A Fall

 About 9:30 on Monday night, Tommy came into the living room, was looking around and saying, "Where did you...where is it...what did you do with...on and on, over and over. I was wondering what he wanted, so I kept asking him and he said, 'nothing' or 'never mind' or just went back to the kitchen. Then, he would come back, wander around and not answer me. He was ill with me. Finally, after about 15 minutes of this, I heard the biggest crash ever in this house. I rushed into the kitchen. Remember, this chair is slow lifting and then I have to make an extreme effort to get out. So, rushing into the kitchen takes a long time. 

Tommy was lying on the floor with blood on hand and head. Briefly tried to talk with him, but he was barely conscious. He made no sense when he muttered. I called 911 immediately. Ambulance and firetruck came screaming. 

They treated Tommy where he lay. I asked the two women with him if one of them could turn off the eye where food was burning. His blood pressure was very high. His blood sugar was 32...32! They immediately put in an IV of sugar. Their words not mine. 

The guys asked if he had high blood pressure. Since the doctor prescribed high bp med before he had high bp, I never know how to answer, so I said he did take bp med. I showed it to them and gave them water and they served it to him. My bp was sky high at that point! 

He landed on his stomach but managed to turn to his back before anyone came. He could not tell me if he was hurt. I gasped at the blood on his hand. I came back and there was blood on the other hand and the outer corner of his eye. He was in the narrowest place in this house by far, right as he was still in kitchen and heading to door to living room. I could not get close. I could not step over him and keep my balance. Besides, I wondered if he would trip me thinking I was stepping on him. 

I heard squeaking from where he and four EMTs were standing as I sat in my chair. One guy came in here, and I asked him what was the squeaking. I feared it was Tommy. One of the women had laryngitis. Fifteen minutes later when Tommy was recovering, he asked what was squeaking. He said he was really troubled, thinking something was wrong with him still that he could not hear things right. 

So, once they got Tommy up, they sat him on his walker. Then, they helped him up and wanted him to push his walker to living room. They commented about his pb by chair and said he needed that in a pbj sandwich, asking him if he had bread. He started making a pb sandwich. He refuses to eat jelly on it. After the people left, I got him a warm real Coke. I told him it was warm and to drink it anyway. He did. 

I was exhausted from the drama and worry for Tommy. I finished the burger I had half cooked. I gave him that on a bun and heated a bowl with all the leftovers of potato, broccoli, and green beans. There was little of each.

The reason his blood sugar was dropping was that we wanted to watch Antique Road Show. I know he should manage his own health, but obviously, he won't. And, he just now told me F*** Off! 

I had to wake him at 2 am to take meds and his insulin because he did not even take meds! He is so exhausting. And rude. This is why I didn't do anything to help him when he was wandering around just before he fell. I knew abuse would follow. I would have done more if I actually thought he would fall. He tells me he knows what he is doing and does not need help! He is too big to manhandle as if he were three. 

It is 3 am, and I cannot sleep!

Do you have experience with someone with diabetes who will not listen? He will get the little dexcon thing to wear, but will not allow it on my phone because he "can do it himself" because he "knows what he is doing."

He had a boarder about 20 years ago who found him unconscious in the living room. She called an ambulance and he was taken to the hospital. He complained that all she needed to do was put food in his mouth. He did not know about the tubes of gel to squeeze in a person's mouth and said he did not need  to keep those around because food would work, too. Seee? If I do try to force anything on him, he will hurt me because he is strong. Remember?

Tuesday now. So, he lived through the night. I always worry about that. 

Between the two of us, we cooked three packages of sliced chicken and sliced turkey breast, potatoes, carrots, squash and onions. I did put garlic powder and onion powder on all. 

We ate late, too late. I had Tommy eat pb that he put on crackers. He did not argue as he usually does. I suppose his cut eye still hurts. The cut is right on his brow, right on the bone. I bled lots and then quit. He has a few other small bruises, but I forgot where. He was not hurt so it affected his walking. 

I have the name of a new Endocrinologist and will get an appointment for Tommy, too. 

Do you or have you dealt with a diabetic in trouble who does not know it?