Sorry there was no post yesterday. I was having trouble with the internet connection at the hospital and my laptop was not co-operating. Anyway, here's the latest.
All during the day Thursday, especially after being moved to step-down, the nurses hardly came in. But at shift change, the nurse did not like Bill's bp being below 100and she was in every hour all night! Of course, his blood pressure stays between 90 and 100 anyway, which is what the drs. want so that his heart doesn't have to work as hard. She also didn't want to give him his Inspra since it is a blood pressure medicine. And if she wasn't in the room, the lab techs were in taking blood. So it was a very long, sleepless night.
Both doctors were pleased with his progress and decided to discharge him. Dr. Lan was in during the morning and said that if Dr. Burnett agreed, he could be discharged. He also told us some things to look for and what to do if we recognized that he was in an episode.
Dr. Burnett was in the cath lab so he didn't get in until about 1. He said that he had conferred with Dr. Lan and had spent some time in the monitoring room looking at Bill's numbers and his heart rate was staying steady. He also told us some things to look for and agreed with Dr. Lan's suggestions.
At 2:30 when one of the nurses, Patrick, came in, Bill asked about going home and he thought he was joking. We know that it takes some time to do the paperwork so weren't too worried. But, at 4 when Patrick came in again, he again asked and told him that both doctors had said that he could be discharged. Patrick got the other RN, Connie, and when she came in she had his chart and said that it didn't say anywhere that he could be discharged. She even said that Dr. Burnett himself handed her Bill's chart. She then called Dr. Burnett and when she asked him about it his response was "Oh my God!" He had forgetten to write the order!
Since there was only 1 medication change, it didn't take long to get the paperwork done and we left the hospital at 5. So, drove through Memphis during rush hour, not as bad as Atlanta, went through the drive-through at Zaxby's for supper and got home about 6:30. We managed to watch the opening ceremonies of the olympics, were in bed by 11 and I slept until 6:47! I haven't slept all night in so many years that I can't give a number. Bill said he slept until 5.
So, this morning we are more rested, have had breakfast and will decided what the day will bring.
He's to see Dr. Lan in March to see how the additional amiodorone has worked and then see Dr. Burnett in April for a check-up and a right heart cath again for the transplant team. If another ablation is needed, Dr. Lan will do it then. Dr. Lan also explained a little more about what the v-tach is and what the ablation does which makes it easier on us to know what is going on. I'll post something on that later.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Bill got moved to a step-down room right before lunch today. His main cardiologist said that if it was up to him he could go home today, but Dr. Lan, the pacemaker doctor, wants him to stay at least 1 more night to see if he continues to respond to the medicine.
He's had a little reaction to the medicine IV and has a rash on his arm. They have moved it to the other arm and so far so good, but who knows. Otherwise he feels pretty good and wants to move around some. But, until they get the IV out that will be a little tough.
I ran home this afternoon since he had been moved and picked up a few things for him and changed clothes. Sleeping in jeans in not recommended for the long haul! So now it's sweats and good comfy clothes.
We're supposed to get more snow tonight. I've heard all kinds of reports from a dusting in Memphis with the heavier amounts to the south, to 3 inches at home. We will just have to see. It's still all snow covered from the first part of the week!
Don't know if the drs. will be in this evening or not. If there's anything new to tell I will post it.
He's had a little reaction to the medicine IV and has a rash on his arm. They have moved it to the other arm and so far so good, but who knows. Otherwise he feels pretty good and wants to move around some. But, until they get the IV out that will be a little tough.
I ran home this afternoon since he had been moved and picked up a few things for him and changed clothes. Sleeping in jeans in not recommended for the long haul! So now it's sweats and good comfy clothes.
We're supposed to get more snow tonight. I've heard all kinds of reports from a dusting in Memphis with the heavier amounts to the south, to 3 inches at home. We will just have to see. It's still all snow covered from the first part of the week!
Don't know if the drs. will be in this evening or not. If there's anything new to tell I will post it.
The dr. finally came in a little after 8 last night. Said he wants Bill to triple his amiodorone for a month to see if that helps. He's supposed to move to a regular room sometime today and this afternoon or evening the dr. will make a decision about going home.
For my mother and daughter, I did manage to sleep some last night and feel pretty rested this morning. Don't know how long that will last but we shall see. And as soon as I finish this post I'm heading to the cafeteria for some breakfast.
The dr. did tell him some things to do to recognize the different types of being tired. He's to monitor his blood pressure and pulse more than he does, especially if he's really tired in the morning. And if he feels anything is not quite right, he's to call the office and then initiate a download from the pacemaker.
He also said that if the medication doesn't help he will do another ablation. Of course, maybe a hew heart will become available before then and solve all of the problems. But, before anyone can say it, that's a whole new ballgame with a new set of rules.
All for now, I can see Bill at 9 and I'll update everyone then.
For my mother and daughter, I did manage to sleep some last night and feel pretty rested this morning. Don't know how long that will last but we shall see. And as soon as I finish this post I'm heading to the cafeteria for some breakfast.
The dr. did tell him some things to do to recognize the different types of being tired. He's to monitor his blood pressure and pulse more than he does, especially if he's really tired in the morning. And if he feels anything is not quite right, he's to call the office and then initiate a download from the pacemaker.
He also said that if the medication doesn't help he will do another ablation. Of course, maybe a hew heart will become available before then and solve all of the problems. But, before anyone can say it, that's a whole new ballgame with a new set of rules.
All for now, I can see Bill at 9 and I'll update everyone then.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
It's another up-and-down time. Bill had his check-up with the transplant clinic on the 28th. They did a pretty thorough physical and other than him being tired again (like he was before the procedures in October) they seemed to be pretty pleased with his condition. Because of the fatigue he will probably be bumped back up on the list.
He also enrolled in a study by the company that manufactures his pacemaker to monitor it's effectiveness. More on this a little later.
On the 29th, he finally had his appointment at the VA for his disability evaluation. We were actually quite pleased with them. All we had heard was that the VA was terrible and you had to wait and wait and wait. His appointment for an EKG was at 9:30 and at exactly 9:30 they called his name. He came out about 10 minutes later and motioned to me and said the EKG showed he was in the middle of a heart attack and we were headed to ER. The nurse kept asking him if he was in any pain and he said no. But, if seemed that if they were that concerned about him, they would not have had him WALK to the ER. It turned out that the technician had not compensated for the pacemaker even though Bill had told him about it and it really messed up the readings. He got to his other appointment with 5 minutes to spare and at exactly 11:00 the dr. came out to get him. She wasn't supposed to tell him her opinion, but she said that since his condition does not just happen overnight, it was definitely service connected. So we should hear something about that before long.
Now, about the pacemaker people. They were doing a reading from his pacemaker and saw that he had an episode of v-tach on Dec. 10 but the pacemaker paced him out of it without the diffibulator firing. His heart rate had gotten to 182 and the upper level of the device is 140.
Today, at his regular check-up with Dr. Lan, the Dr. came into the room immediately, even before the nurse. We had walked by him in the hall and evidently he saw something he didn't like. He listened to his heart and started a reading of the pacemaker and then looked at me and said that he was admitting him, that he was having another episode of v-tach. He called 911 and we rode across the road to the ER. They did not have to shock him this time, the amiodorone worked by itself. Everyone was wondering why the pacemaker did not kick in and the reason is the high limit setting. Since it was set to 140 and his heart rate did not get past 134 it did not trigger the vigorous pacing. So, the limit has been changed to 128 now.
He's in CVICU for at least tonight. I don't know what the plan of action will be yet. Dr. Lan had not come in the last time I saw him and I can't see him again until 9:00. So, that's it for now. I'll keep this updated as I know more.
He also enrolled in a study by the company that manufactures his pacemaker to monitor it's effectiveness. More on this a little later.
On the 29th, he finally had his appointment at the VA for his disability evaluation. We were actually quite pleased with them. All we had heard was that the VA was terrible and you had to wait and wait and wait. His appointment for an EKG was at 9:30 and at exactly 9:30 they called his name. He came out about 10 minutes later and motioned to me and said the EKG showed he was in the middle of a heart attack and we were headed to ER. The nurse kept asking him if he was in any pain and he said no. But, if seemed that if they were that concerned about him, they would not have had him WALK to the ER. It turned out that the technician had not compensated for the pacemaker even though Bill had told him about it and it really messed up the readings. He got to his other appointment with 5 minutes to spare and at exactly 11:00 the dr. came out to get him. She wasn't supposed to tell him her opinion, but she said that since his condition does not just happen overnight, it was definitely service connected. So we should hear something about that before long.
Now, about the pacemaker people. They were doing a reading from his pacemaker and saw that he had an episode of v-tach on Dec. 10 but the pacemaker paced him out of it without the diffibulator firing. His heart rate had gotten to 182 and the upper level of the device is 140.
Today, at his regular check-up with Dr. Lan, the Dr. came into the room immediately, even before the nurse. We had walked by him in the hall and evidently he saw something he didn't like. He listened to his heart and started a reading of the pacemaker and then looked at me and said that he was admitting him, that he was having another episode of v-tach. He called 911 and we rode across the road to the ER. They did not have to shock him this time, the amiodorone worked by itself. Everyone was wondering why the pacemaker did not kick in and the reason is the high limit setting. Since it was set to 140 and his heart rate did not get past 134 it did not trigger the vigorous pacing. So, the limit has been changed to 128 now.
He's in CVICU for at least tonight. I don't know what the plan of action will be yet. Dr. Lan had not come in the last time I saw him and I can't see him again until 9:00. So, that's it for now. I'll keep this updated as I know more.
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