My Jeff home from hospital

Jeff successfully had about a quart and 1/3 fluid drained.

I wanted the doctor to put the amount of fluid drained into perspective for me. I questioned if it was a lot. The doctor responded, “well, it’s not good”.

That didn’t satisfy me, so I pressed, “but in comparison to other patients … have you ever drained, say, 4 bottles?” (Each bottle holds about a quart of fluid.)

The doctor said they’ve drained 4 and even more. So while Jeff was deemed “not good”, we realized it could have been so much worse.

With the blood transfusion, drained fluid, Lasix, and continuing to wrap his legs to push the fluid up and out, Jeff should be breathing and maintaining his oxygen levels much easier now.

They would have preferred Jeff stay Tuesday night for 1 more night of observation, however they basically gave him a choice and Jeff elected to go home. He was just done with being away from home and felt reasonably well. He was finally discharged around 7:30 Tuesday night.

I’m relieved Jeff is maintaining his oxygen levels, he is actively combatting the fluid retention, and we know his heart looks mostly ok.

However, we haven’t met with anyone about the cancer in his brain. I don’t have any new information on that nor do we have any type of treatment plan in place yet.

We don’t follow up with radiology until August 18. I fail to understand the sense of urgency and find this very upsetting. I’m grateful Jeff is back home though where I know he’s comfortable.

Good to hear that Jeff is home, and hopefully his tx. will fall into place in a timely manner. I have always been thankful when returning home from the hospital. And my dogs appear to be thankful as well. Please keep us posted, and both of you get some rest.
Michael

A couple of years ago I had 2 liters (large coke bottle)drained from effusion. During recent stay in hospital had 2 liters drained twice on separate occasions. Doctor at hospital also prescribed IV Lasix. And I did have fluid retention in feet and legs. His advice was also to walk around as much as I could (after Lasix had run its' course.) Which I did with help of walker. They also suggested compression stockings. Now the walker is gone; as well as fluid retention. It will pass.

Just as a side note - the Doctor told me the Lasix will make me pee like a race horse. He then went on to explain that expression came about when race horses where administered Lasix before a race in order to lighten the load, and allow the horse to focus on the race, rather then emptying its' bladder.