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Lost Son's Updates on Dad with Hep C, Part III

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Posted 5/6/2014 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, noticed my previous thread was locked so couldn't ask there but I was told today that my father fell and hit his leg under the knee area pretty bad yesterday. It's to the point he hasn't been able to get up all day today. AT ALL. He couldn't even get up to use the restroom and resorted to bed side supplies....

I stopped by to take a look and his left leg is a bit swollen and somewhat discolored with very visible bruising in some areas. It hurts to the touch and he can not put any pressure to walk.

My question is, the fall/hit didn't seem to be so sever to cause this much damage. Is this in anyway related to his current illness? As in, is there more bruising, longer recovery times, some type of blood issue? I am not sure if this is a bad bruise that will heal or if I should be taking him in to the ER or at the very least a Dr.

Thanks

Post Edited By Moderator (MamaLama) : 5/5/2014 7:52:57 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/6/2014 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Bruising is common with liver disease. Has to do with platelets etc. I know personally I was bruising if you just touched me nearly a year ago.

The bruises will likely take a while to heal, and they will look a lot worse than they really are.
Posted 5/6/2014 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Lost Son, Let's just say you old post had gotten long and we are continuing here...or we could say I locked it by mistake..again trying to manage thet site from my phone.

I am at my laptop tonight And will change the header to LostSon III Continued. Okay?

ML
Posted 5/6/2014 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lostson.
Typically with liver disease the platelets tend to be low therefore any type of fall/impact can cause bruising. I would definitely call his primary care doctor about this if he is still uncomfortable tomorrow.
Hope he feels better soon.
WD
Posted 5/6/2014 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
I sure will make a decision if he is still unable to walk tomorrow. He has one of his first Alcohol help classes tomorrow so I really hope he can make it. But if he is uncomfortable I will call his primary for advice.

ML, thanks that works for me!
Posted 5/6/2014 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Ziff,
Funny you mention Connie. I was just looking for an old email and stumbled on a discussion we had several years back. She is missed. Mayo really let her down...
Posted 5/6/2014 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Why Mayo, why not a higher power needed her more. She was here for a reason, now the block heads will have to go on their own. At least this block head. I do miss her,she was my first mentor on the how to. Lostson you had better take papa to Dr. his bruise could clot and cause something worse.

Look at me defending Mayo as if they had done anything for me. after 8 years I still have no diagnosis. But here I go again in May for tests, they have me going in as if I lived a mile away.
Posted 5/6/2014 9:11 AM (GMT 0)
I'd take him in like you said. Let us know how it goes!

Sandia
Posted 5/6/2014 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
As soon as I get out of work I will check on him. I have called him twice with no answer so I am a bit worried although I am trying to hope it is because he made it to the class and can't answer his phone.

The bruise didn't look so horrible that he couldn't walk in my opinion, but only one knows how bad it feels.

I'll follow up a bit later.
Posted 5/6/2014 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
I'll stick with blaming Mayo. I believe in a higher power, they're my doctors. Connies let her slip through the cracks.
Posted 5/6/2014 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Lost, You sound pretty frustrated by your Dad having medical issue each time an alcohol class date rolls around. And honestly, he could have worked both in since he hurt his leg yesterday. Crutches, cane, walker. I hope if he missed it, he rescheduled the first possible. And he should also hit a few AA meetings with documentation... to show good intent to the transplant center. Let us know if he made it, and how he is doing. You can not do this for him :( Big Hugs.
Posted 5/7/2014 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
TM,

It is frustrating. I know some days are bad, but I just want him to get on this asap. I wan't him on the list so I know we have done our part to give him the best chance.

I did stop in and see him, and am glad to say he did make it to the class. So he is now rolling. However, he is back in bed unable to walk much. His leg does look pretty bad, but hopefully its starting to phase out.
Posted 5/7/2014 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Well this good news! Hope this leg heals soon. Thank you for updating us. He has a lot of class time left...but he is on the right track now. Big hugs
Posted 5/16/2014 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

Wanted to stop in for an update. Yesterday my dad had his 3 month follow up with the Hepatologist. Overall I would say it was positive as his fluid retention keeps reducing and his kidney function is still good.

One thing he was told was that he needs to eat more. MUCH more. She told us he needs to be taking in around 3000 calories a day, high protein and low sodium (less than 2000mg) He is a very poor eater. Always has been and now moreso. I would be surprised if he even gets 1000 calories much less 3000.

One thing she did say was that his MELD score keep rising. Slowly but surely. His Billirubin numbers climbed double from around 3.5 to 7.5 or so in the past 6 months. They did an MRI to rule out cancer (Which it was) and also asked if he had been drinking at all. Of course that is no. He also started his classes but has a long while to go.

His doctor said to get it done so he can get on the list asap. Although him being blood type O, he has a long way to go. But then she went on to say that he probably won't get better from here on out as we are witnessing the progression of the disease as his MELD keeps rising. I was bummed out when she told us that it can go from 20 to 35 overnight if he gets sick, catches something, etc. But then again it could continue slowly.

But for now we are happy of where things are at the moment. We know it could and will be worse. He should get his results back soon from his latest labs. Hope it isn't worse.
Posted 5/17/2014 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for an update on your Dad, lost. Ensure helps a lot for the added calories. Themister started drinking them last year. Three per day as meal supplements, or between meals...or if he skips a meal. Themister likes Strawberry ...and I only like chocolate. So have him try them all.

Where was his MELD? How many more months does he need on the alcohol class? Big Hugs
Posted 5/17/2014 1:33 AM (GMT 0)

themiz said...
Thanks for an update on your Dad, lost. Ensure helps a lot for the added calories. Themister started drinking them last year. Three per day as meal supplements, or between meals...or if he skips a meal. Themister likes Strawberry ...and I only like chocolate. So have him try them all.

Where was his MELD? How many more months does he need on the alcohol class? Big Hugs

His MELD a of his March labs is at 20. Ill check what his current is in a few days. He just started his classes so its a few months out. He needs 75 hours. Its around 5 per week where he is at.

He was told exactly that, to drink ensure or something similar to supplement his intake. He bought a box of it so hopefully he can start drinking it.
Posted 5/17/2014 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the updates.. you both are in my prayers!!
Posted 5/18/2014 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hey lost son, just wondering how you and your dad are doing?
Posted 5/20/2014 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi S&S,

Well my dad is doing well. He is up and about daily so that is always good to see. The bruise on his leg is still pretty bad and it oddly just keeps moving lower all the way down to his feet. But he feels better and most of the pain is gone.

As for his main issue, the biggest effect I am seeing is his fatigue. He is in bed most of the day. Which I know he needs to rest. But he goes out quite a bit because he gets depressed at home.

This past weekend was really hard for him, and I am scared it will drive him deep into depression. Not sure if I mentioned it before but my dad is a typical hard working blue collar man. Back in the mid to late 90's he opened up his own little shop and was doing what he loved in manufacturing. By no means was it a big business but it was a supplemental income and it was HIS. Well here we are 15 years later and he can no longer work, and the work he used to have has long been sent overseas for cheaper labor. That in itself really killed my dad about 8 years ago.

Well this past weekend it got worse, he had to sell his major machine that he had since 1999. It as at one time his source of main income, and now it sits idle in a corner....A few weeks ago my uncles boss (who works in that field) Offered to buy the machine obviously for a fraction of the price. Finally this weekend my dad agreed because he cant justify keeping it with minimal work. But I know it hurts him SO BAD, this was his life and he is seeing it all go away. Worst is I feel terrible. Deep down he always wanted my brother and myself to take over his business or use his facility for something else we can call our own. Now he is even thinking of selling that.

My fear is giving all of that up will make him miserable and without purpose. Maybe I should quit my job and start my own business (I wish it was that easy!)

So I fear that giving this up is a slow sign of surrender. He loves this machine and never thought to part ways with it. Worst is his own brother is working with the other guy to haggle my dad down on the price....He is not a man I respect much but thats another story...
Posted 5/20/2014 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Ziff,

My dad is very much like that. He loves to work and I think overall he hates feeling as though is not contributing to the family whether it be financially or otherwise. He will keep a bit of the work which is basically done by him and a friend, well mostly friend now. All he does is machine repairs when needed. But I know that machine was once his biggest accomplishment. He started from nothing and I mean nothing. Didn't even finish school to support his family when his father fell ill and passed.

Eventually his hard work got him a good job and a chance to have his own business. There was a time he was doing very well and invested in equipment. He was so excited and optimistic. Sadly at that very time is when the manufacturing sector changed in the US and things changed over night. He was almost going to quit his job to devote himself to the business but thank God he didn't. It was never easy for him to accept what happened.

There is no doubt in my mind that if he were to get a transplant and feel somewhat normal again he would want to return to work. He is not the type to not have anything to do. All he knows is work. I just think he feels getting rid of his machines/tools is a sign of his accomplishments washing away or in some sense a failure. And with his current situation I can't begin to imagine his state of mind.

I truly hope he can bounce back. On a side note, I had a dream 2 nights ago that he was back to normal. He had gotten a transplant and he was working with the biggest smile on his face and we were all there like old times.

It was one of those dreams that felt so real it took a minute after waking up to realize it was just a dream...
Posted 5/21/2014 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, lost son those dreams do feel real don't they. I feel bad for your dad to sell his most prized possession, is there any way he can keep it? Good to hear your dad is doing a bit better, except for his leg :( hopefully soon it will heal. Just hang in there, that's what I've been doing.my dad has had some rough days over the past few days, I hope he feels better tomorrow. He has had pain where his liver is and in his chest and under his arm we don't know what it is, but if it gets worse I hope he goes in to get it checked, as of tonight he won't go. Keep in touch and let me know how everything is going.
Posted 5/21/2014 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
S&S, Will do. I hope your dad gets out of the rough patch he is going through. I know the roller coaster of a few days you feel as though nothing is wrong and then the week long down turns that smack you back to reality and ruin your days.

Let's hope your dad wakes up ready for one of those good runs.

As for the machine, there is no way he can keep it financially. I actually just wrote up the bill of sale for him :/ I do that at work at times so he asked for my help.
Posted 5/21/2014 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys,

Just wanted to stop in and update the latest labs. They came in today from the 5/14 day they were completed. Looks like the MELD didn't change much and overall I guess results are similar. On one end it is not too much worse, but on the other end as the Hepatologist says it probably wont get any better anymore. Here are the results:

INR 3/12/14 - 1.7
5/14/14 - 1.8

Billirubin 3/12/14 - 7.2
5/14/14 - 7.0

Creatine 3/12/14 - 0.75
5/14/14 - 0.87

By the calculator it looks like his MELD is still at 20

Not sure how significant a .1 increase in the INR and 0.12 in creatine is, but apart from the Billi these are the highest levels since his initial 8/7/13 labs.

Post Edited (lostson) : 5/21/2014 12:16:45 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/22/2014 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hey lost son, thanks for the update. Hope your dad is doing ok. I'm sorry to hear he had to sell his machine.

My mind isn't working tonight hehe, does your dad have alcoholic cirrhosis, correct?? If he does, how many years did he drink for?
Did he drink everyday?
Posted 5/22/2014 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
S&S,

Thanks, yeah I feel bad he had to...I wish I couldve helped more. But he still has some tools he works with that keep him busy.

Yes he has alcoholic cirrhosis. He drank on and off for 40 years. Though not a lot he did pretty much drink daily. The sad thing is he was never a drunk. He was such a great family man. Bee married for 42 years, my mom cant see life without him, he really is my idol. Helped so many people. I can honestly say he would never come home drunk. He was a typical blue collar 2 beer a night, whiskey on the weekends guy...just shows everyone is different.

Actually, 2 of his 3 brothers drink A LOT...a few years younger and are healthy as can be. Sometimes it doesn't seem fair.
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