Spike is in the hospital

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:36 pm

tshort wrote:Wow! He's brave - eating the hospital food!
Glad to hear things are looking up.
Let me know if I can help out at all...

Thomas

The food here is so good that I just went down to the cashier's office and slapped $20 on the counter so that I can have the same yummy meals that he's having delivered to the room with his.

While I've got you on the line, Thomas, a freind of ours just forwarded the following from his wife who is a nurse... Your (completely theoretical, hypothetical and unbinding) thoughts? All of the doctors here have been giving us the whole "this is a one-time event, no permenant damage or danger, will probably never happen again" line.

"Very risky business, if it doesn't kill him, still the chance of some seriously disabling event is significant. Do they have a family history or some other significant risk factor? What's the prevention plan beyond 'blood thinners, which are risky for an active young person? He's awfully young for something like this.
Do they think they will have to install a 'filter'; don't laugh, there is a type of filter they install related to lung clots, I think it's called a Greenfield Filter. Been awhile since I've had a case with one, so would have to look up indications."

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:46 pm

Patti,
I'm so glad to hear John is at least comfortable now. Constant pain is no fun. I'll keep up the prayers.

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:42 pm

Patti-

I think that is a little extreme.
I'm sure the docs there are doing a thorough hematologic workup to look for things that would predispose him to clots (Factor V Leiden, Protein C/S deficiency, others - this isn't really my field) as well as cancer, etc. I think his chances of full and normal recovery are pretty good (as I'm sure his doctors have told you) - this was caught early enough and he is on appropriate treatment. The natural history of the emboli in his lung (especially while on blood thinners) is that they will be reabsorbed / dissolved by his body and should not result in permanent lung disease or disability. The clot that kills is not the one that is in the lung (i.e. not the one that he has now, that has been seen), but the next big one that breaks off. That should not be a concern now.
Once the docs have ruled out predisposing conditions that could cause this (and it should be a pretty straightforward workup for any hematologist - this is not something that is unheard of and way off the wall) he should be able to recover without any future problems. The worst part is worrying about any chest discomfort / cough / leg pain, etc.
A greenfield filter is reserved for people that have recurrent pulmonary emboli despite anticoagulation - he is not in this situation. My mother has a filter as she underwent chemotherapy for cancer >10 years ago and during the illness continued to have emboli even with blood thinners.

Hope that helps. Obviously my opinion is limited as I have somewhat limited info, but based on what I've heard about the events I would not have any long term concerns (especially if his docs have done the workup and assured you all is well).

Thomas

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:08 am

Patti,

Please don't get too used to that hospital food. Remember that part of its function is to chase the patients out of the hospital!

Seriously, we are all praying for the both of you.

Pat

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:16 am

It became common for hospitals to provide Gourmet meals in the late 80's. Apparently eating food that at least tastes good is part of feeling better. Western medicine is so full of surprises what will they think of next. Yup that last line was sarcasm.

LooseNut · Post by **LooseNut** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:05 am

It’s good to hear some encouraging news. An improving appetite is a good sign. When he asks for a few ribs and fluting pliers we’ll know he’s watched enough Opra, and is ready to go home.

Praying for your speedy recovery,
++Harold

Snap · Post by **Snap** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:40 am

God bless you both Spike and Patti.

It is nice to see a loving couple together in hard times. I will add you two to my nightly prayer and hope you get well soon Spike.

You both mean so much to us all.

Hugs from Snap in Australia. I think we all need a hug.

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:34 am

Ok boys and girls, here's the update I just sent out to everyone and their mother:

Time for another update!

WHERE WE ARE NOW

John has done exceedingly well in the last 24 hours. His use of the morphine pump has been decreasing and he got plenty of sleep last night. This morning he stood and walked to the bathroom himself, so good-bye plastic urinal! (He's happy about that.) He also sat in one of the chairs here for about 30 minutes while I changed his sheets and gave him a "cat bath".

The nurse told us that his upper lung function sounds very good, but because he hasn't been breathing deeply enough, his lower lungs are not doing much work. She's given him a new toy to practice deep breathing with. They are going to remove the morphine pump today and try him on some oral pain killers. John's really nervous about that since the Percoset didn't work at all, but we'll see how this goes. His oxygen saturation isn't bad but hasn't been as good as it was on Tuesday (because he's not breathing deeply enough), so they have him on supplimental oxygen.

MOVIN' ON UP ... ER... DOWN?

At 9am his nurse removed his EKG and then we were told that he was being unceremoniously drummed out of the cardiac unit. Right now we are just waiting for the paperwork to be completed -- he will be moving down to the third floor for the rest of his stay. The on-call doctor said that he could be out of here as soon as tomorrow depending on how his test results look today. Once he's flown the coop, he'll be allowed back to work as soon as he's feeling able to handle it although he won't be allowed to sit in the Subaru or drive either vehicle for a couple of weeks.

So, that's where we are right now. If you are planning on visiting, please call me first (443-980-0731) to make sure he's up to seeing visitors and to find out what room he'll be in. The nurse told us but we promptly forgot. He enjoys seeing people, but too many at one time tire him out. Since he would never actually tell anyone that he's tired, I've just been trying to keep the visits spaced out over time a bit. : )

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:44 am

cyphergirl wrote:I ... gave him a "cat bath".

You licked him clean? He's a lucky man, Patti. Thanks for the update, and I'm glad it's an optimistic one!

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:48 am

prestwich wrote:You licked him clean? He's a lucky man, Patti.

I just want you to know that that made him laugh so hard that he hurt. And yet he's still laughing.

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:49 pm

cyphergirl wrote: I just want you to know that that made him laugh so hard that he hurt. And yet he's still laughing.

Excellent! The laughter will help exercise his lungs.

Pat

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:11 am

Wonderful news! Get well John. I just know he's on the road to recovery now. I can't tell you what a cat bath would do for me!

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:49 am

Good morning (afternoon?) everyone. Today's update is pretty short.

The on-call doctor took John's morphine pump away last night. John was very sad. They gave him a heavy dose of Vicodin and some Ambien to help him sleep. He did very well. They poked and prodded him through the night as usual and he didn't have any trouble getting back to sleep. He requested another Vicodin around 4am, but hasn't had any since. Today's on-call doctor came to check him out this morning. His Coumadin levels are not where they want them, so he's definately not being discharged today. Right now we're looking at "possibly tomorrow, possibly Monday."

I'll let Spike tell you about "fun and games with IVs."

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:56 pm

So, how far up the tube can he make his blood go?

I've had my share of IV's and boredom in hospitals.

spikescopilot · Post by **spikescopilot** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:47 am

Ok, so we saw a doctor last night who said John is definately not being released today and could be here for 2 more days *or longer*
-- they still don't have his Coumadin levels right.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Although it pains me

(and John doesn't like it), I can leave and go do things. But he's stuck here going crazy.
Although I did sneak him some

last night.

jimpappas · Post by **jimpappas** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:14 pm

Geez I get offline for a couple days and look what you go and do!?

Patti please tell Spike I hope he comes home soon and to cheer up, he has a wife that licks

Told you King Daleys construction would get to him.

Seriously, I hope you guys get back to health quickly.

I look forward to seeing you both again soon.

Be good.

Jim