March 19, 2018. Playa Royale, Mexico. Another Adventure.

In the past, Ken and I enjoyed adventures.   But this time in Mexico, adventures have become a four letter word.   Last evening we had another.   Actually, we learned something important.    It all happened at 8:00 when the nurses change shift.  Just before  nurse is about to leave, vital sgns are taken.   Nurse Laura noted Ken’s oxygen low level.   Nurse Javier arrived soon and was alarmed too so Laura called Adriana, who coordinates home care.  She called the young doctor and said that Ken’s oxygen levels were dangerously low and that he needed to go to the hospital for oxygen.  Ken disagreed, because his numbers were fine all day.  The doctor spoke to me and we agreed to monitor Ken for two hours.  Ken did not want to go over the road to that hospital.  He has seen that hospital before.

Adriana suggest to me via texting that she could send oxygen to our condo, just in case Ken needs it.  We agreed to the plan which was to send 2 canisters of oxygen delivered to us along with everything needed for Ken’s use.  When I went to bed at 11:00, Javier was massaging Kens back and legs.  Soon both Ken and I went to sleep.   Ian heard the front door open at 12:30 but that was all he heard.

When Ken and I woke up at 8:00 this morning, I realized that Ken had slept all night , and that 2 big green tanks of oxygen were in the corner.  At some point during the night,  I had noted tubes were attached to Ken’s nose but at 8, there was no tube.  Ken thought that he had pulled it out.  But not so.  While Ken slept, Javier attached the oxygen and turned it on.   Ken had the best sleep in weeks.  When the levels were fine at 6:00, Javier removed the oxygen supply.

During the day, Ken held a small research project, trying to find out when his oxygen levels go down.   Usually, the testing had been done with Ken at rest, either in a chair or bed.     Last night, Ken had walked to a char in the living room and got the low level.   This afternoon, with the nurse  beside him, Ken went through many activities, always monitoring the numbers on the fancy high tech little machine attached to his finger.   He discovered that his levels go down dramatically with activity.  No wonder he is short of breath with walking.   So Ken knows to use  oxygen when he exercises.   So we have had anther adventure  but this one will lead to making Ken being able to function.  And that is a good thing.