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latest update on my brother

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Posted 4/19/2014 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
A week ago tomorrow, he was released from the hospital and taken to a nursing home for physical rehabilitation. I went to see him on Monday and WOW what a difference. He had lots of energy, was up walking around and in great spirits. I haven't gotten to visit him since but I've talked with him everyday. Tuesday was a little harder for him, his stomach was bothering him, Wednesday better, Thursday they made plans to take him to the hospital on Friday (yesterday) to have his abdomen drained again. He was uncomfortable, not feeling well at all etc.
Yesterday when I talked to him he was very worried because he's feeling worse. He can't sleep, can't eat, whatever he does eat he throws up, VERY low on energy, wasn't able to go to the bathroom (#1 or #2) and very depressed. They did more bloodwork, a bladder scan, put a cathedar in, stopped the lasix and the other diuretic (spiro??? somthing or other) They started giving him Lactulose and ordered a renal ultrasound (still waiting for that to be done today). The dr decided not to send him to the hospital to drain his abdomen as he's worried about infection.
Yesterday his BUN was 26
Creatinine 2
His white blood count was 14.15 on Thursday

They did blood work again today:
Hemoglobin the same 9.3
platelets 162 (that's been going up since he's been out of the hospital)
WBC 12.99
BUN 25
Creatinine 1.87

I'm starting to get very worried about if his kidneys might be starting to fail. Are there other lab results I should be asking about besides the ones I'm getting?
Posted 4/20/2014 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Diuretics like Spironlactone, Lasix and such aren't very kidney friendly but barring Paracentesis or TIPS it's the only way to keep the fluid down. Diet helps but usually wont do it alone for most. I would get drained on a Monday and felt week and groggy all day Tuesday and Wednesday feel like my old self. By Friday a drain would have to be done and the cycle just continued. You can't sleep because you can't get comfortable. Particularly with abdomen distended and you sleep normally on your stomach.

Taking him off diuretics may help bring his kidney's back up but he will have to be drained at some point. Make sure he is getting Albumin afterwards to re-nourish his body. There is a ratio given in ounces per each liter of fluid drained. It's administered through a I.V drip. I'll keep him in my thoughts and don't forget to take care of yourself.


Ziff
Posted 4/22/2014 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
The drs are very concerned about his kidneys. He is getting his abdomen drained tomorrow. He's having issues with hydration. When thru give him IV fluids, the creatinine goes down a bit but the fluid just collects in his abdomen. When they don't give him IV fluids the creatinine goes up again. They are going to start giving him medicine to help his kidneys via shots each day. He said the GI dr, liver dr a f general dr all say his liver will not make it 6 months, that his kidneys and liver will fail and that the only other thing they can try is to move him back into a different hospital and see what they can do. His dr asked me today if I knew how my brother feels about hospice. Here are today's lab #'s. Honestly those with knowledge.....how bad are these numbers?

Creatinine 2.19
Albumin 2.3
Bilirubin 28.6
BUN 28
Platelet 135
WBC 11.17
Protein 5.3
Alt 58
GFR 34
Posted 4/22/2014 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Catgirl,
I sorry to read that your brother isn't doing well. In regards to your brothers lab work results, the BUN and the Creatinine are both elevated and GFR is low...they are all related to the Kidney function. His platelets are low, but not drastically. What stands out to me is that his bilirubin is extremely high. Is your brother jaundice / yellow? My advice would be speak directly to your brother's doctors and tell them all your questions and concerns. Right now, continue to be there and spend time with your brother. You sound like an amazing sister and caregiver. I hope your brother gets better soon.
Posted 4/22/2014 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear.. hang in there..


Sandia
Posted 4/22/2014 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you! Yes he's very jaundice. The highest his bilirubin was 2 weeks ago in the hospital was 33, it lowered to 15 last week, but back up again. I do speak directly to his dr's, I have health care POA. It's just that sometimes drs can be a little vague. I've found that people here have lots of info about different things from their own experiences etc.
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