Spoke with Liz tonight. (She had a busy day today -- seems to be par for the course.)
Dad was discharged from the hospital today. Yay! She drove him back to Lima. He's weak and tired, but back eating a bit. Hope he can get his weight up.
Mom fell again over night. They found her face down on the bathroom floor this morn. Sounds like she was there 3 hours -- not good. She went to the doctor who said she might have bronchitis. She had had a bit of a fever. She also had been having some trouble moving her limbs, worrying us that she might have had a small stroke, but the doctor thinks the bronchitis may have just made her weak and unstable. He has her on antibiotics, I think. Liz said she seemed to be moving better today than yesterday, so we are hoping the doctor is right and she will be back to 'normal' once she gets over the bronchitis. Meanwhile she has been told to call for help when she needs to get out of bed for any reason (such as going to the bathroom). She told Liz, 'yes, dear.' We'll see.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Full Day
Yesterday was Uncle Tom's memorial gathering -- a good time to remember him and enjoy seeing family on that side that we don't see enough. Enjoyed hearing Lynn and Merit's memories. Dorrie taped it so that can show it to Dad.
Mom had a fall yesterday morn. Someone found her on her knees on the floor of her room. Not sure how long she was there. She hurt her knee and also her rear, so we're not quite sure what happened. She was able to come to the memorial gathering -- Dor picked her up -- but she was moving incredibly slowly. In hind sight, she should have come in a wheelchair. I spoke to her this morning and she sounded very tired and said that her knees felt OK but her lower back hurt.
After the service, Liz took Mom back for lunch and we went to visit Dad. Sharon was there and later Ted stopped by with Aunt Mary. Merit had stopped by the day before. Nice for Dad to have all these surprise visitors -- he really enjoyed them.
At the hospital we spoke quite a bit with Ben the 'swallowing guy' who told us in detail about Dad's video swallowing tests and everything related to his problem -- very informative. Dad 'failed' his swallowing test Monday, but they are beginning to feed him anyway (as we asked). It did feel like it was good we were there in person to ask about him getting food. Seemed like it might not have happened otherwise, though I don't really know. Things tend to slip through the cracks.
Went back to Lima after a while where Liz and MB worked on going through things in the apartment with help from Mom. Full day.
Mom had a fall yesterday morn. Someone found her on her knees on the floor of her room. Not sure how long she was there. She hurt her knee and also her rear, so we're not quite sure what happened. She was able to come to the memorial gathering -- Dor picked her up -- but she was moving incredibly slowly. In hind sight, she should have come in a wheelchair. I spoke to her this morning and she sounded very tired and said that her knees felt OK but her lower back hurt.
After the service, Liz took Mom back for lunch and we went to visit Dad. Sharon was there and later Ted stopped by with Aunt Mary. Merit had stopped by the day before. Nice for Dad to have all these surprise visitors -- he really enjoyed them.
At the hospital we spoke quite a bit with Ben the 'swallowing guy' who told us in detail about Dad's video swallowing tests and everything related to his problem -- very informative. Dad 'failed' his swallowing test Monday, but they are beginning to feed him anyway (as we asked). It did feel like it was good we were there in person to ask about him getting food. Seemed like it might not have happened otherwise, though I don't really know. Things tend to slip through the cracks.
Went back to Lima after a while where Liz and MB worked on going through things in the apartment with help from Mom. Full day.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Too Much Hospital
Sorry to be slow in posting, particularly since there was a lot I should have said.
The past week did not turn out as expected, and the reason (I think) was not anything unusual with Dad. From my perspective, it seems the people at Crozer were seeing Dad's swallowing issues for the first time and responded aggressively. The social worker called a meeting of the whole family on Friday (the doctor finally showed up after 45 minutes). It was one of these end-of-life type discussions -- we may need to make a decision about whether he will be permanently on a feeding tube if the swallowing is not improving, or does he want to just go for quality-of-life. They were talking about under what circumstances he might go into hospice, etc. Unfortunately, David and I both had to attend by cell phone and it was hard to catch everything, though I did catch up with Liz later for clarification. Dad was alert and listening during the meeting, but didn't say much. I think it is very difficult for him to follow a discussion like that with a lot of people in the room.
What is odd and frustrating to me is that I don't believe Dad's swallowing problem is any different than it was before he went in the hospital (he went in for a stomach virus from which he recovered quickly). He shows no signs of dying -- at least not today. Yes, the swallowing is a problem. Yes, he could have aspiration which is dangerous. But they were dealing with this at Lima and I think they can continue to deal with it. He may have aspiration -- not sure that can be helped. (Somehow through what I think has been a pretty long time with this swallowing problem, he has amazingly not gotten pneumonia.) Not sure how being in the hospital is helping unless he wants a feeding tube, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't. As of tomorrow, he will have been in the hospital a week since recovering from the stomach virus. Part of that time they weren't feeding him at all, then finally they gave him a nutrition IV. They are waiting to do a video swallowing test tomorrow. Meanwhile, his digestive system is not being exercised and he is not getting physical exercise (they may have finally started some PT yesterday).
I think the family agrees that him staying in the hospital this long was a mistake -- we should have been more pro-active in getting him out. What I expect will happen is that after the swallowing test tomorrow, they will slowly start getting him back on pureed food and he will have to go through this whole process all over again -- not being able to eat food he likes for a while and needing a lot of PT. As David pointed out, even if the swallowing test looks bad we/he will probably recommend that he eats anyway, so why have they bothered putting him through all of this? Aargh.
On top of everything else, Uncle Tom's memorial gathering will be Tuesday and Dad won't be out of the hospital by then. Fortunately, it sounded like Lynn and Merit will probably stop by to see him (as will we).
So, please continue your prayers! Sorry to be so cranky.
The past week did not turn out as expected, and the reason (I think) was not anything unusual with Dad. From my perspective, it seems the people at Crozer were seeing Dad's swallowing issues for the first time and responded aggressively. The social worker called a meeting of the whole family on Friday (the doctor finally showed up after 45 minutes). It was one of these end-of-life type discussions -- we may need to make a decision about whether he will be permanently on a feeding tube if the swallowing is not improving, or does he want to just go for quality-of-life. They were talking about under what circumstances he might go into hospice, etc. Unfortunately, David and I both had to attend by cell phone and it was hard to catch everything, though I did catch up with Liz later for clarification. Dad was alert and listening during the meeting, but didn't say much. I think it is very difficult for him to follow a discussion like that with a lot of people in the room.
What is odd and frustrating to me is that I don't believe Dad's swallowing problem is any different than it was before he went in the hospital (he went in for a stomach virus from which he recovered quickly). He shows no signs of dying -- at least not today. Yes, the swallowing is a problem. Yes, he could have aspiration which is dangerous. But they were dealing with this at Lima and I think they can continue to deal with it. He may have aspiration -- not sure that can be helped. (Somehow through what I think has been a pretty long time with this swallowing problem, he has amazingly not gotten pneumonia.) Not sure how being in the hospital is helping unless he wants a feeding tube, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't. As of tomorrow, he will have been in the hospital a week since recovering from the stomach virus. Part of that time they weren't feeding him at all, then finally they gave him a nutrition IV. They are waiting to do a video swallowing test tomorrow. Meanwhile, his digestive system is not being exercised and he is not getting physical exercise (they may have finally started some PT yesterday).
I think the family agrees that him staying in the hospital this long was a mistake -- we should have been more pro-active in getting him out. What I expect will happen is that after the swallowing test tomorrow, they will slowly start getting him back on pureed food and he will have to go through this whole process all over again -- not being able to eat food he likes for a while and needing a lot of PT. As David pointed out, even if the swallowing test looks bad we/he will probably recommend that he eats anyway, so why have they bothered putting him through all of this? Aargh.
On top of everything else, Uncle Tom's memorial gathering will be Tuesday and Dad won't be out of the hospital by then. Fortunately, it sounded like Lynn and Merit will probably stop by to see him (as will we).
So, please continue your prayers! Sorry to be so cranky.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Uncle Tom
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.
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.
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!)
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