Dad is back to surgery

Back at the hospital with my dad. He has been here now for two weeks since he was admitted for a collapsed lung. The lung was punctured that night. First surgery was Thursday of that week. He has had an air leak since returning from surgery. He is going back in tonight at 6pm pacific standard time. It's not looking good.

I'm in so much pain that I called workmen's comp and asked to get an apt sooner than May. I explained all of the current pain and lack of sleep issues. The girl was so sweet. She said to make it right away and she would get me help ASAP. Thank goodness. Gabapentin....out and not being approved. Pain pills almost gone and were not approved. I need a PM right away.

Can't do a thing while at the hospital with dad.

 

   I'm sorry to hear this news, Leila.  I should have checked in with you since the weekend.  I constantly hear the "beeping" of dump trucks, backing up to...well, you know.  No one understands until they've been there.  They call us the "sandwich generation"...raising our own kids (if you're blessed to have them) and taking care of sickly parents.

I've lay in a hospital bed with IVs, calling to make doctors' appointments STAT for my dad.  I've had to referee him and my mom, as he was going into ICCU...not pretty but real.

I FEEL YOU and I care.  Continued prayers for your parents...and for you.

(((HUGS)))

Dixie

So sorry for you and your family. Hope you get the meds you need soon. Sounds like you have a lot to deal with. Prayers and positive healing thoughts.

Dear Leila,

I am sorry to hear things have not improved and that you are in so much pain, physically as well as emotionally.

I think it's particularly hard on us when our parents are ill and suffering. They were our protectors, our guides, our 'strong towers'. I've been where you are. I know there is not much anyone can say that makes it any better. Just know that I am here for you, that I am praying for you.

Remember, if you are going through hell, don't stop, just keep going! You WILL come out the other side!

Watching for updates, praying for you and your family. We do care!

Now I have a few moments to give a more detailed report.

Daddy's surgery went as best as it is to expect. The surgeon informed us last night that the tube that went into his lung was almost punched all the way through. This was news to mom and I. He said that in the first surgery they didn't do any stitching to the hole because they wanted it to heal on it's own. As we know that didn't work. This time they filled the hole with something like super glue. The entire hole. They stapled it closed and placed super glue over the hole. He said the glue failed last time because it was only on the outside and that when hew as placed on the breathing machine it force the glue out and that caused the swelling due to the air leak. He is hoping that the limited amount of time he was on the breathing machine would help this time and the excess filling of the hole. He was removed from the breathing machine at 12:30 pm today and when I left the hospital he looked good. NOT great but good. His blood pressure is not behaving nor is his heart. He keeps skipping beats and I did address this with the Doctor but they claimed it was due to stress due to the surgery and breathing issues. When I talked to mom tonight she said he was struggling but she was unable to stay she is so exhausted. She has been going to the hospital every day for the last 15 days and she is worn out to say the least.

15 minutes after coming home in a rush to try to make Marissa's track meet Glenn called me on the phone from work in Napa to tell me he took a screw gun on the last screw of the day and put it through his index finger on his left hand and was bleeding all over. Refused to call 911 (typical man) and drove himself home for me to inspect. The bit he was using was a Philips head that was magnetic..... Which means that there were metal attached to it when it went in not to mention dirty as all get out. I removed his makeshift bandage and it was huge, shooting blood of course because it was the finger. Off to the ER for xrays and cleaning..... Thankfully the pressure of the screw gun slid the bone in the finger to the side it is only nicked. There showed no visible metal in the wound but they said they are such small particles they may not be able to see them. No stitches because it is a puncture wound and there was no skin to stitch.

by the way we missed the dam track meet and Marissa came in first! omg the guilt poor thing. We are such a mess over here.

Love to each of you! Thank you again for taking the time to be here and keep my spirits up by posting. There were several times I read and reread what you all wrote during the surgery to help keep my spirits up. I am grateful for each of you!

Hey Leila...When it rains, it pours...I've learned it gets even worse.  The winds pick up and a funnel cloud forms...head for the storm shelter!  Toto, we're not in Kansas...Oh, that's not ruby slippers.  It's blood from my husband's OOPS!

Sorry EVERYTHING is happening at once.  I empathize with yours and your mom's exhaustion (and your PAIN)  It sounds like whoever pierced both sides of the lung needs accountability.  There's no excuse for the level of error that is life-threatening. It would be hard for me to "not" be ANGRY for this unnecessary suffering.  Now is NOT the time for that.  Now is the time to focus on dad and mom (and Leila).

Please do whatever's necessary to get what YOU need today. Your daughter's disappointed, but will understand.  Perhaps arrange a celebration in her honor for pizza tonight w/friends?

It sounds like you need a giggle, so here goes...visualize this...

    I'm happy DH didn't sever the finger!  Crazy things happen to all of us...One day you'll look back and tell that drill story and laugh.  Many years ago when we were renovating, the contractor was leaving debris piled in front of our house (yep, from tubs to toilets).  I think he thought it was funny to embarrass me.  On a Saturday morning I asked DH to at LEAST, move the toilets out of view.  He tried, not knowing the base had a shard of porcelain exposed.  It filleted (sic?) the calf of his leg to the bone in what seemed like slow motion.  I saw it happen in disbelief.  I scooped him into the car and rushed around 2 blocks to the hospital.

The ER doctor (who attended HS with me) had to sew it deeply, then sew it again on the surface.  He was laughing so hard at DH's hippy shorts and toilet story.  He'd have to stop sewing to laugh.  I know, it sounds unprofessional...but it was okay.  DH was humiliated, but laughed along. That doctor has NEVER let him live down the story of "the toilet ripped my leg open".  It was a gnarly wound, so beware of toilets in the front yard!

Leila, most of us have been where you are.  We pray your dad gets better and lives many more years.  But we also realize that may not happen.  We have to let go and let God.

(((HUGS)))

 

Pizza party!! GREAT idea. Celebrate, chow down, giggle a lot, and be prouder than proud of that gal of yours. You've done yourself proud with that one. First place! Wow...someone got pictures of that one. I know they'll find their way to you. Let go of the guilt and just be proud of that gal. Heck, I'm proud of her and she's not my kiddo. Give her our congratulations!

I'm gonna keep praying....sounds like dad's been through the wringer and back. He's got to be tired. Mom's exhausted. You've been dealing with untreated pain and all that STUFF. Sheeesshh, INCLUDING Tim the Toolman. Forgive me for shaking my head at bringing his owie home for you to assess. What a dork. LOL

But it's good that The Big Guy is giving you a BIT of balance. And it's really good that you recognize that. We create the imbalance ourselves when we look for and only keep track of the yuck, know what I mean?

Okay, no jokes ir funny stories from me. My brain's muddled from a busy Friday at the office. But not so muddled that I passed on checking in on folks. It's important to me. And I'm glad to hear that you were able to gleen some comfort and strength from what we shared here. That was my hope, yaknow?

*still praying and sending peaceful thoughts*

Yup, just checking up on you and dad...

*sending hugs*

 

Sometimes "grumpy" is a good indicator, as there's still some fight in there! Wow, that's thin unless he was not a husky guy to begin with.  Common sense tells me your dad is starving, whether he realizes it or not.  But, um-m...common sense isn't that common with this saga of medical blunders, is it? 

Yep...Your step mom is worried, tired and stressed...but needs some Boost or Ensure or some type of protein drink.  Heck, at this point a daily DQ Blizzard or Sonic Blast...optimum calorie intake and mood elevator to boot!  Chances are, though, they can't do that because they're diabetic maybe?

My 87 year old aunt has starved herself on JC down to 129 lbs. on a TALL frame. She has starved her brain as well, so the Dementia is thriving.  She wouldn't listen...thought she was going to look like a Kardashian...not. 

I figure if I'd gotten to 80, I'd live at Sonic eating a steady program of Cheddar Peppers!  Tonight I'd settle for ANYTHING I can get down and KEEP down.  The protein drinks cause projectile vomiting for me.

I'm sorry that you're having to fight bureacracy as well.  Our VETERANS should get quality/priority care with no worry of COSTS.  Believe me, I know the headaches. My dad was a WWII vet. His records were destroyed in an institutional fire...Our VA (now namesake) senator's office helped us.  It sounds like your dad is my brother's age (67).  He was drafted into Vietnam War, but fortunately remained stateside.

Your PM appointment is just a couple of days away.  Mine is Wednesday. IF I survive my PM appointment I still have dragons to slay before I sleep=) 

Hugs~Dixie

I'm equally glad for the appt and equally relieved that you're getting set up with a Pain Medicine Physician. You can talk options for medications. Gabepentine gave me blurred vision, so I was placed on Lyrica. Perhaps you can do a trial of that and see if that brings you different results. I'm just hoping for you to get some pain relief--I know emotional stressors just compound the issues and you've had more than your shate of those.

Grumpy is good. We'll take grumpy over 'under the knife' every time! And let's pray that was his last surgical experience for a very long time. That poor fella....and your poor stepmom. But what devotion. Now we just need to fatten them both up. The sooner their back to regular meals, the better.
I'm still praying. That's including relief from financial pains. Good grief--a bit LESS to be concerned about would be a good thing.

Oh....I mustn't forget to acknowledge your equally brilliant youngest child who has the makings for a GREAT brain surgeon. Okay.....so it was an elbow., Equally brilliant in a career that involves tweezers? LOL. No matter, the child did the surgery without removing,your 'weird', so it was brilliant in my book!
I'm relieved to know things are better and that you're holding your own.

Just be sure to be taking care of YOU.

*hugs*

Hello Leila. Glad some things are improving. They may not be 'feeding' dad, waiting to see if he needs more surgery. They wouldn't want him to aspirate anything from the stomach. The good news is, once they let him eat, he will be ravenous and the weight should come back quickly. And once he's eating, stepmom will be eating too!

I know the 'lightening' shocks from the ulnar nerve well! My heart goes out to you. I wish I could remember how long it took for it to calm down, but too many years have passed. My doctor put me on Elavil. I don't know if that is still being used, but you may ask at least. It did wonders for me.

As for the ovarian cyst, I was told to take vitamin E and avoid caffeine. I couldn't be put on birth control pills because I'm a smoker. Have you tried b.c.?

Is hubby a golfer? He got 'a hole in one' so, I was just wondering. Ha Ha Ha!

I'm paying dearly for all of the work on the garden. Wish you could come spend some time in the 'sanctuary' with me. I think I'm finally done with digging and planting, except for the veggies. It's still too cold to put them in just yet.

My ex bf's step dad was a Vietnam Vet. Our first Veteran's Day, I mailed him a Thank You card. His wife called me and asked "What did you do to my husband?!" He had locked himself in the bedroom and was crying. You see, NO ONE had EVER thanked him for his service until I sent the card!

My dad served in WW2, stateside. My brother Dean was Navy, brother Jeff was Army, sister Lisa was Army and I was Navy. My niece went Air Force, my son Army. These two saw active combat! Obviously we have a great deal of respect for those willing to stand in harms way and protect this country. Please tell your Dad I send my respect and my thanks!

Your daughter is amazing! What a blessing! I hope you let her see some of these posted replies so she knows what an impact she is making in our lives! She is an inspiration! Well Done!

Thank you very much Pitmom and Chartreux.

I agree Pitmom, we have not thanked our vets for their service. Thank you and your dear family for their service! I am proud to know you and experience your love and compassion.

I bet your yard looks beautiful! I would love to be able to see it and sit quietly there. My yard front and back looks like a jungle. The lawnmower is broken and we are not the joke yard on the block lol. It is so embarrassing lol

By tomorrow the letters to the Congressman will be sent.

I was so bothered last night and couldn't sleep because I made a homemade pineapple upside down cake and paid for it to melt in my mouth lol.

I wrote a two page open letter to our government about our Vets and lack of services, government miss spending of our money, our lack of response to them withholding information and putting us in serious situations,,,,, yawn I did feel better after I was done and chose this morning to post it on FB and Twitter. My luck the FBI or the not so Secret Service will be knocking on my door lol

Just like here where I learned it is ok to express myself, share my fears and struggles. I felt that I learned the ability to express myself in other aspects of my life and not feel ashamed.

Thank you xxx