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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Update

My Dad is still in the hospital.  Word is that he will probably go home tomorrow.  I'm packing up to go home with him for the night - longer if needed.  His procedure went well in as it worked and his heart rate is at a good even rhythm where it was very irregular in the past.  The procedure took about six hours and he was under anesthesia the whole time.  When they took him off, he wasn't breathing on his own, so they had to intubate him.  Later that day, a nurse would assure me that is not uncommon.  I have always trusted the word of a Nurse more than the word of a doctor, so I chose to believe that.  

When the doctor came out and told me this, he told me to watch for signs of a stroke and generally freaked me out, then it was another four hours before I was even able to see him with my own eyes.  When I finally walked into the room, he looked opened his eyes to look at me, then closed them like he didn't recognize me.  I said, "Do you know who I am?"  He looked at me and said, "Beverly?"  I said, "This is SO not the time to be funny, Leon!'  He laughed, "I am kidding, Shara."  He is fine in that respect and his heart rate is good.  But since he didn't have a drop of food or fluids in 36 hours he is obviously dehydrated so they are working on that.  I can see that.  Can't you?  But the nurses are all like, "HUH.  Wonder why you are so dehydrated."  Seems kind of obvious to me.  But, I got thrown out of Medical School long ago, so what do I know.  :)

The main thing right now is that his breathing is kind of shallow and short.  But, the respiratory therapist says his lungs are clear and his breathing is fine.  I think a lot of that has to do with having a pipe shoved down his throat for six hours.  The Respiratory therapist said that has a lot to do with it.  Hey - maybe I can get that Medical degree after all.

Here's his main problem.  He is CRANKY.  And, I don't blame him.  No sleep with everyone poking and prodding on you every ten minutes all night long, no solid food (he has to eat only cold or room temperature soft food for two weeks (That is a LOT of yogurt and pudding), peeing in a bottle, wearing a hospital gown, laying in bed, not having a shower or being allowed to brush his teeth in three days- well, I would be cranky too.  So, if the hospital says he can go home, home he will go.  A shower, a good night's sleep in his own bed with his own pillow and his big screen TV with FOX news blasting away all day and he will be good as new.  The doctors SWEAR he will feel GREAT and be BETTER THAN EVER and all that jazz.  He just had to take a little slide backwards to get ahead.

*Ten bonus points and a big thank you for reading this entire post if you aren't even related to me. :)

P.S.  Have you seen the new PINK pumpkins?



10 comments:

  1. Feeling great and better than ever sounds wonderful, but it's going to be a tough 2 weeks with just yogurt and pudding. At least he'll be home.
    All the best to your dad.

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  2. I have been thinking of you and your Dad and so glad everything went well. I'd be cranky too if all that happened to me. Just give him a big hug for all of us and you try to get some rest also!

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  3. I get the 10 points there has been so much medical stuff going on in my life that I feel I should have a medical degree. such as why did your dad have no IV fluids?
    Glad it is going well and he is going home.
    pink pumpkins nope did they cross it with a butternut squash?
    Cathy

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  4. Glad all is going well. My dad has a lot of issues with shallow breathing and such when he's had anesthesia - crankiness is defintely a good sign!

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  5. It's tough to see your 'Dad' going through rough times! My thoughts are with you guys!!

    ...now, as for the pink pumpkins... I KNOW that they are for a Good cause, but they are just W.R.O.N.G. on so many levels!!

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  6. I am so glad you Dad is doing so well and cranky is good! Means he is feeling better! I'm taking my Mom to the Dr today and I want to find out what they think is wrong with her blood. Gosh this getting old isn't for sissies is it!
    hugs, Linda

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  7. I don't blame your Dad one bit for feeling out of sorts! He's lucky to have you around to take good care and fuss over him.

    They have those pumpkins at my grocery store. I've bought them before at the farm/nursery in years past but this is the first time I've seen them branded as "pink" and associated with breast cancer. Sheesh.

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  8. That was a very entertaining post.

    I too could be a doctor because of my common sense and magical powers of deductions!

    I would be beyound cranky if I had to eat tepid food, pee in a bottle and get poked and probed.

    Good night to you dad

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  9. Bless your Dad, he sounds like one tough character!
    How wonderful he'll feel to be home sweet home. You're a sweet daughter Shara.

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  10. It's always a good sign when a patient jokes. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery! (hugs)

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