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Posted 1/29/2009 12:45 PM (GMT 0)

Well, he slept for 5 hours straight.  Then he started pulling at his gown and heart monitor leads.  He got angry when I tried to stop him and said, "What do you think you can control everything?  I'm getting out of this place!"  I decided it was a good time to start physical therapy.  I started working his legs and arms in the bed.  It didn't take long for him to settle down.  He wanted to go to the bathroom and wouldn't take no for an answer.  So I called for a tech.  She said, "I don't think you are allowed to get him up without a physical therapist.  I told her that the doctors instructed me to get him up (just a little white lie).  We slowly made our way to the bathroom and then back to the bed.  He is totally exhausted and sleeping again. 

smilewinkgrin  

Posted 1/29/2009 5:54 PM (GMT 0)

Penny,

When my husband was in the hospital last April for his workup he lost over 30 lbs. so I know how scary that can be, it is just incredible to me what the human body can go through and still keep going. How old is your Harvey?  Again, thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Judith

Posted 1/29/2009 8:30 PM (GMT 0)

Penny, you brought back a memory to me.  After one of my hip replacement revisions, I felt like I could just get out of bed and start walking...that was the feeling.  But in my mind, I knew I would fall immediately after touching the floor.  Maybe those feelings and desires are nature's way of telling us not to give up...of instilling in us dreams of the impossible, so we don't give up.  Just a thought.  wink

Continue to keep us posted and don't forget to get some sleep yourself.

Posted 1/30/2009 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
 

At some point last evening, I was reading through the posts and a term jumped out at me . . . hospital psychosis.  I Googled it and came up with its definition at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hospital-psychosis.htm  The similarities are striking.  I believe this is what Harvey (age 62) is suffering from. 

 

He had a much better day today.  I made a point to go get the scale and weigh him myself.  He was 139.6 lbs.  That's a far cry from 118.9 lbs.  I was so relieved!  I've been giving him some extra free water in his feeding tube to stave off dehydration.  He is eating more off his tray (guess he worked up an appetite).  The nutritionist is adding 1-2 Ensures to each of his meal trays to help him gain some weight back.  The Transplant Team is discussing moving him to the rehab floor so he can get more concentrated assistance in returning to normal.  Things are looking up.

 

I'll keep you posted as well as in my prayers.

 

Penny

 

Posted 1/30/2009 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
I got a call from my Mother and learned that my youngest Sister's husband suffered what they believe was a heart attack. He has sleep apnea and usually wears a mask to bed. A part on the mask was broken and he sent off for a replacement. He received the wrong part and was working with the company to correct this. He had been without the mask for 3 nights. I arrived at the hospital he was in (45 minutes away) and found him completely unresponsive.

My Sister was devastated. I told her to get a grip and try to draw him out. She looked puzzled. I stepped to the head of the bed and began a conversation with Ken just as if he were awake. He opened his eyes briefly and twitched his foot a number of times. She was very encouraged and so was I. I told her to talk to him because I was certain he could hear her.

The GI doctor came in and said his liver was shot! I asked if it was an acute case and she said it was. It could reverse itself. The GI doc suggested that his body may have cut off the oxygen supply to the liver to save the brain. This is tragic. Not only was he without his mask, but he had been drinking last night. The GI doc said they also found a sedative and a narcotic in his urine. How foolish of him! He was prescribed the sedative, but she has no idea where the narcotic would have come from unless it was some old pain pills he squirreled away. He was complaining of back pain earlier in the day. In addition to all of this, his white blood cell count was elevated suggesting an infection of some kind. My Sister said he had a cyst on his kidney.

They took him away to perform an EEG. When they returned Ken to his room, he was having seizures. The Neurologist said he was unable to get a read of his brain waves because the seizures interfered with the test. They would have to get them under control before they could redo the test. He then performed a series of reflex tests with a hammer. There was no reaction. He yelled at Ken and clapped his hands in his ear—still, no reaction. He shined his flashlight in his eyes and his pupils remained fixed. For the final test, he rolled up a piece of tissue and rubbed it across his eyeball. I saw no reaction but my sister thought he blinked. It doesn’t look very good for him. They have an NG tube in and they are pumping his stomach. There was 900 ml of fluid in the tank and still pumping out more at 6pm.

Please say a special prayer for Ken and Carol tonight. May God bring him back to her.

Penny
Posted 1/30/2009 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Penny, I'm still praying for you and Harvey. I will also include your sister and her husband. I'm sorry your family is going through so much right now.
Posted 1/30/2009 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Many prayers for your sister and her husband.
Posted 1/30/2009 3:27 AM (GMT 0)

Penny, how awful for this to happen on top of all you are already dealing with! 

My prayers go with the others for your family.

Posted 1/30/2009 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
Penny

I am so sorry that your family is having to deal with another medical problem. My heart goes out to you and your family and will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Lucy
Posted 1/30/2009 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Penny, your sister is so lucky to have you.  You are all in my prayers,

 

Judith

Posted 1/30/2009 6:51 PM (GMT 0)

Hello everyone,

 

Harvey is doing very well today.  He fell this morning while in the bathroom.  He thought the tech had a hold on him, but that wasn’t the case.  He caught himself with his forearm and didn’t bump his head or abdomen.  My Sister-In-Law was sitting with him and she feels guilty that it happened on her watch.  No harm done.  He’s okay.

 

They removed the 2nd JP-drain line and also his catheter.  Physical therapy came by and took him for a walk.  His head has cleared up a great deal.  He told me he still hallucinates occasionally, but nothing like before.  He now realizes that he was blessed with an opportunity for a 2nd chance at life.  He is very excited and very grateful.  It’s wonderful to see him smile again.

 

The Transplant Team wants to move him to the rehab floor for some intensive physical therapy.  They are working this out with the insurance company.  He is looking forward to getting back on his feet and is eager to do whatever they want him to do.

 

I’ll keep you posted.

 

Penny

Posted 1/30/2009 7:02 PM (GMT 0)

The Neurologist performed another EEG this morning and said there was no improvement in my Brother-In-Law’s condition.  The doctor is trying to convince my little Sister to discontinue life support in 3 days.  She wants to wait at least two weeks.  His liver failed yesterday afternoon, but regained function overnight.  My Mother insists that he is responding to her voice this morning.

 

I honestly don’t see any harm in allowing her some additional time.  If nothing else, it will give her time to prepare herself. 

 

Please keep her in your prayers.

 

Penny

Posted 1/30/2009 8:09 PM (GMT 0)

Penny, I am so thrilled at Harvey's continued progress.  The walks and therapy will make him stronger and reduce the risk of falls.  Also, to know that the hallucinations have about stopped and he is excited about his life now is really the best of news!

I agree that there is no harm in giving your sister more time to come to a decision. 

Continued thoughts and prayers.

Posted 1/30/2009 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Penny, I am so happy to hear that Harvey is feeling better today. I can only imagine what those smiles mean to you after such a scary time. I am so sorry to hear about your brother-in-law. I was hoping that he would improve. I also agree that there is no harm in giving your sister more time. I will be praying for you all.
Posted 1/31/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Penny, I am so glad Harvey is improving.  The rehab will be good for him and as they start weaning him off the Predisone, that will help.  Be prepared until they do he will get an appetite, and probably gain some much needed weight.   Jerry finally got of them and his appetite tappered off.  He did have a few hallucinations, but not many, thank goodness.  I hate this for your sister and I will keep her in my prayers.

Helen

Posted 2/1/2009 4:21 AM (GMT 0)

Penny,

I have not been online for a few days.....but am so glad to read that your husband is doing better!! That prednisone is a nasty medication (that's the steroid medication my hhubsand was on when he had a phychotic reaction this last summer). I think now that they have that tapered off, you will continue to see improvement. I am praying that the insurance company will okay a transfer to the rehab floor...sounds like it would be good. I am also so sorry your family is having to go through all this with your brother in law. I will continue to pray for you, for your sisterr and your family. You hang in there......you've had a rough week!

Mer

Posted 2/1/2009 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Penny

So glad that Harvey is doing better and they are looking at moving him to the rehab floor. What a miracle. May you both be blessed with this second chance. I am sorry to hear though that there is no improvement in your brother-in-law. I will continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Lucy
Posted 2/1/2009 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

Harvey continues to do well. They still haven't evaluated him to move to the rehab floor. We continue to wait but everything is fine.

My Brother-In-Law hasn't improved much. His eyes are now reacting to light stimulas and he has some involuntary reflexes, but nothing yet that would indicate consciousness. It breaks my heart for my Sister. His family is trying to pressure her into pulling the plug, but she still insists on giving him more time. We're praying for a miracle. Some sign that he is coming back. Holding out hope that he can recover. Please continue to pray for them. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. Just consider what Harvey's been through.

As always, you're in my thoughts and prayers.

Penny
Posted 2/1/2009 8:41 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for checking in, Penny.  Glad to know that Harvey continues to do well.  I agree with you that prayer is a powerful thing.  I had evidence of that myself when I had liver cancer.  So prayers will definitely be with your brother-in-law, and also for your sister to have the strength to deal with this, whatever the outcome.

Do continued to keep us posted.

Posted 2/1/2009 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Keep the prayers coming. My Sister had an eventful afternoon. A Neurologist came in again today and preformed pain reflex tests on her Husband. No response. Later, their primary care doctor came in to see him. My Sister brought him up to speed on the last few days events. Her doctor said, "If they want a response to pain, I can get him to respond to pain." With that, he reached into Ken's armpit and pinched him. Ken responded immediately by pulling his arm away. He reached into his groin and again, Ken's leg bolted toward the ceiling. My little Sister collapsed to the floor. She was so inspired. Everyday, Ken is showing more signs that he is aware.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Penny
Posted 2/2/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Penny,

That you for the updates. Sounds like Harvey has turned the corner. Continued prayers for your family.....you guys hang in there!!

Mer
Posted 2/2/2009 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Penney

That is the greatest story I have heard in a long time.  That just goes to show EVERYONE!  Never ever give up.  You just made my WEEK.

JoAnn

Posted 2/2/2009 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
That IS good to hear, Penny.  My prayers are for continued responsiveness.

Posted 2/2/2009 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
WOW, made my week too turn .

 

Judith

Posted 2/3/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Penny, I am continuing to pray also. Take care!
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