I have been using this bed for a week. It is WONDERFUL to not have to have someone wake up to turn me twice a night, both for my sake and theirs. While it could be “placebo effect,” my feet feel slightly warmer in the morning. My respiratory system hasn’t shown much of a difference, but I’m not surprised – we will see what happens when I’m sick. I have had one small bout with sciatic pain, but it ended quickly.
Putting the night routine together is easier. Instead of being balanced and surrounded by pillows, I only put one small one to protect my tailbone. We move the gastric tube into a position that will not bother anything – especially my face. I get prepared for bed as usual otherwise. Once I sit up a little bit, so I can manage secretions, we can switch like controls.
Slowly and quietly, the bed rotates 30° to the left. 30 minutes later, it rotates 30° to the right. This keeps happening until we turn it off in the morning.
The first night, I startled when some of the turns began. I wasn’t scared or anything. It was just DIFFERENT than what I was used to. I was only awake for a few seconds each time.
Now, I sometimes wake up once or twice a night. It isn’t always connected to turning. (The ice dropping in the refrigerator is noisy, but I don’t think it’s that, either.) Anyhow, I usually fall asleep right away.
If I’m wide awake, I listen to Lutheran Talk Radio or an audiobook for a little while. I’ve been waking up early, sometimes 6 or 6:30 AM. Once again, I listen to something until someone is ready to work with me-usually around 7:30 AM or a little bit before.
More later…
