Put on your rain gear, Fred, and hold on.
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Wednesday evening from the apartment rooftop patio foreboding skies.
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| Yesterday from the hospital rooftop patio. Moments later, it was thunder, lightening, and it poured. Some places had quarter sized hail. |
I published comments under my previous post updating everyone that Wednesday's " wash out" surgery went well, that the surgeon told me to expect an hr to hr and a half in recovery and they would bring Fred back to his room. You all know he went into atrial fibrulation (irregular heartbeat) and landed in ICU. While the care is extraordinary in ICU (and it DID reunite us with the always - delightful Meghan [I'm totally serious. Not sarcastic here. She is delightful.]), ICU seemed like a giant step in the wrong direction. [Insert petrified emoji here.]
I stayed all night and am told he had a rough go of it. They brought a super comfy recliner into his room. I hit it hard and zoned till about 5:15 am while his fabulous nurses and techs took great care of our Fred who is also having some cognitive issues.
Fred's hemoglobin dropped again. This time to 6.0 and he needed 2 more units of blood. Liver functions stopped diving but the kidney numbers are getting worse. They have the nephrology team now involved in Fred's case.
Fred maintained good BP and a regular HR yesterday and was scheduled to transfer to the transplant unit just as soon as they had a bed open up. Moments after that news he really stressed out and over exerted himself trying to negotiate his enormous body to the center of the bed (did I mention the poor guy has put on over 20lbs of fluid?) and his HR sky rocketed and then he went right into afib again! Dammit! Looks like another night in ICU.
Fred's sister Abby flew out from Denver and we went back to the apartment for some sleep last night.
Today it is still gloomy outside, but things are picking up in ICU. Fred has taken a couple of walks. His hemoglobin is holding. No afib issues. He is getting some much needed rest and we are told the plan is to move him out of ICU today -- as soon as a bed becomes available. I think the sun is trying to peek through the clouds.
Oh my! What a rough ride. Thank you for the update, although it was not the news we were hoping for. Will be back from New Hampshire tomorrow. Please let me know when you need me up there and I will come.
ReplyDeleteHere comes the sun! Stay sunny!!! Prayers continue for a return to the transplant unit. No more ICU! Love you both!
ReplyDeleteThanks you guys. Hanging in there and love you all!
ReplyDeleteThe latest is that Fred is out of ICU but having a rough time of it. Huge. No energy. No appetite. Problems with mental clarity. Hoping he can get some sleep and is better in the morning.
Carmen, Fred's sister, Abby, leaves Sunday. Maybe we can touch base early next week. We'd love to have you visit.
Gosh, this is quite difficult! Fred is so lucky to have you by his side Karen. He really is . . .
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like his hemoglobin A1C is good. 6.0 is a solid number. Since the A1C is actually the average, it is still possible to have highs and lows, but be a 6.0. It is also possible to have no appetite when someone is high. Most likely though, it is the result of adjusting to everything.
Try not to make yourself too crazy, though I realize that is easier said than done. If Fred has no energy and you think he should have some, you can always ask them to test his sugar level. It doesn't hurt to check. Most likely though, it's probably everything else.
We keep sending out those prayers to you guys. Every night Allie has been telling me when it is 11:11, she has started this ritual and each night we send out wishes and prayers.
I hope good news will be here soon.
Love and Hugs,
Saundra
Thankful to read the updates, Karen. Blog access only available on my laptop, which I've been too busy to pull out and have some reading time the past several weeks.
ReplyDeletePraising God for Fred's long awaited liver transplant!! May the road be less bumpy with his recovery as you both have been through so much turbulence this past year. Continued prayers for your eye on the prize (wellness for Fred).
Praying too that you both would be able to come back home again soon and get back to some normalcy. (Though I must say, all that you've been through, you are still amazing to me!!!) Love & God's blessings to you both, and wisdom and care for all Fred's healthcare professionals.
UPDATE: Today was 2 steps forward and a hop back. Fred's BP has been high. His liver numbers trending better but are still not good. His kidney functions are improved but then he had blood in his urine! He is still swollen and uncomfortable. Problems swallowing and has some fluid in lungs from passive aspiration. He is not getting enough calories so the doc gave him 24 hrs to consume 1500 cal or he will need a feeding tube. We are trying so hard to get there and I think I will be waking him up to take sips and bites all night. He looks much better but needs those calories for strength and healing. Prayers.
ReplyDeleteGod be with you 😘
ReplyDeleteYes, may God be with you.
ReplyDeleteI, who never met a calorie I didn't enjoy and consumed, wish Fred my appetite. Praying that he is getting all kinds of sustenance and strength to get through this bump. Prayers, prayers, prayers sent with regularity and love, Karen.
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