This just in! Surgery is on.
Cardiology just came in and cleared mom for surgery tomorrow. As previously reported, she is scheduled for 10:30 so they will be taking her down around 9:30 tomorrow morning.
That's all folks
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010 - Addendum
Tara from Dr Orando's office came in to check on things and told us that surgery is scheduled for 10:30 tomorrow. She reiterated that they are waiting for cardiology to clear her for surgery but our fingers are crossed. It was explained to mom that if they can't get her clearned for tomorrow, it will be Wednesday before they can get her done. Tara also expressed hope that cardiology will have cleared her by then.
I'm hoping cardiology will be here some time before I leave around 7 or very early in the morning.
Keep your fingers crossed.
I'm hoping cardiology will be here some time before I leave around 7 or very early in the morning.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Thursday, January 7 2010
When I arrived this morning, mom was back from xray and getting cleaned up. Xray of what you might wonder, I don't know and she didn't either. As the day progressed normal activity was carried out. Blood work, periodic checks of BP and temperature those items of normal activity. The chaplain for this area came by and spoke with mom for a while. I mentioned to her that mother has expressed being afraid. Afraid of what's currently going on, what's going to happen and about death. While they were discussing these topics I left to meet a friend for lunch in the cafeteria.
When I returned, mom was sleeping and Dr Raam with Dr Sandburgs group left a note indicating that she is on the schedule for surgery tomorrow dependent on clearence from cardiology. Her blood work is good, hemoglobin went up a little, she's eating well and making use of the facilities at her disposal.
The nurse from continuing care was in and the usual questions about living arrangements were answered. I patiently explained that she was sent here by Heartland where she was sent after being in patient here for 3 weeks and we'd like to have her go back there. She does need some additional PT and it is hoped we can get her back there next week. The continuing care nurse suggested we also have a backup plan.
She has been sleeping a lot today and whever she wakes she is disoriented. I was off the floor for a few minutes and when I came back she was all upset because someone had been in and lead her to believe she was going to get kicked out and they were calling Val because she couldn't find any of the phone numbers. Someone had given her the log book and she was going through it, finding the numbers and checking out what was in the book. Further questioning leads me to believe when she woke up, she was thinking about th CC nurse and when I checked with her nurse, she informed me that no one had been in that she was aware of.
When she wakes up from a nap she seems disoriented. Not sure why she is here, what's wrong and believing she is going to be kicked out. I've gently answered her questions, calmed her down and gotten her back to today. I'd like to get her up walking a little bit or at least doing some exercises while she's in bed but it hasn't happened yet.
That's about it for today. Drive safely
I'll check with the unit secretary after 8 p.m. for the time of her surgery tomorrow.
When I returned, mom was sleeping and Dr Raam with Dr Sandburgs group left a note indicating that she is on the schedule for surgery tomorrow dependent on clearence from cardiology. Her blood work is good, hemoglobin went up a little, she's eating well and making use of the facilities at her disposal.
The nurse from continuing care was in and the usual questions about living arrangements were answered. I patiently explained that she was sent here by Heartland where she was sent after being in patient here for 3 weeks and we'd like to have her go back there. She does need some additional PT and it is hoped we can get her back there next week. The continuing care nurse suggested we also have a backup plan.
She has been sleeping a lot today and whever she wakes she is disoriented. I was off the floor for a few minutes and when I came back she was all upset because someone had been in and lead her to believe she was going to get kicked out and they were calling Val because she couldn't find any of the phone numbers. Someone had given her the log book and she was going through it, finding the numbers and checking out what was in the book. Further questioning leads me to believe when she woke up, she was thinking about th CC nurse and when I checked with her nurse, she informed me that no one had been in that she was aware of.
When she wakes up from a nap she seems disoriented. Not sure why she is here, what's wrong and believing she is going to be kicked out. I've gently answered her questions, calmed her down and gotten her back to today. I'd like to get her up walking a little bit or at least doing some exercises while she's in bed but it hasn't happened yet.
That's about it for today. Drive safely
I'll check with the unit secretary after 8 p.m. for the time of her surgery tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A room with a view
Mom was admitted to Beaumont this afternoon and is in room 6314, south tower. She's in the bed by the window and has a view of the atrium. Nurses, CNAs, PAs and Drs have been in to see her, the same questions have been answered again, and they were finally able to start an IV. Her phone number is 248-898-6314 and she has already received several calls. I spoke with the Dr regarding when surgery will be. He won't know until tomorrow some time, but hopes it will be on Friday.
On the drive from Heartland Mom talked about her fears. Fear of dying and fear of what's going to happen next. I suggested she talk to her God about it and maybe find some solace.
As the attention continued, her spirits seemed to lift. She's looking forward to dinner shortly and is glad she's on a regular diet.
That's it.
On the drive from Heartland Mom talked about her fears. Fear of dying and fear of what's going to happen next. I suggested she talk to her God about it and maybe find some solace.
As the attention continued, her spirits seemed to lift. She's looking forward to dinner shortly and is glad she's on a regular diet.
That's it.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
And so we're going back to Beaumont
Sorry I couldn't come up with a more clever title for today's entry. It does catch your eye though, doesn't it?
The NYE celebration at Heartland and subsequent days of parades, football games and visitors were pretty normal. Val, Colleen & I visited Saturday, a friend from church visited Saturday evening, and Byron & Colleen and I visited on Sunday. Yesterday she participated in physical therapy and had some good workouts. Today when I got here, her PT got her up and walking prior to leaving for the appointment at the Wound Center. Pretty regular stuff for Mom and she was feeling pretty good, raving about the vegetable soup she had for lunch.
Prior to the Dr looking at the wound (measured at 50 mm x 40 mm, which translates roughly 2" x 1.5"), the nurse explained what causes decubitus ulcers (bed sores), as well as problems associated with them. In her presence I made sure mom understood everything and let her know she didn't do anything to cause the problem. In talking with the nurse I expressed surprise that she hasn't been in any pain or discomfort, but learned that since this sore is in her sacrum (the location of the bone infarct), there are no nerves and hence no pain.
Dr. Ordona came in, took a look, asked some questions and then discussed the cobalt treatments she received all those decades ago, in the early 1960s. He pointed out that this is the long term affect of the cobalt and the issue is soft tissue radiation necrosis. Mom spoke up at that point, sharing that Dr. Schuneman (our family doctor of yore) told her the cobalt would probably wreck havoc on her body in 40-50 years. As luck would have it, Dr. Ordona remembers Dr. Schuneman's name, and also saw patients at Ardmore hospital, where Mom had her colon cancer surgery. I didn't think he was that old! Anyhow, it made Mom feel connected, always a plus.
At his recommendation, Mom is going to be admitted to Beaumont tomorrow and he is (hopefully) scheduling surgery for Friday. If it can't be scheduled for Friday, it will have to be on the following Wednesday (the 13th). The options presented were to go to the ER for admission right then, waiting for a hospitalist to be assigned, or let Dr. Ordona's office try to get a bed and have the hospital contact me tomorrow. I picked door #2 and brought her back to Heartland.
The procedure to be performed will consist of removing the dead tissue, possibly scraping the bone and testing for an infection in her bone. This will be done under mild sedation with a local anesthetic. Since she is in no pain and has no feeling in that area, that seems like the best thing to do. Her stay in the hospital will be 5-6 days following surgery and then discharge to some kind of nursing home.
Follow up care will consist of hyperbaric oxygen treatment daily. This treatment will take two hours a day. She will receive this treatment while in the hospital, I think, but will require it daily following hospitalization for at least six weeks.
One other option that was discussed was plastic surgery to fill in the hole, but the soft tissue radiation necrosis precludes that.
So that's it. The hospital is to contact me tomorrow. If I haven't heard from them by noon, I'm to contact the Wound Center for assistance. Hope I didn't forget anything.
The NYE celebration at Heartland and subsequent days of parades, football games and visitors were pretty normal. Val, Colleen & I visited Saturday, a friend from church visited Saturday evening, and Byron & Colleen and I visited on Sunday. Yesterday she participated in physical therapy and had some good workouts. Today when I got here, her PT got her up and walking prior to leaving for the appointment at the Wound Center. Pretty regular stuff for Mom and she was feeling pretty good, raving about the vegetable soup she had for lunch.
Prior to the Dr looking at the wound (measured at 50 mm x 40 mm, which translates roughly 2" x 1.5"), the nurse explained what causes decubitus ulcers (bed sores), as well as problems associated with them. In her presence I made sure mom understood everything and let her know she didn't do anything to cause the problem. In talking with the nurse I expressed surprise that she hasn't been in any pain or discomfort, but learned that since this sore is in her sacrum (the location of the bone infarct), there are no nerves and hence no pain.
Dr. Ordona came in, took a look, asked some questions and then discussed the cobalt treatments she received all those decades ago, in the early 1960s. He pointed out that this is the long term affect of the cobalt and the issue is soft tissue radiation necrosis. Mom spoke up at that point, sharing that Dr. Schuneman (our family doctor of yore) told her the cobalt would probably wreck havoc on her body in 40-50 years. As luck would have it, Dr. Ordona remembers Dr. Schuneman's name, and also saw patients at Ardmore hospital, where Mom had her colon cancer surgery. I didn't think he was that old! Anyhow, it made Mom feel connected, always a plus.
At his recommendation, Mom is going to be admitted to Beaumont tomorrow and he is (hopefully) scheduling surgery for Friday. If it can't be scheduled for Friday, it will have to be on the following Wednesday (the 13th). The options presented were to go to the ER for admission right then, waiting for a hospitalist to be assigned, or let Dr. Ordona's office try to get a bed and have the hospital contact me tomorrow. I picked door #2 and brought her back to Heartland.
The procedure to be performed will consist of removing the dead tissue, possibly scraping the bone and testing for an infection in her bone. This will be done under mild sedation with a local anesthetic. Since she is in no pain and has no feeling in that area, that seems like the best thing to do. Her stay in the hospital will be 5-6 days following surgery and then discharge to some kind of nursing home.
Follow up care will consist of hyperbaric oxygen treatment daily. This treatment will take two hours a day. She will receive this treatment while in the hospital, I think, but will require it daily following hospitalization for at least six weeks.
One other option that was discussed was plastic surgery to fill in the hole, but the soft tissue radiation necrosis precludes that.
So that's it. The hospital is to contact me tomorrow. If I haven't heard from them by noon, I'm to contact the Wound Center for assistance. Hope I didn't forget anything.
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