"Plateaued"

Peter has reached a plateau according to the specialist, Dr P., which I think means the medico's still think he is on the way out. But I have to say I think he is doing well at very small improvements every few days, but I suppose doctors are more objective and less close on a day by day basis. However, the infection in the Peg tube seems to have cleared up according to the latest swabs, the skin has healed around the Peg site and so that is one less issue with which we have to deal. And to me those small things just make life that much easier or more difficult depending on which way they are going and also make Peter more or less depressed.

Peter is also breathing more clearly and has less phlegm to bring up and he has been able to stand without assistance from the bed and do a few dozen "walking on the spot" exercises. All huge leaps of positive progress as far as I am concerned. I know this is due to the continuation of fluids, food and most crucially, the antibiotics which are holding everything (infection-wise) in check. I am hoping that they continue to do so, to allow Peter to get on top of the infection.

On the other hand, he is more anxious and distressed when I leave in the evening and has had to have some anti-anxiety medication. Sometimes I get phone calls after I have come home in the evening, which has necessitated me ringing the staff on his behalf, which I am sure is not something they are too thrilled about especially when busy.

We have not been playing too much scrabble lately as peter has been sleeping a fair bit when he has done his exercises. I have started to find his strategies also work for me and I think that Peter doesn't enjoy losing to me on rare occasions (but then I hate losing too).

Physios and Nutritionist continue to be super helpful and very positive about Peter's progress. He is tolerating the liquid food but is still having "clinical diarrhoea" which the nutritionist is now treating with Hi Maize, a starchy fibre supplement which looks like corn flour and apparently is good for easing those symptoms. I hope in a couple of days the diarrhoea will be a thing of the past.

I am getting a bit worn down by the relentlessness of each day by the bedside, but the few hours at home each night are an island of bliss in the sea of stress.

Leanne