Dad

[paula1961]

Please continue to pray for my Dad. He is in St Joseph hospital in Lexington ky. He's been here 2 weeks. Yesterday they did an emergency procedure and put in a temporary cath for dialysis. He didn't do well with that. He is in CCU. They are doing dialysis right now. He is not doing well at all. His blood pressure has been running too low. So many things are working against him right now.
We are trying so hard to keep our faith during this difficult time. I will update as soon as I know something. I have been down here for the past four days with him. Almost all of the family is here now. Thanks in advance for your prayers.

[gja1000]

So sorry to hear this. Heart failure is so hard on so many of the body systems. Gary's kidneys are very bad too - not bad enough for dialysis, but he will probably need it at some point.

I will keep you in my thoughts, I know it is hard on everyone, including your dad.

[Janet]

Guess I've missed some posts huh? Paula I'll keep your dad in my prayers. Not sure what kind of cath you mentioned, but my Mom has had two put in for kidney dialysis. Please keep us updated and let your Dad know he has a lot of strangers praying for him too.

[Marilyn]

Oh, Paula, so so sorry to hear this. Will pray for the best possible outcome!!!

[JJJ]

Paula I'm so sorry. I hope he recovers pretty soon and hopefully his just giving you guys a little scare. XOXO

[lynne b]

Paula, so sorry to hear your dad isn't doing well. will send prayers your way that he gets better soon.

[judy]

I'll be praying for your Dad, Paula. I hope he gets better soon.

[Gina]

Paula your dad and family are in my prayers..

[Janet]

Paula....how is your Dad doing? Praying he is recovering nicely.

[DianaB]

I'm just seeing this......I hope your Dad is better!!! I'll be praying!! Hugs!!!

[Blueyes]

I know how hard this is for you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all!

[paula1961]

You all are awesome friends. Sorry I haven't updated sooner. I'm still in Lexington, he is still in CCU. Things aren't good:cry2:It's been a really hard and long day. I will try to get time to post tomorrow. Please:hands::hands::cry: keep praying. I love my Dad so much!

[judy]

My prayers are with you all, Paula.

[judy]

My prayers are with you all, Paula.

[DianaB]

:hug: I'm so sorry that your Dad isn't better. I'll be praying.

[Janet]

Keeping you and your dad in prayer Paula.

[paula1961]

He is still in critical condition. His kidneys have shut down. His dialysis was done late today. We couldn't see him until after 8:30 tonight. He was sleeping soundly. So we all went back to our motel rooms. God works miracles. So just keep praying for him.

They took out the cath from the groin area yesterday and put another one in on the right side of his chest. It will last about 30 days before it will have to be changed. I'm so confused about all of this. His icd is on the left side so obviously they can't put it there. I knew something was terribly wrong when they put him on diladid thru his iv and still haven't taken him off of it. That was 3 weeks yesterday. I don't think they are telling us everything. I'm sorry if I don't explain things real well but after you hear so much info it kindda all runs together.

For those of you that don't know what diladid is. It is a pain med more powerful than morphine.

Will try to update tomorrow. Love you all!!:ghug:

[judy]

Oh Paula...this is a hard time for you. I am praying for all of you.

[donna1990]

I am praying. God is listening to our prayers right now.

[gja1000]

Paula, it is very confusing, especially when several things are going on all at once. I''m unsure why they were giving him Dilaudid. There's really nothing related to heart failure or kidney failure that usually causes pain - so it is a mystery to me. You might ask them why they are giving it to him.

[JJJ]

Was hoping to hear some good news.

[paula1961]

Paula, it is very confusing, especially when several things are going on all at once. I''m unsure why they were giving him Dilaudid. There's really nothing related to heart failure or kidney failure that usually causes pain - so it is a mystery to me. You might ask them why they are giving it to him.

Sorry it has taken so long to get back to this thread. When he went in there 4 wks ago, he went for severe stomach pain. They started him on the diladid for that. Still don't know for sure what was causing the pain. Maybe pancreatitus or prostate infection. They never figured that one out:rolleyes: He does have gout really bad too. So I guess that would explain the diladid. Fast forward to 2 weeks or so ago....I've lost all track of time. Sorry.

He was on Teakison (sp?) that works with his icd. They said his heart was overloaded with it and it also attacks the kidneys. They took him off that and put him on Mexalatine. He doesn't deal well with that. It gives him tremors really bad. His creatine count shot up to almost 6. That's when they started dialysis.
Yesterday they took him off the Mexalatine and while he was eating dinner, his icd shocked him:eek: Last night they started him back on the mexalatine. Sigh... Bless his heart!

I hope this makes a little bit of sense you all. He had a really good morning Sunday. He walked to the nurses station on a walker. And now he's having a bad time again. Keep him in your prayers please. They did move him to an intermediate care room so we can pretty much come and go as we please. So that's a good thing. I am going back down there tomorrow. I'll stay a couple of nights at least. My poor Mom is worn out. Thanks for your continued prayers. I love you all.

[DianaB]

Your Dad is really going through a lot. I know that it's stressful for you and your Mom. I'm praying. Hugs!!!

[gja1000]

Oh Paula! This is so hard for your whole family, including your dad. I wish there were an easier way, but healing is a slow process, especially as we age. I hope he begins to rally and feels better soon.

[paula1961]

Thanks all! Gayle have you heard of these meds that they are using with his icd?

[lynne b]

prayers are still going out to your dad and family. I am sorry you are having to go through this.

[gja1000]

Mexalatine is a medication used to treat ventricular arrythmias. Ventricular arrythmias (sometimes called V-tach, pronounced Vee-Tack) is the medical term for a very bad heart beat where the bottom part of the heart beats very fast, so fast that the heart cannot pump out any blood. Left untreated, a person will die of V-tach. An ICD will fire when the heart goes into a V-tach rhythm. The ICD firing will bring the heart back to a normal rhythm. Mexalatine is a drug used to control V-tach. Unfortunately, most of the medications used to treat V-tach are very strong and have many side effects.

I'm not familiar with Teakison - maybe it is Tenormin or Tambocor. They are used to control V-tach too. All those drugs are nasty with lots of side effects - but one cannot live with V-tach, so it has to be controlled. It's a double edged sword.

[JJJ]

My heart goes out to you, I hope meds are just making him look sicker than what he really is. Big huggs going your way.

[paula1961]

Dad is still in the hospital! Today he had SLED dialysis. It lasted over 10 hours. They got 22 lbs of fluid off of him. Please keep him still in your prayers. Janet has your Mom ever had this kind of dialysis done? Just curious. I'm going back down tomorrow.

[gja1000]

Hi Paula, thanks for the update on your dad. Janet's mom has probably not had SLED dialysis because it is used for persons who are very sick. It's just a slower way to do regular hemodialysis (where the blood is filtered through the machine to remove the toxins and wastes). Regular hemodialysis takes 3-4 hours, but SLED is done over 8-10 hours because people who are very ill can't tolerate the loss of fluid so quickly - so it is done slower.

[paula1961]

Hi Paula, thanks for the update on your dad. Janet's mom has probably not had SLED dialysis because it is used for persons who are very sick. It's just a slower way to do regular hemodialysis (where the blood is filtered through the machine to remove the toxins and wastes). Regular hemodialysis takes 3-4 hours, but SLED is done over 8-10 hours because people who are very ill can't tolerate the loss of fluid so quickly - so it is done slower.

Yes that is how they explained it Gayle. I also googled it and read that it is easier on the heart too.
I'm going back down today. They are planning on putting a shunt in his abdomen tomorrow for the paritineal (sp?) dialysis.
This has all been so crazy!!!

[Blueyes]

Paula, I have been keeping up with this thread but haven't posted lately. I just want you to know you are all in my prayers.

[Janet]

Hi Paula...sorry I haven't seen this thread for awhile. My Mom has never had the SLED dialysis, this is the first I've heard of it. My Mom is on peritoneal where she can do it at home at night while she sleeps. She usually hooks up at 8 PM and unhooks around 5 or 6 AM.

You'll probably find all the information overwhelming, but it really is very simple to do. The main thing is to keep the exit site clean and to ALWAYS maintain sanitary conditions while hooking up and unhooking. If he was to get an infection, it can be very painful. Mom had peritonitis and had to have her abdominal cath removed and go on hemodialysis for a little over a month. She hated it with a passion. After her peritonitis healed, they put a new cath back in and she has been doing great.

Please feel free to ask anything you like....If you would like my phone number just PM me.

[judy]

My prayers are going out for all of you.

[JJJ]

Still thinking of you :2hearts2:

[Gina]

Praying for better days for your dad.. Hugs to you my friend..

[DianaB]

Hugs, Paula. I'm praying that your Dad gets better.

[paula1961]

Hi everyone! Daddy had the surgery for the cath in his abdomen for the peritoneal dialysis. The surgery went fine. Now they are waiting for the incision to seal before it can be used.....so.....he's still in the hospital but doing pretty fair. In three days, they got 44 pounds of fluid off of him. The dialysis staff said they had never gotten that much fluid off a patient before.
Janet the SLED dialysis is used for critically ill patients. It lasts over 10 hrs:eek:
I'm going back down there tomorrow and will be back home Sat if all is well. Thanks for your continued prayers.

[DianaB]

Thanks for the update, Paula. I bet that your Dad will feel much better with that fluid off!! I'm praying that all goes well with everything else and he gets to go home soon!! I miss you being one here!!!

[paula1961]

Thanks Diana! He is still in the hospital and he is doing pretty fair right now. They are doing dialysis every two hours. Been doing that since yesterday. I talked to him as we were leaving Lexington earlier today and he said that he felt pretty good. That's all we can hope for right now...that he is not suffering and is able to talk and even give us a little chuckle once in a while. :)

[Janet]

That's great news Paula. He will feel so much better without all that fluid. We have to keep a close eye on Mom's weight and blood pressure so we know what size fluid to use. Once he gets the hang of it....it won't be so bad.

[gja1000]

I'm so glad to hear that he is doing better! You all must be so relieved!

[JJJ]

Glad to hear everything is coming along fine :)

[paula1961]

Dad got to go home from the hospital on Sat. He had dialysis that day at the hospital before he was sent home.
I came home on Sat. He had to be back in Lexington to the dialysis clinic this morning. He did well. He seems to be gaining some strength back too..which is wonderful.
His cath for paritineal(sp?) didn't leak...so his dialysis will be done at home tonight for the first time. My brother is there and I will be going back tomorrow. I usually go on Wed and stay till Fri or Sat.

[lynne b]

thats such good news, so glad he got to come home finally and praying that he continues to get stronger each day!!
I hope you are taking care of yourself Paula, it gets pretty exhausting trying to care for our parents. how far do you have to travel to get to your dads?
Get some rest please!!

[gja1000]

I'm so glad that he is home now. I hope the peritoneal dialysis goes well, it is so much easier than hemodialysis. I hope you mom is doing OK!

[Janet]

So glad your dad is home and starting the peritoneal at home. He will like that sooo much better. Mom is really doing good now, I hope the same for your dad.

[judy]

I am so happy for your Dad Paula! It is so much better to be home, and this type of dialysis sounds like it is much easier on him.

Janet, I am glad your Mom is doing well also. Now,if you can only get her license taken away!

[JJJ]

:bighug: So happy to hear his home :bighug:

[DianaB]

It sounds like your Dad's doing well. I'm so glad that he's back home!!!!

[paula1961]

Thank you all so much!! He seems to be doing pretty good. The only bad thing is that he is not getting enough fluid off at night and they have been having to go the dialysis clinic so that the nurse can get more off during the day. But starting today he has to have 2 hand exchanges done throughout the day. Hopefully everything will be straighened out soon and they won't have to deal with that everyday.
I got home last night. I had been there since Wed. and will be going back this coming Wed. All in all though he is doing much much better!:)

[Janet]

That is so good to hear that he is doing better. Once they get the fluid off and get him on a steady dialysis he should do great and feel so much better.

[JJJ]

I know he hates going in to dialysis but I'm sure his grateful his being taken care off. I think you need to rest and put your mind at ease now that everything seems to be turning out so good.

[Janet]

How is your Dad now Paula? Has he started the dialysis at home yet? How is he getting along? It's not hard at all once they get the hang of it. Do you know what company he is using for supplies and his machine? My Mom uses Baxter. I hope he does as well on it as Mom is doing.

[paula1961]

Thanks for asking Janet. He is still hanging in there. Yes he is doing the dialysis at home now. His heart is just so weak that they are having a hard time getting it all adjusted. They have to do at least 2 hand exchanges a day in addition to the cycler at night. But he is doing a little better. He sometimes even feels good enough to walk without his walker from the kitchen to the living room. That's really good for him.

He also uses Baxter for his supplies. Wow.....it's alot of stuff isn't it? But who cares as long as it's helping keep him with us.:) I am so glad that your Mom is doing well.:)

[Janet]

I'm glad he is able to walk farther...that's something at least! Also using the different fluids will help take fluid off too. Mom does have to watch her weight and if her ankles are bigger and use the fluid accordingly. She does really well. I'm glad your Dad is doing well too. As time goes on and they get him where he should be....he'll feel much better.

[gja1000]

I'm so glad to hear that he is home and doing better. I know you are relieved! I hope he continues to get stronger.

[paula1961]

Thank you all so much! Dad is still doing pretty fair. Please continue to keep he and my Mom in your prayers.

[Janet]

How's your Dad Paula? Is he getting use to the home dialysis? It does take some time, but then it's just like everything else...ya get use to it.

Mom does really well now and she's very cautious about sanitation so she doesn't get another infection....it can be really painful.

[paula1961]

Dad is back in the hospital. His dr took him off of mexalatine because it was causing a terrible rash. That med was working with his defibilator. Well long story short......Thurs night, he got shocked 10 times before the ambulance could get him to the hospital. He stayed in icu until day before yesterday. Now he is on the intermediate care floor. He is stable but not out of the woods.

Girls, I am facing the reality that I may not have my wonderful Dad much longer. He has been having these problems for so many years. But since July, it has gotten a hundred times worse than usual. We have been told and have known in our hearts that he is in the last stages of heart and kidney failure. He is an awesome Dad! It will break my heart to let him go, but I can't stand to see him suffer anymore! He said last night that if he couldn't walk or get a glass of water that he wanted to go be with Jesus! Talk about the tears flowing! Please say prayers for him and my Mom! She will be lost without him. They have been married 53 years. This is sooo sad!

[Janet]

Oh Paula....I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I was a Daddy's girl and lost him 36 years ago....still hurts as if it was a few days ago. I will keep him in my prayers and you and your mother also. Wish I could give you a hug.

[Blueyes]

I'm so sorry. It's hard to wait for something awful to happen. My prayers are with you all. I hope he has an easy time of it.

[judy]

Oh Paula, I am so sorry for all of you. This is so hard, and I will keep you, your Dad and your Mom in my heart. I wish there was something I could do for you
besides sending you love.

[paula1961]

Thank you all so very much for your kind words. You are all so sweet and kind. He is still in the hospital. He is in icu. He's talking about telling the heart drs to turn off his icd. I don't know if he will or not but us kids and Mom have decided it is his choice, he is the one having to suffer through all of this. He's feeling the physical and emotional pain of it all. We are only feeling the emotional part and that is heartbreaking!
I am going back tomorrow or Monday. I just came home yesterday for a couple of days.

[gja1000]

This is so hard Paula. You all are right though, it is his choice. I am so glad that he is able to state his wishes. It is so hard when we have to make decisions for our loved ones. I know it is so hard. He has been through a lot of pain and emotions. He must be very tired and very brave to withstand all of this. Drive safely tomorrow. I hope you all can find some peace.

[lynne b]

Paula, I am so sorry to hear that your dad is not doing well again. I will be praying for all of you.

[Janet]

Paula, it makes my heart ache knowing what you are going through. Wish we all lived closer so we could be there in person for each other. Prayers are continuing for you and your family.

[DianaB]

Paula, I know that this is hard for all of you.......not just your Dad. It's not easy to see them in pain and dealing with so much. You, your Dad, and family are all in my prayers!!!

[paula1961]

Okay here's what is happening. He decided to have everything turned off. They tried to do dialysis night before last and could not get any fluid off of him. Last night he refused dialysis. Today he has taken no meds except for pain meds. He has two drips..one to keep his blood pressure up and one to help keep his heart in rhythm. Tonight they are weaning him off of those, he has enough to last 5 or 6 more hours. Today he had medtronics to come in and turn off his defibralator..the part that shocks you, the pace maker is still on.

All of our immediate family were there today. My sister and I are staying a block from the hospital..so we came over here to rest for a few hours. Mom is at the hospital, they brought her a recliner.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and prayers. I feel the love from reading your words. I love this forum and my wonderful friends here. I will keep you posted as to what is happening. It is in God's hands now. At least I know where my Dad will be spending eternity and that in itself means the world to me. But I will miss him so badly!

[gja1000]

I read your post on FB - I'm so sorry your family is having to go through this. It sounds like your dad was in control of things to the very end. He is very brave. I know you are so sad right now, I can't imagine what it must feel like. I hope your family can find peace and comfort knowing he is no longer having to fight and suffer.

[DianaB]

I'm sorry, Paula. There is so much peace that comes in knowing that your Dad was ready for heaven and was looking forward to being there. Even though it's hard right now that thought will warm your heart so many times in the future.......and he's there just waiting for the rest of his family to join him. The part that hurts is that we can't just call them up and have a chat or run over and see them.

God is good and I know that He'll be with you and your family in the days ahead giving you comfort and what ever you need. I'm here if you need me....otherwise I'll be praying for all of you. Hugs!!

[judy]

He sounds like he was such a courageous man Paula. He was ready to go to heaven. He will be watching over all of you, but it is so hard when you can't speak to him or see him for a long time.

I am so sorry for that loss Paula. I still speak to my Dad,, and I still miss him, but I do know that he will be at the gates of Heaven to meet me when I get there. We're never separated from our loved ones forever.

[Blueyes]

I hope this week passes quickly for you Paula. There will be so many memories and emotions... Rest when you can, and don't forget to eat, even if you aren't hungry. My prayers are with you all!

[Gina]

Oh Paula.. You and your family are in my prayers. Your father was a very brave man up to the end, and the way you spoke of him a loving husband , father, grandfather and a believer in God.. He sure was a wonderful person. God bless him and God bless you all through this hard time... My deepest condolonces...

[JJJ]

Paula I'm sorry your going through hard times. I lost my grandma a few years ago and I was actually relieved and happy she was leaving behind so much pain and suffering.

You're Dad is smart and wants to go in peace without the side effects of all the meds. I'm sure his grateful that his family is respecting his decision.

XOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOX OXOOXOX

[Janet]

My heart is breaking for you Paula...I've been through it too. Your Dad sounds like a very couragous man in so many ways. He had control of his life to the very end. Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers dear friend.

[paula1961]

Thank you so much Janet!