Friday, August 7, 2009
Aug 7
New news on Papaw JR. He began having extreme pain again last Thursday, yep a week ago, but this time on the right side (I hope I have that straight). Mamaw called the PT folks who sent EMS. An ER check up showed no heart involvement so he was released to go home. They saw Dr. Bunnell this week who ordered an ultrasound and then an endoscopy. Both tests were completed and both showed NOTHING. The dr recommended that JR take his pain meds 3 times a day without waiting for the pain to kick in. The next step, I believe, is a trip to a diagnostic center in Houston. Stay tuned...
Monday, July 20, 2009
July 20
JR continues to improve, Michelle and Lucille both say he looks better than he has in months! YAY for good news. His weight seems to be stabilizing. The 3 daily PT sessions have helped JR gain some strength and there's talk of him going home sometime this week. The only lingering issue is with the urinary tract, but it is better at least, though still an issue. JR was moved to a larger hospital room late last week and is now in Room 501. It's amazing what you can get sometimes just by asking! Michelle went back to San Antonio on Sunday, I left Victoria on Wednesday evening. David and Wanda are left to shoulder the caregiver duties....we'll all be forever in their debt.
In other news, Lea Anne is now in the same hospital. Terry had a bad cold a couple of weeks ago and the assumption is that she caught the cold but her's developed into a pneumonia. She was admitted Friday night through the ER with high fever, a full blown mess it sounds. Her fever comes and goes and she'll likely be in the hospital for 2-3 more days. In her weakened state, it could be several weeks before she fully recovers. We all worry about her health due to her compromised immune system. I believe she's in room 465, but I could have mis-heard on a bad cell call.
Keep the prayer lines open for both our patients...
In other news, Lea Anne is now in the same hospital. Terry had a bad cold a couple of weeks ago and the assumption is that she caught the cold but her's developed into a pneumonia. She was admitted Friday night through the ER with high fever, a full blown mess it sounds. Her fever comes and goes and she'll likely be in the hospital for 2-3 more days. In her weakened state, it could be several weeks before she fully recovers. We all worry about her health due to her compromised immune system. I believe she's in room 465, but I could have mis-heard on a bad cell call.
Keep the prayer lines open for both our patients...
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
July 14
Mom and I visited with JR this evening. Lucille was there for a little while but JR wanted her to head home so she'd arrive before dark.
JR was moved to the skilled nursing floor this afternoon. He's in room 507 in an older section of Citizens but adjacent to where he had been staying in room 469.
He still is having UTI issues and someone dropped the ball on getting a urologist up to see him today. Arrgghh. He did have a visit from a Podiatrist so he has a fresh pedicure!
Tomorrow will start the physical therapy to begin rebuilding his strength. His weight is down to 157. He does seem to be eating meals well and drinking Ensure-type beverages between meals.
He was enjoying watching the all-star game this evening, had two 5mg vicodin tablets just before we told him goodnight. More tomorrow!
JR was moved to the skilled nursing floor this afternoon. He's in room 507 in an older section of Citizens but adjacent to where he had been staying in room 469.
He still is having UTI issues and someone dropped the ball on getting a urologist up to see him today. Arrgghh. He did have a visit from a Podiatrist so he has a fresh pedicure!
Tomorrow will start the physical therapy to begin rebuilding his strength. His weight is down to 157. He does seem to be eating meals well and drinking Ensure-type beverages between meals.
He was enjoying watching the all-star game this evening, had two 5mg vicodin tablets just before we told him goodnight. More tomorrow!
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 13
After a rough-ish morning, JR had a pretty good day today. I visited him and Lucille this morning and JR was having some double-you-over stomach cramps with audible gut gurgling. We were pretty concerned for a short while until he began relating that he'd had multiple drugs to promote gastric action. He asked for some oral pain med and got a little relief from that. I left around 1 this afternoon and went back at 4.
David, Wanda and Lucille were there this afternoon and JR looked and said he felt much better than during the morning. The cramping had stopped. During a nurse's visit I asked about the meds he was taking that might induce cramping. She said that one of the drugs was a laxative and that he didn't have to take it unless he felt he needed help in that area. YAY! Normal for one person isn't always normal for everyone, so she told him not to worry about refusing it if he was feeling well and "things" were moving normally.
I got to meet Dr McNeil this evening and enjoyed hearing his take on JR's situation. Dr. MN said that there were "several" people leaving the skilled nursing (PT & rehab) unit (upstairs at Citizens) tomorrow morning and that they should have a spot for JR tomorrow afternoon. His view of the "lesions" on JR's lung was that there was something on the CT scan but nothing that they could identify. They have run multiple tests all showing no signs of cancer. The lung lesions could be an anomolly that will disappear on its own, or it could be something that will present itself more clearly in a few weeks. Dr. MN will see JR 2-3 times a week while in skilled nursing. Dr. Adams will not see JR during his stay in skilled nursing.
Dr McNeil figures that Adams will order a follow up xray and CT scan in about a month and depending on those views, he'll determine if another course of action is needed. For now, the plan is to build JR's strength in two-a-days upstairs so that he can walk 600 feet without much difficulty. Dr MN said that he originally thought JR would need 1-2 weeks of PT and rehab but after seeing JR looking good and sitting up tonight Dr MN didn't think it would take that long. Dr thinks they might be able to get JR back home in 7-10 days (maybe less!!) depending on how he responds to the PT and rehab. The dr did say that JR might need nursing care at home but that we'd cross that bridge later.
JR is still on antibiodics and flomax for his uriniary track infection and should be seeing a urologist in the next day or two. Other meds he's on are his normal thyroid medication, Lyrica and Colase. He gets oral vicodin as needed for pain, and only had one dose of that today.
That's all for now, things are looking much better from a week ago!
David, Wanda and Lucille were there this afternoon and JR looked and said he felt much better than during the morning. The cramping had stopped. During a nurse's visit I asked about the meds he was taking that might induce cramping. She said that one of the drugs was a laxative and that he didn't have to take it unless he felt he needed help in that area. YAY! Normal for one person isn't always normal for everyone, so she told him not to worry about refusing it if he was feeling well and "things" were moving normally.
I got to meet Dr McNeil this evening and enjoyed hearing his take on JR's situation. Dr. MN said that there were "several" people leaving the skilled nursing (PT & rehab) unit (upstairs at Citizens) tomorrow morning and that they should have a spot for JR tomorrow afternoon. His view of the "lesions" on JR's lung was that there was something on the CT scan but nothing that they could identify. They have run multiple tests all showing no signs of cancer. The lung lesions could be an anomolly that will disappear on its own, or it could be something that will present itself more clearly in a few weeks. Dr. MN will see JR 2-3 times a week while in skilled nursing. Dr. Adams will not see JR during his stay in skilled nursing.
Dr McNeil figures that Adams will order a follow up xray and CT scan in about a month and depending on those views, he'll determine if another course of action is needed. For now, the plan is to build JR's strength in two-a-days upstairs so that he can walk 600 feet without much difficulty. Dr MN said that he originally thought JR would need 1-2 weeks of PT and rehab but after seeing JR looking good and sitting up tonight Dr MN didn't think it would take that long. Dr thinks they might be able to get JR back home in 7-10 days (maybe less!!) depending on how he responds to the PT and rehab. The dr did say that JR might need nursing care at home but that we'd cross that bridge later.
JR is still on antibiodics and flomax for his uriniary track infection and should be seeing a urologist in the next day or two. Other meds he's on are his normal thyroid medication, Lyrica and Colase. He gets oral vicodin as needed for pain, and only had one dose of that today.
That's all for now, things are looking much better from a week ago!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
July 7
JR had a decent night last night according to Michelle. He does prefer that someone spend the night in his room. Late yesterday, JR began running a low grade fever. Today test results showed a urinary tract infection. He now has a catheter and antibiodics.
Dr. Adams (pulmonologist) saw JR today and said that all the tests he had ordered have come back negative. The dr will continue to monitor the lungs to see if the fluid rebuilds.
Dr. Adams (pulmonologist) saw JR today and said that all the tests he had ordered have come back negative. The dr will continue to monitor the lungs to see if the fluid rebuilds.
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 6
Ted arrived back in Phoenix Sunday afternoon.
Michelle stayed with JR last night and said he slept well. Today, Dr. McNeil reported that most every test has come back with negative results, which is good news. One or two other tests are still to come. The fluid level remains low in JR's lung, also good news. His appetite remains good and he's walking out to the hall and back a few times each day. JR is still on iv fluids and pain meds as needed. He's not using the pain meds much. He had some pain in his shoulder over the weekend, but the all-over extreme pain has not returned. Thankfully!!
Some minor swelling in his legs may be the result of inactivity. An sonogram showed no clots or other worrisome cause. JR will begin in-room physical therapy tomorrow to build strength and perhaps reduce the swelling.
Dr. Adams, the pulmonologist, will see JR tomorrow. JR still would like someone to stay the night with him, so the kids are taking turns for now.
Michelle stayed with JR last night and said he slept well. Today, Dr. McNeil reported that most every test has come back with negative results, which is good news. One or two other tests are still to come. The fluid level remains low in JR's lung, also good news. His appetite remains good and he's walking out to the hall and back a few times each day. JR is still on iv fluids and pain meds as needed. He's not using the pain meds much. He had some pain in his shoulder over the weekend, but the all-over extreme pain has not returned. Thankfully!!
Some minor swelling in his legs may be the result of inactivity. An sonogram showed no clots or other worrisome cause. JR will begin in-room physical therapy tomorrow to build strength and perhaps reduce the swelling.
Dr. Adams, the pulmonologist, will see JR tomorrow. JR still would like someone to stay the night with him, so the kids are taking turns for now.
Friday, July 3, 2009
July 3
Not a lot of news to report today. Ted said JR had a real good day, was enjoying any clear liquid the cafeteria delivered! Later today his diet was changed to normal foods. Dr. McNeil made rounds this evening but had no news to report on any of the tests. The holiday weekend will likely mean that none of the test results will be given till Monday. All the stomach issues have disappeared and his pain level remains very low to completely gone!
Michelle is staying overnight in JR's room tonight.
Michelle is staying overnight in JR's room tonight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)