The Beat Goes On

One foot in front of the other.....

2009-06-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

200 Steps!
What a major accomplishment!
They want Dad to be able to walk 300 steps with a walker before he can go home.

Seriously? Seriously!

2009-06-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

Dad is recuperating at a rehabilitation center and is making progress.

It's been a long and slow process, much more than any of us could have ever imagined, but he is improving daily.

He's had some major "bumps" in the road - (to put it nicely and as Dad would say)

*a high fever along with a few days of being sick due to an infection that he contracted;

*followed by the wrong antibiotic being administered and having to be flushed out of his system in order to give him the correct one that would not exacerbate his condition;

*along with the "inadvertent" 10 day absence of a major medication needed to keep his muscle strength in tact;

*a lack of respiratory therapy of the prescribed incentive spirometer for breathing exercises, followed by a bout of "unconfirmed", but soon after treatment for fluid in his lungs.

Seriously? Seriously!

Enough to get anyone down? You bet, but my dad the eternal optimist, will not let any of this get in his way!

Incentive Spirometer, is that what it's called?

2009-06-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

Dad seems to be doing better today.
His breathing has gotten less labored but still not easy.
Asked Dad why he hasn't been using the incentive spirometer? Oh, that thing sitting on the night stand? They sent it over from the hospital but no one here has said anything about it.

Told Dad that using the muscles to breathe would increase his stamina and strengthen the muscles. Use the spirometer. Humor me. Keep it on your tray table and pick it up whenever you look at it and use it 10 times.

Started antibiotic.
Waiting on chest x-ray results. Never a good thing to be sick on a weekend! Have to wait for everything!

Father Tom came by to see Dad today. Dad enjoys seeing him. Brings me comfort knowing that Dad is being watched by Him.

God, Please keep him safe!

UTI

2009-06-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

All lab profiles came back normal. Good, no kidney or liver problems.
Blood tests? Normal. Good, no blood infections.

Blood culture came back with two types of bacteria. Urinary Tract Infection.
Will start antibiotics.

Fever

2009-06-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dad has fever which is why he was so cold and shivering yesterday and last night.
Not sure what is causing fever, must be infection somewhere.
Had to wait for blood draw - outside company performs this.
Waiting for test results.....

Still difficulty breathing.

Keep breathing

2009-06-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

I don't know why. I have asked this question many, many times, over and over and in a thousand different ways.
Why is it so hard for him to breathe?
This is by far the worst I have seen him since surgery day.
Dad can't carry on a conversation, let alone get his breath enough to tell us what is going on.
He came back from PT today, unable to participate and literally shivering all over.

It's normal they say. Normal? He's gasping for breath!
Wrote to Major Hospital. Their response knowing just the circumstances that I know and that he is in a rehab facility? Call 911. See they get it....Not being able to breathe is not normal!
Call in a Pulmonary doctor...Do something.

Chest Xray taken

I'm sorry, we don't carry that med.

2009-06-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Mom called, "Dad's not doing well.

This is the worst I've heard him sound since he's been there.

Please take me to see him. I'm concerned.

He failed his physical therapy and his ot today.

They want to send him home on the 17th and he's not ready.

The pharmacy doesn't have the Mestinon that he is supposed to be taking so I need to bring it to him from home."

What? Why don't they have the Mestinon? The pharmacy doesn't carry it?

They haven't given it to him since he's been there? What is going on? He can't be without the medication. It's what keeps the myasthenia gravis in tact. It helps keep his muscles

No wonder he failed everything today!

Spoke to Dorinda at MCA and she will get back to me in the morning.