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Janie is home from the hospital

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Posted 6/17/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Janie was released to go home late Wednesday afternoon after her enzymes came down to a level her Hepatologist was comfortable with. She has taken her off Aldactone and prescribed Fludrocortisone to help regulate her sodium and potassium. She has to go to her PCP in two weeks for him to order labs every other week so that he can monitor her electrolytes and enzymes in case they rise to a dangerous level again. Janie says that she feels pretty good, but has been catching up on all the sleep she lost while in the hospital. Her hydrocortisone has been raised to 20 mg in the morning and 15 mg at bedtime, along with an increase in her insulin. So far her blood/sugar has been in the normal range. She has an appointment to see her Endocronologist next Thursday and I'm sure he will also order additional labs. Her Hepatologist explained to us that no one physician will be able to monitor all her labs, that it will have to be a team effort, and a balancing act to keep everything in somewhat of a normal range. Her appetite continues to be voracious, and I worry about her weight gain. She is eating healthy but is always hungry due to  the increase in the steroids. Her dose now is much less than she had been receiving via IV in the hospital, so hopefully her hunger will lessen with time.

I am going to try to go back to work next Monday as I have a friend of hers that will prepare a healthy lunch for her each day that I am not at home.  I also am fortunate enough to be able to  work from home one to two days per week. She says she will be able to eat cereal, etc for breakfast, which she believes she can do for herself, even though she only has one hand, as her right arm is still in a splint. I am completely out of vacation and sick leave, so any more time off will  be without pay. If this doesn't work out my only other option is to retire, which I will not hesitate to do if it comes to that.

I want to thank all of you for your good wishes and prayers. Being able to vent with other care-givers who are in the same boat I am in is a blessing, as you all know how stressful this can be.

Thanks again from the bottom of my heart, and I wish all of you the best.

Charlie

 

Posted 6/17/2011 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Charlie,
You're a good guy!
Posted 6/17/2011 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Charlie-so good to hear that Janie is home. Prayers and good thoughts for you both.

Emma
Posted 6/17/2011 5:44 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Charlie,

 Glad to hear that Janie was able to go home and that she is doing better.  It's nice that the doctors are monitoring her level and are staying on top of things.  That's great that a friend is able to come in and help with lunches and that you are able to try and go back to work.  You are a great caregiver as well as a loving husband just take it one day at a time and you will know when or whether it's time to retire or not.  I've been home with Dennis for 8 years now and it's great that I'm here for him, he was suppose to have gotten a transplant by now.  He was in real bad shape back then.  I am grateful that my husband is doing better at home, with me here his health has improved and he isn't going to be getting a transplant anytime soon that we know of.  Things just change so much that you never really know for sure what to do till you do it.  My advice it put it off retirement as long as possible.  We love our togetherness but having time apart is good for both of us as well!!  tongue

Take care,

DDMom

(Kathy and Dennis)

Posted 6/17/2011 10:23 PM (GMT 0)

Charlie, I'm happy to hear that Jane is home again.  Insurance will usually pay for intermittent visiits by an aide or visiting nurse while you are at work.  The aide could prepare lunch for her and the nurse keep an eye on her health.  Just in case this service should be needed in the future.  A doctor will have to prescribe or recommend it for insurance to pay.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 6/17/2011 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Great news!! Best of luck to you both!!

Debbie
Posted 6/18/2011 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Connie,

If our current plan doesn't work I will check into this. Her main problem now is not having the use of her right hand. She has had the splint for about 2 weeks now, has an appointment next friday with an ortho doc, so maybe she won't have to wear it too much longer. The hospital doc says it was a small fracture in one of her wrist bones, that he had an ortho doc look at it while she was in the hospital and he didn't recommend anything other than the splint. They want her to just follow up next week with an ortho doc.
Posted 6/18/2011 8:14 PM (GMT 0)

Since it was a small fracture, and due to the location, a splint was probably the best thing.  Not using that hand will help it to heal.  Otherwise, they would have to cast her hand and arm up to the elbow to immobilize it.  Perhaps when she sees the ortho doc, he will D/C the splint and suggest a wrist/hand splint with fingers free (can be bought in drug stores.)  If he writes an Rx for it, she could get it free (durable medical equipment.)

Hugs,

Connie

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