We heard yesterday that Uncle Tom passed away. Not unexpected, but still sad. Continue to keep Lynn and Merit in your prayers. I imagine it will have an especially big impact on Lynn since she has been caring for him all along. Liz told us that there will be a memorial gathering for him Tuesday.
Dad is doing OK, though the news saddened him. Liz and Mom were there to tell him.
Dad is still in the hospital. They are concerned about his swallowing so he has no solid food now at all (just nutritional IV) and won't be able to leave until they believe he can eat OK. Hope that is soon.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
More on Dad -- also Uncle Tom
Dad is still in the hospital. Hoping they discharge him soon (today?). Seems like they ought to, but who knows.
We were down with Liz on Saturday to visit, bring Mom for a visit, and try to make some progress with the apartment. (We did get Dad's dresser and recliner moved down to his room, which I think he'll appreciate.) The visits were kind of funny. MB was there first and had a nice time with him watching a movie. When Liz, Mom, and I showed up he was much crabbier. Seemed like it had to do with the lunch, which he found unappetizing and which Liz was pushing him to eat; maybe also be because he needed to go to the bathroom. Anyway, MB & I came back in the evening and he was in fine spirits. We watched part of a movie with him and he talked nostalgically about the old days.
He seemed to us pretty much ready to be discharged (though he still had the catheter), but then Liz told us yesterday that he had started with a cough. Guess we'll see today. MB is headed down to visit and to work with Mom on sorting things out in the apartment some more. It's a process.
The bad news of the day is that Dorrie got a call from Merit that Uncle Tom is in very bad shape. He had a TIA a week ago and though some associated paralysis resolved quickly, he then had some pneumonia (also resolved?) and rapidly advancing dementia. Things got worse as he started with non-stop coughing and became barely communicative. Can't eat at all and will be moving to hospice. Please pray for him, Lynn and Merit.
We were down with Liz on Saturday to visit, bring Mom for a visit, and try to make some progress with the apartment. (We did get Dad's dresser and recliner moved down to his room, which I think he'll appreciate.) The visits were kind of funny. MB was there first and had a nice time with him watching a movie. When Liz, Mom, and I showed up he was much crabbier. Seemed like it had to do with the lunch, which he found unappetizing and which Liz was pushing him to eat; maybe also be because he needed to go to the bathroom. Anyway, MB & I came back in the evening and he was in fine spirits. We watched part of a movie with him and he talked nostalgically about the old days.
He seemed to us pretty much ready to be discharged (though he still had the catheter), but then Liz told us yesterday that he had started with a cough. Guess we'll see today. MB is headed down to visit and to work with Mom on sorting things out in the apartment some more. It's a process.
The bad news of the day is that Dorrie got a call from Merit that Uncle Tom is in very bad shape. He had a TIA a week ago and though some associated paralysis resolved quickly, he then had some pneumonia (also resolved?) and rapidly advancing dementia. Things got worse as he started with non-stop coughing and became barely communicative. Can't eat at all and will be moving to hospice. Please pray for him, Lynn and Merit.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Doing Well!
Just got off the phone with Liz:
She spoke with the nurse this morn who said he is doing well in all areas. His blood pressure is back up and stayed up after they took him off the medication to boost it. Fever is gone. White blood count dropped in half. Lactic acid, which had been high, is more normal. Another chest X-ray looked good -- no pneumonia. He was sitting up, alert, watching TV.
He even ate a good lunch (sans teeth, since they forgot his fixodent). Expect to take him off the IV tonight.
Liz took Mom over to see him this afternoon for a short time and Dave and Dor will be visiting again later. Dad was tired of watching TV and wanted to read, which seems to me a good thing.
Tonight they plan to move him to a regular room.
All sounds like an answer to prayer.
She spoke with the nurse this morn who said he is doing well in all areas. His blood pressure is back up and stayed up after they took him off the medication to boost it. Fever is gone. White blood count dropped in half. Lactic acid, which had been high, is more normal. Another chest X-ray looked good -- no pneumonia. He was sitting up, alert, watching TV.
He even ate a good lunch (sans teeth, since they forgot his fixodent). Expect to take him off the IV tonight.
Liz took Mom over to see him this afternoon for a short time and Dave and Dor will be visiting again later. Dad was tired of watching TV and wanted to read, which seems to me a good thing.
Tonight they plan to move him to a regular room.
All sounds like an answer to prayer.
Morning Update
Dad reportedly had a good night. Stable vitals, still on oxygen, on IV fluids and antibiotics, reduced the dosage of the blood pressure med (norepenephrine), no fever, pretty much slept thru, moving arms and legs fine when asked, heart rate in the 50's (the nurse thought this might be a little low, but didn't know what is normal for him), urine output a little low, did chest xray and labs this AM (results pending), and will do a swallowing test probably today. She also said he was quiet and appropriate.
(This is all via an automated system where you can call in and get a daily update on your favorite patient!)
(This is all via an automated system where you can call in and get a daily update on your favorite patient!)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Back in the Hospital
I just spoke with Liz who is finally on her way home after a very long day (it's 10:30 now). Her report (hope I do not mess anything up in the translation):
Dad spent the day in the ER at Crozier and finally got into a room in the ICU cardio vascular unit this evening. At least the ER was not so bad and he slept most of the day.
After the vomiting, he was dehydrated and had a temperature. His blood pressure was low, heart rate and respiration high. They put him on IV, oxygen, antibiotics, and increased steroids. Also back on the catheter, I think to monitor his output. His vitals got back to normal, except the BP which was still low (95/37). They then put him on something else to raise it. It went up some, but would be good if it went even higher.
They think there is some infection -- probably pneumonia. Chest Xray showed no food (aspiration could get food in lungs), but maybe it wouldn't show. He may have septicemia/sepsis or be on the cusp of it. That would lower the BP. They took a culture and will know more in 24-48 hrs. Meanwhile, they are keeping a close eye on him.
This is all pretty bad, particularly since Dad is so frail to start. I'm really glad Liz could stay with him through all of this and Dor, Julie, and David came tonight, too. Visiting hours in ICU are fairly restricted (12:30-2:30, 4-6, 7:30-8:30). I think someone -- probably Liz -- will bring Mom over tomorrow.
Hang in there Dad!
Dad spent the day in the ER at Crozier and finally got into a room in the ICU cardio vascular unit this evening. At least the ER was not so bad and he slept most of the day.
After the vomiting, he was dehydrated and had a temperature. His blood pressure was low, heart rate and respiration high. They put him on IV, oxygen, antibiotics, and increased steroids. Also back on the catheter, I think to monitor his output. His vitals got back to normal, except the BP which was still low (95/37). They then put him on something else to raise it. It went up some, but would be good if it went even higher.
They think there is some infection -- probably pneumonia. Chest Xray showed no food (aspiration could get food in lungs), but maybe it wouldn't show. He may have septicemia/sepsis or be on the cusp of it. That would lower the BP. They took a culture and will know more in 24-48 hrs. Meanwhile, they are keeping a close eye on him.
This is all pretty bad, particularly since Dad is so frail to start. I'm really glad Liz could stay with him through all of this and Dor, Julie, and David came tonight, too. Visiting hours in ICU are fairly restricted (12:30-2:30, 4-6, 7:30-8:30). I think someone -- probably Liz -- will bring Mom over tomorrow.
Hang in there Dad!
Settled and Sick
Just a few things to report (mostly because I don't have much time):
- M&D came to the family birthday party Sunday. Nice time and good for them to be out.
- Dad is in his new room (with his roommate, Frank) and it is viewed as his long term home. I've heard about it, but have not been there yet (though Liz, Dor, and even Rebek have been there). A few of us hope to get down this weekend to get some of his furniture moved down to his room and to work on cleaning out the apartment.
- Good news -- Mom is indeed eating dinner now with Dad (and Peggy, who they knew previously).
- Bad news -- Liz called this morning and said that Dad was sick last night. I think she said vomiting and some fever(?) He is going to Crozier Hospital. I think they are worried about aspiration. Liz (and maybe Dor?) are going over there. Pray for him!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A Few Changes for Dad
Liz called today to report a couple of things (she had been visiting M&D):
First, they will be moving Dad tomorrow into a double room where he will have a roommate. If you remember, his current single room was only temporary. We've been told that his roommate is a very nice guy and we're hoping that this is a positive change for Dad. Not sure he realizes that this will be his 'permanent' home, but he probably does. Since this is permanent, I expect that they will tell us very soon that we need to move everything out of the apartment. Guess we'd better get going on that soon! It will be good to get some of Dad's furniture into the room so it feels more like home.
Second, Dad no longer needs his eating supervised so he will now be dining in the non-supervised dining room. He is a bit concerned about the move, since he will be eating with 'new' people, but we think it is a good thing as the people in there are higher functioning and should be more interesting to him. I hope he continues to eat well without being supervised. And... LeeAnne asked Mom if she would come eat with Dad now that he is in the non-supervised dining room and she said she would! Hope that works out for real.
First, they will be moving Dad tomorrow into a double room where he will have a roommate. If you remember, his current single room was only temporary. We've been told that his roommate is a very nice guy and we're hoping that this is a positive change for Dad. Not sure he realizes that this will be his 'permanent' home, but he probably does. Since this is permanent, I expect that they will tell us very soon that we need to move everything out of the apartment. Guess we'd better get going on that soon! It will be good to get some of Dad's furniture into the room so it feels more like home.
Second, Dad no longer needs his eating supervised so he will now be dining in the non-supervised dining room. He is a bit concerned about the move, since he will be eating with 'new' people, but we think it is a good thing as the people in there are higher functioning and should be more interesting to him. I hope he continues to eat well without being supervised. And... LeeAnne asked Mom if she would come eat with Dad now that he is in the non-supervised dining room and she said she would! Hope that works out for real.
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