Gradual improvement

While waiting for CW to commence work, dad's condition improved (thankfully!):

• Pain less frequent. Oxynorm down to 3 times daily, from 5
• Swelling slowly decreased
• Slowly regained strength, where eventually he could get down from lazy chair unassisted (yay!)

The last one was quite important: at night, before going to bed, we could help dad to get onto the lazy chair without worrying about him getting out of it in the middle of the night.

Unfortunately, during the week before his next appointment with PCU on Friday, he started having problem with bowel movement: gradually pooed lesser and then finally constipated for 3 days. This coincided with the increased of Oxynorm intake from 3 to 4 / 5 times daily.

PCU doctor recommended the following:

• Just for that day: once get home, take 6 tabs of bisacodyl + 20ml of lactulose
• Next day onward: replace bisacodly with Senokot (purchased outside) 2 tabs twice daily
• If still cannot poo by Monday, then at least I (i.e. dad doesn't need to follow) have to go to GH to consult PCU again
• If it works, then just turn up for appointment in 2 weeks time

At home, about 5 hours after taking the one time concoction, dad pooed but watery Hours later, it happened again. The next day, it was very soft poo. It was a gradual improvement from then onward. Phew.

Meanwhile, we both discussed and identified the next main problem: the pain in the hip flared up when he sat down, which was most of the time of course. The pain score was 3 at best, whereas if he stood, it would be 2. So that wasn't good and we endeavour to tell doctors this.