Husband needs help...blood clot in leg, diabetes, and more

I don't know where to start.

For myself, I've been in anxiety, heart problems, and some other forums.  For my husband, it is really crazy this last week.

Here goes.

He knows he needs a heart cath, or more.  Cardio doc found my hubby had a silent MI some time ago, cholesterol, trigs, etc.  off the charts high. 

He has severe spinal stenosis, compressed discs, bad knees, overweight, takes many, many meds, including prednisone (steroids), for all of the pain.

Heart cath was scheduled last week when he suddenly developed an infection in his elbow, painful swelling, redness, and warm to touch.  He hit his elbow on something and thought nothing of it.  He went to family MD and took antibiotics.  So, they had to cancel the heart cath.

Then, he drove himself to the ER, last Tuesday, when his right calf became swollen.  They diagnosed a massive bloodclot and admitted him to hospital.  While there, they found early diabetes symptoms and put him on an 1800 cal. diabetic diet.  No insulin needed yet, but he checks blood sugar levels regularly.  The diabetes is probably from his age,  67, weight, meds combination.

Today, he's home since Saturday, his leg is swollen even more and he is a lot of pain.  Is this a normal healing process, while the clot absorbs?

We are waiting for call from doctor.

Can anyone talk to us about any of this in the meantime?

Help.

Thank you.

Chele

Hello chele, I'm so sorry about what your husband is going through and I'm sure you're at your wits' end, too.  As Judy said, the increase of swelling is not good and he needs to be seen right away.  I can only comment on the diabetes (for the heart matters, go to the Heart and Cardio forum here) but the prednisone is probably raising the blood sugar as several of the members here can attest to.  Many patients on that will need to be on diabetes medication until the pred is stopped, and the blood sugars have a chance to go down to normal (hopefully).  But you may be right that it's also a combination of age and weight that is pushing the blood sugar up.  Right now, the issue with the blood clot is more important and that needs to be taken care of.  about the diet for diabetes, if he eats a nutritious food plan of a piece of protein the size of a deck of cards (like a piece of chicken), a few vegetables and some salad food but no corn or potatoes, he will see his blood sugar be more controlled.  If he has to eat bread, then make it one piece of whole grain.  This may mean quite an adjustment if he likes sandwiches, bagels, chips, mashed potatoes, cereal.  He could allow one piece of whole-grain bread at a meal.  Snacks can be unsalted nuts, half an apple with natural peanut butter or a small wedge of cheddar.  Please read the stickies above and learn more about food for diabetics, but, again, his heart and leg swelling needs immediate attention.  His diet change can be gradual and consult with his doctor about this.  Best of luck and let us know how you both are doing!