2020. Three days after she moved in, she complained of a severe headache one morning. All through the day, she kept repeating at five-ten-minute intervals - ‘Have I taken my medicines?’ We were clueless at the sudden behavior. That day went off with her repeatedly asking about medicines. I slept in her bedroom to monitor her. The next morning, she was unable to get up to complete her personal chores. With great difficulty, it was managed. We were lucky to get a physician on home visit to diagnose the problem. Suspecting electrolyte imbalance, he recommended a series of tests, and hospitalization as well.

The tests could be organized only the subsequent morning. In the meanwhile, her condition worsened – she was nauseated, hardly ate, and it was an ordeal to take her to the washroom. Although she fell ill on Wednesday, she could be hospitalized only on Sunday. Soon after admission, the hospital revived her with IV fluids, she became stable and alert. The CT scan revealed infection in the lungs. In other words, she was Covid +. And had to be admitted into the Covid ICU.

This was the most traumatic period for us all. She had never been hospitalized for over two decades, rather, she had never stayed alone at home for more than half an hour. We wondered if she would survive the ordeal.

To our good fortune, the hospital permitted the attender (my husband) to visit her at the ICU with the PPE. After about eight days of hospitalization, she was discharged to be under home quarantine. Her condition wasn’t better. A special nurse was arranged through a reputed agency, only to be sacked after we caught her red-handed in an act of stealing money. Quite reluctantly, I stepped in as the primary caregiver.

Every time she got up to take her feed, she would urinate copiously, and the floor would be flooded. Diapers appeared to be useless! The worst was to come in four days’ time….

With a constipation problem, mil had frequent anxiety disorders when the stools were not passed in time. (she was a real-life ‘Piku!’). That morning, she passed stools thrice, and felt exhausted, the ORSL served no purpose. I could barely move out of her sight for about five hours that morning. She complained of pain on shoulder and cramps in her left hand. A slight swelling was observed on the feet. The Blood Pressure meter revealed extremely high BP that alarmed us further. All the while, we were constantly in touch with our family doctor, and he advised readmission. He also mentioned that Covid was affecting her other vital organs. Terrifying!

This time again, the emergency unit of the city hospital proved angels in human form. They administered emergency drips, and injections and within two hours of her complaint, she was readmitted to the hospital. The ECG reading revealed abnormalities and she had suffered a mild myocardial infarction. Thankfully, the panic and timely intervention saved her from a cerebral stroke.

Being the sole caregiver had been a blessing in disguise!

During the stay the second time, she developed a urinary infection and was treated for that as well. The blessing, however, as she had gained considerable antibodies and could be admitted to the non-Covid ward, which meant, an attendant (my husband) could visit her each morning. When she was shifted to a private room, he was by her side 24 x 7. After two weeks of hospitalization under excellent medical care, she was discharged once again. This time, too, the nursing care was abandoned after the nurse who turned up fell ill just a day after she came. Though it was a horrifying experience, it offered me greater learning

Thus, began life in the ‘newest norm,' as a full-time caregiver to the ninety+ lady.