Have your liver enzymes checked if you've ruled out allergies and skin issues......
Returning many hugs you've sent to me the past year......
Mike waited until it was just us, his mom, sister and the Chaplin. He was still in the room after prayer when Mike took his last breath. I think he waited for the Chaplin......
Mike now has comfort care. We are not "officially" hospice. We got a lucid moment today after letting pain meds wear off. He wants to live. Antibiotics are being continued, but monitors are off....
Belly pain is eased with the new antibiotic, which is a relief (and brings hope). Another platelet infusion this afternoon. There is no other new news....
Homeward bound...SO happy for you!!!...
Platelets llast night. Not responding to current antibiotics so they're switching today. Bleed is likely lower GI. They are going to test abdominal fluid, but are worried to do it. I had a sense that...
Creatinine back to 4.9 today, but still good output. Worried about an abdominal bleed. They won't do a parencentisis due to bleed risk. CT 2 hours ago with no results yet. Platelets and hemoglobin...
I will state again how impressed we've been by the Mpls VA. SisterCarolyn and I are humbled every time we drive in. They are fantastic! Mike is in very, very good hands. Thanks for reminding me to...
Yes, it has been administered almost every time (at 2+ liters). They are concerned that a vein was "nicked" last Monday (when there was some blood in a tap) and didn't heal. The mass on CT (blood...
Creatinine is 4.1 today. A small move, but a good move. Platelets and hemoglobin are both LOW. They came up enough during the day that they did NOT do a blood and plasma transfusion, but also will...
They haven't discussed anything about removal yet. Poor guy had his cath "plug" and they couldn't clear it. Out with the old, in with a new one. :( Finally got home about 30 minutes ago...Mike is...
ER at 5am, immediate transfer to ICU...Waiting for bacteria results. He is SO slurry (but "with it"). Waiting on things is the hardest part of this. Update: Creatinine 4.9...Waiting on consult for...
Yesterday did NOT happen. Almost overnight (from Sunday) Mike's energy was non-existent. He is so weak that he can't open a bottle of water. Bruising everywhere and little red dots on...
It's a detoxifier, but have never heard of internal use. It's common for skin blemishes/external detox. I'll have to do some research, but won't be trying it......
Ask your doc if he would be ok trying ginger or Feverfew. Feverfew (typically in capsule) is an appetite stimulant. Ginger (comes in candies, oil, fresh, dried) is an anti nausea. They WORK! I have...
I've been looking back at old posts the past few days prepping for what's to come. I've come to the conclusion there is NO prepping. Day by day is the ONLY way. We have a day off tomorrow. NO work...
Mike got his 2 month AA coin! He didn't start off going as often as he should have, but is made it at least once a week for 2 months. -happy dance- He's been consistantly 3+ days a week the past...
Between this, and news about Dad tonight, I needed a (or 2) cheerleaders. THANK YOU! I KNOW he can do this! New HE issues have started this week. Mike has NOT been taking Latulose. That has been...
I am so thankful you are helping others after going through such a loss. Thank you for that, and enjoy your new baby!...
Your answers here have been invaluable. You have NO idea how much it's helped us all! Not a full blood draw today, but after a week on 40 MG Furosemide and 100 MG Spironolactone again once a day,...
Ziff, did your transplant center take a combo of AA and therapy? How many days per week? Getting my question list together for Friday. I'd rather have this all "ready to go" at the 6 month mark....
Having visions of Mike on a Sham Wow commercial. In stitches!!! The only medical Mike has is through the VA right now. From my understanding, MN has 3 transplant centers. Mayo (in Rochester), UofM...
Ziff, docs both laughed, but thought it was genius that SisterCarolyn thought of a Sham Wow. Mike is being put on low dose lasix tomorrow, but won't know what dose they will be until I get home at 6....
Ziff, Mike was MORTIFIED that I brought that up, but read your response to him. THANK YOU!!!!!!! You calmed both of our fears. We DO have a 7 day (morning/noon/eve/bedtime) pillbox. I had been...
We have a new issue. After Mike "forgot" to take his pills for a day, was SO exhausted that he could barely get up to use the bathroom. What was he thinking? He's on Prednisone (NOT a taper phase)....
I am heartbroken, but thankful we aren't the only ones going through this. Mikes MELD from this morning was 32. More important? He held a VERY scared Vets hand in the final stages of cancer...He was...
Shock of all shocks, Mike is in the hospital overnight. He has felt SO good the past few days! WBC is 31, and nobody will tell me the others. I want to ring their necks. They are "off the charts",...
Mike hurts. Everywhere. Because of kidney function, they won't give him anything until the outcome of labs Wed. They DID say I could try ginger for nausea (also a warming agent) and milk thistle (for...
Energy has been lacking again, but still up and about about 2 of 6 hours. This is just how it's going to be, isn't it? Though still sober, hasn't gone to a single meeting, hasn't called back the...
My DH was given 100mgs Hydroxyzine 4x's daily for itch. It also is an anti anxiety med. He found 50 mgs 3x's daily was working fine. Any higher dose made him feel drowsy/out of it...Topicals only...
I've decided to wait on leave, and am hoping for a transfer closer to home in 2 weeks. Right now my drive is 30-40 minutes, the store I want is 10 minutes. I'm a store manager for GNC (have been for...
MELD 29, GFR 33 today...Before we leave, waiting to see if they can get him in for a tap today...Doc made it VERY clear that whether he feels he needs it or not, Latulose is a MUST... Thank you SO...
Mike is EXHAUSTED after about 2 hours...We have labs, switching his primary (from one VA system to MN), and a Hep appointment from 7:15-10am tomorrow...We will see...Agitation has continued......
Setting an appt tomorrow for later in the week for labs, and will ask about upping Lactulose at that point. Mike felt well enough for a quick trip to the grocery store (that was quite the argument...
Mike is REALLY groggy today. Can barely hold his head up to answer a question. Yesterday/last night was frustrating for him. He is frustrated with ME because I don't understand what he's trying to...
This morning labs... INR: 1.59 BILL: 37.5 CREAT: 2.9 GFR: 24 MELD 36 Is it normal for him to be sent home today? Doc says that even though #'s are high, Mike isn't showing signs of HE, just showing...
16 days and counting to the 6 month mark. Creatinine: 3.3 Bilirubin: 40 INR: 1.69 MELD 38 GFR 20 Good progress for 24 hours. Thankfully we have had the same 1st and 2nd shift nurses all week, so I'm...
They pulled 12 ozs out Tuesday (hadn't needed that since October), banding done December and January. He has refused to even go for bloodwork since completing a 30 day inpatient program in Feb (other...
INR: 1.8 Creatinine: 3.7 Bilirubin: 40.2 GFR: 18 This is something new for us to look at, but I know enough that this puts him at stage 4 renal failure. They STILL are not talking about dialysis. HE...
No changes other than bilirubin being up to 39. INR 1.6. Creatinine 3.?. Mike has uncontrollable itching (saw a previous post and will bring that up tomorrow). Kidneys still aren't functioning...
Numbers are about the same today. Did a tap and ruled out cancer. Thank GOD! On the other hand, kidneys are barely functional. With an actual creatinine score, Meld is at 36. If he ends up on...
Just got home, Mike is settled in for the next 4-5 days at the VA. Though I didn't get a full copy of blood work, snagged some numbers. WBC: 25.66 INR: 2.17 Bilirubin: 33.2 AST: 159 PT (don't know...
INR 2.17, Billirubin 33.2, they canceled creatinine. With a "high" end worked into the equation, MELD is 29....
After being at the VA all day today know that his bilirubin is off the charts. Too high to calculate a MELD score (or so try say), WBC is also VERY high, and 4 spots on his liver (according to x...
(((Hug))) from MN......
DH was diagnosed with ESLD (alcoholic) in September of last year. We have been through a whirlwind of detox, rehab, repeat since then. His health has "popped" back (MELD 19-23, back under 10) each...
All blood work came back in the "normal" range, which I find absolutely amazing......
He had 5 bands for varices initially, and 3 replaced in December. Wondering if one or more need to be redone. I'll call tomorrow and have another endoscopy scheduled. Thanks! This group has been most...
My MIL is 73 and lives on her own (also diagnosed 9-10 years ago). We do NOT like her driving due to "freezing" issues, and has numerous walkers/canes throughout her home. At this point, even she has...