My dad has problems again

[Lady Bug]

Hi, it's been a rollercoaster ride since Sunday afternoon. In a nutshell:
- He fell and broke his hip
- The surgery was successful but the either the pain med (morphine) or the anesthesia (I ask for the name but no one seems to know the answer, weird) caused him to have a seizure after the surgery. It is written in his records that he's allergic to narcotics, so I don't know why they did the morphine
- The seizure caused him to be hooked up to feeding tubes and ventilator
- The doctors overseeing him are worried about him being hooked up on them too long
- This morning, the nurses conducted their daily breathing trials on him and he was able to breathe 4 hours on his own. Not sure if my dad had trouble after 4 hours or if the nurses simply took precautions not to leave him "unattended" for longer than that. I'll work on ascertaining
- I cried thinking he could die, but at the same time it's impossible to live WITH him. Very complicated feelings on my part

I cry looking at him that way, but as I said, I want him to live but I also don't want to live WITH him. It is hard. I didn't sleep well last night at all.

 

[Michie]

Hi, it's been a rollercoaster ride since Sunday afternoon. In a nutshell:
- He fell and broke his hip
- The surgery was successful but the either the pain med (morphine) or the anesthesia (I ask for the name but no one seems to know the answer, weird) caused him to have a seizure after the surgery. It is written in his records that he's allergic to narcotics, so I don't know why they did the morphine
- The seizure caused him to be hooked up to feeding tubes and ventilator
- The doctors overseeing him are worried about him being hooked up on them too long
- This morning, the nurses conducted their daily breathing trials on him and he was able to breathe 4 hours on his own. Not sure if my dad had trouble after 4 hours or if the nurses simply took precautions not to leave him "unattended" for longer than that. I'll work on ascertaining
- I cried thinking he could die, but at the same time it's impossible to live WITH him. Very complicated feelings on my part

I cry looking at him that way, but as I said, I want him to live but I also don't want to live WITH him. It is hard. I didn't sleep well last night at all.

Prayers for your strength and peace of mind Ladybug. Just a warning, broken hips are often not a good thing for the elderly and survival rate after such an injury is not very good. Of course your dad could be the exception but I’m sure his medical team has given you the various scenarios for his situation. Try to relax. He is on good hands. Catch up on some sleep and know you are in my prayers. Hand it over to the Lord to the best of your ability.

 

[BassLine]

Hi, it's been a rollercoaster ride since Sunday afternoon. In a nutshell:
...
I cry looking at him that way, but as I said, I want him to live but I also don't want to live WITH him. It is hard. I didn't sleep well last night at all.

How difficult for both of you. I'll keep you and your dad in my prayers.

 

[Lady Bug]

Prayers for your strength and peace of mind Ladybug. Just a warning, broken hips are often not a good thing for the elderly and survival rate after such an injury is not very good. Of course your dad could be the exception but I’m sure his medical team has given you the various scenarios for his situation. Try to relax. He is on good hands. Catch up on some sleep and know you are in my prayers. Hand it over to the Lord to the best of your ability.

The medical team is kind of reticent on giving me very scenario as to not overwhelm me but they are telling me things as they go along. I simply had a hard time sleeping. I was disappointed in one of my priests too, but that's another story. It's not unrelated to this situation.

 

[Michie]

The medical team is kind of reticent on giving me very scenario as to not overwhelm me but they are telling me things as they go along. I simply had a hard time sleeping. I was disappointed in one of my priests too, but that's another story. It's not unrelated to this situation.

Well I am praying for you and your whole family and especially your peace of mind and strength Ladybug.

 

[Lady Bug]

Well I am praying for you and your whole family and especially your peace of mind and strength Ladybug.

Thank you. The most perfect description of my dad is, "Can't live with, can't live without."

 

[Michie]

Thank you. The most perfect description of my dad is, "Can't live with, can't live without."

I know. There are many relationships like that. Not really healthy but it’s true.

 

[chevyontheriver]

The medical team is kind of reticent on giving me very scenario as to not overwhelm me but they are telling me things as they go along. I simply had a hard time sleeping. I was disappointed in one of my priests too, but that's another story. It's not unrelated to this situation.

Let the medical team take care of you too at least a little bit. Praying for you. I hope that almost goes without saying.

 

[Lady Bug]

Let the medical team take care of you too at least a little bit. Praying for you. I hope that almost goes without saying.

They are contemplating (they asked me about it) a switch from one anti-seizure medication to another, Dilantin to Kepra. He's been on Dilantin for over 30 years and for certain reasons, I'm not too keen on it and I suspect that it could be a contributor to his toxic mood swings, even though that's a rare side effect, supposedly. They would slowly titrate down Dilantin and phase in the Kepra. I told them that it would be safer to try that out when he's under medical supervision as opposed to when he's at home. According to the doctor who called me, Dilantin can cause issues with brain shrinkage and loss of bone density, both of which I think my dad could be experiencing.

 

[chevyontheriver]

They are contemplating (they asked me about it) a switch from one anti-seizure medication to another, Dilantin to Kepra. He's been on Dilantin for over 30 years and for certain reasons, I'm not too keen on it and I suspect that it could be a contributor to his toxic mood swings, even though that's a rare side effect, supposedly. They would slowly titrate down Dilantin and phase in the Kepra. I told them that it would be safer to try that out when he's under medical supervision as opposed to when he's at home. According to the doctor who called me, Dilantin can cause issues with brain shrinkage and loss of bone density, both of which I think my dad could be experiencing.

I don't know a thing about either of them. I do know that when my father broke his hip it was the beginning of the end. He got a weird infection and never recovered. That was 42 years ago and it all seems so recent.

 

[RileyG]

Keeping you in prayer!

 

[Lady Bug]

I don't know a thing about either of them. I do know that when my father broke his hip it was the beginning of the end. He got a weird infection and never recovered. That was 42 years ago and it all seems so recent.

Oh no that's terrible. I'm struggling with envisioning a negative ending but my brother is getting upset with me that I'm not as positive as he is. I'm struggling very badly with how my dad looked when I saw him. I can't get it out of my head and I think it's affecting my sleep. The nurse has a more optimistic outlook than the doctor. The doctor's prognosis really gets me down. He suggests that my dad could have to go back on the ventilator, but the nurse doesn't think so.

 

[Lady Bug]

Not aspiring for false positivity but I don't want to feel so overly negative (no matter how bad things really could be) that I lose my mind. This is hard. Even if he does recover, it doesn't mean I can handle living with him at home, and that's another matter. I'm so burnt out.

 

[Michie]

I can relate. It’s hard being a caretaker let alone with someone so difficult. It’s normal to feel depressed in these situations so do not be too hard on yourself. Praying for you strength and peace of mind.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Not aspiring for false positivity but I don't want to feel so overly negative (no matter how bad things really could be) that I lose my mind. This is hard. Even if he does recover, it doesn't mean I can handle living with him at home, and that's another matter. I'm so burnt out.

This is another situation where they cannot send him home until he can go home safely. Which means he will need to be able to do things like get to the bathroom semi-independently. You know that drill already. With my dad they pushed him hard to start walking again. And that made and still makes sense. But he was a bit too long in that hospital and he caught one of those resistant bugs that thrive in hospitals. It's in your dad's best interest to get out of the hospital either to go home or into a nursing home rather quickly.

Praying for you and for him.

 

[FaithT]

Hi, it's been a rollercoaster ride since Sunday afternoon. In a nutshell:
- He fell and broke his hip
- The surgery was successful but the either the pain med (morphine) or the anesthesia (I ask for the name but no one seems to know the answer, weird) caused him to have a seizure after the surgery. It is written in his records that he's allergic to narcotics, so I don't know why they did the morphine
- The seizure caused him to be hooked up to feeding tubes and ventilator
- The doctors overseeing him are worried about him being hooked up on them too long
- This morning, the nurses conducted their daily breathing trials on him and he was able to breathe 4 hours on his own. Not sure if my dad had trouble after 4 hours or if the nurses simply took precautions not to leave him "unattended" for longer than that. I'll work on ascertaining
- I cried thinking he could die, but at the same time it's impossible to live WITH him. Very complicated feelings on my part

I cry looking at him that way, but as I said, I want him to live but I also don't want to live WITH him. It is hard. I didn't sleep well last night at all.

I’m so sorry for your problems with your dad. I understand how you feel.

 

[FaithT]

Oh no that's terrible. I'm struggling with envisioning a negative ending but my brother is getting upset with me that I'm not as positive as he is. I'm struggling very badly with how my dad looked when I saw him. I can't get it out of my head and I think it's affecting my sleep. The nurse has a more optimistic outlook than the doctor. The doctor's prognosis really gets me down. He suggests that my dad could have to go back on the ventilator, but the nurse doesn't think so.

When my mom was ill we had a positive nurse and a negative one. One would say something, the other would say something else.

 

[FaithT]

Not aspiring for false positivity but I don't want to feel so overly negative (no matter how bad things really could be) that I lose my mind. This is hard. Even if he does recover, it doesn't mean I can handle living with him at home, and that's another matter. I'm so burnt out.

I just prayed for you and your dad.

 

[Lady Bug]

I think of that one NDE episode on Unsolved Mysteries where Howard Storm "left" his body and he was being attacked by demons and I think of my dad suffering the same thing eventually. I think that's what makes this different from my mom. I had doubts about my mom's salvation but this situation feels darker, gloomier, and emptier.

 

[Lady Bug]

When my mom was ill we had a positive nurse and a negative one. One would say something, the other would say something else.

Well, the problem is, who ended up being right?