20211105 : side position

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Yesterday, during my sponge bath, I was rolled to the side and my ear lobe got pinned down on the pillow. I freed it of course - but it brought back some memories.


One of the very early on irritants for me was side sleeping. Every 2 hours or so, I used to be "given position" as they refer to it. Basically, I had to be turned to lie on my sides so as to relieve the pressure constantly on the back and help some circulation.

It was another matter that I could not lie for long on the side owing to my aspirations and cough and the trachiostomy. Folks could see that struggle and shift me back to lie straight on my back. I used to lie on my side very little owing to that. I am in fact very surprised that I didn't suffer from bed sores all along.

The real irritants were not visible.

When I was put to the side position, almost always, the ear lobe the side I was turned would be folded and pinned down on the pillow. It used to be very painful and uncomfortable. There was no way to indicate it and well nobody could make it ok since no one could have seen it. That would be the case for the duration I was on my side.

The second one was probably not much of an issue generally with others, but used to be very painful for me. 

Almost always, it used to be time for my feed after putting me on the side. Now, we can not be given feed in a reclining position as the feed might flow back to the mouth (regurgitation basically). So they would raise the bed so that it was something like 50 degrees at least. I did consider myself quite flexible before the stroke, but this bending on to the side, was an unbearable pain after the stroke. Best part, once they gave the feed, I couldn't be moved for something like 30 minutes before they could turn me back. This is probably the only time, before they fed me, I hoped that I would get a very violent cough and they could see the struggle and turn me back straight.

I don't recall exactly, but it was probably 3-4 months when I regained enough movement in the left hand so I could indicate when to give position so I could avoid the feed timings. I think I got enough mobility of the head/ neck to be able to wriggle the ear free around the same time.

The physical pain was very predictable and a matter of getting used to.

The harder part was the agony to the mind and the feeling of being helpless to even indicate the discomfort and having to endure it regularly...



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