Prayers for my dad, please.

[THW]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Reenie,
First, I'm so sorry about the loss of your mom. I must have missed any posts about that when I was out of it with my myectomy and stuff earlier in the year. I will pray for your dad's strength and healing. He's wise to ask to stay longer. Please keep us posted.
Theresa

[Reenie]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Well, he's staying at least one more day. Early this morning when he got up to go to the bathroom his O2 dropped to 90% again. He's also got a sharp pain under his ribs in the middle where the diaphragm pulls when he's exerting himself. I'm hoping this is just pulled muscles from coughing and working so hard to breathe. Thank you all for the continued prayers.

Reenie

[Pam Alexson]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Reenie,

I am so sorry your dad is having such tough medical issues and my heart is with you too as you go through this . I hope and pray things turn round positively for him.

Dr Maron and I were talking on Friday about "Broken heart syndrome" and the impact emotional stress has on the entire cardiovascular/ respiratory / circulatory system. It is very true that losing a mate has tremendous effect on ones health.

Big hugs...Pam

[LindaC]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

I too want to add my prayers for your father.......

God Bless,
LindaC

[Burton Borrok]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Dear Reenie,
About your dad – If he is having trouble breathing why not get his doctor to write a prescription for oxygen. My cardiologist wrote one for me when I was just starting to have trouble, and I only used it as needed.

My insurance would not cover it until my blood oxygen level dropped to 88 or below, so I paid for it out-of-pocket. A large tank, the kind you see in the two wheel carrier, (supplied free,) only cost $15, and if you only use it as you need it, it can last a long time.

I went to the pulmonologist Friday, and they checked my O2 level when I first walked in.
On four liters of O2 my level was down to 82, but after ten to fifteen minutes it returned to 89 – 90. The doctor told me to use 5 liters whenever I wasn’t just sitting still.

Anyway, I’ll bet he will get a good boost from the O2, at least until he’s back to himself again. When I started I was using two liters and I must say it helped a lot. Good luck to both of you, and give dad my best.
Burt

[Reenie]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Thank you, Burt. I know he's been using oxygen at the hospital but they haven't mentioned yet whether or not they'll give him some for home too. I'm a little anxious about all of this because I'm not there and can't ask too many questions myself. I'll mention this to my sister, the home oxygen. If he's better and stronger they may release him tomorrow afternoon. We'll see.

Reenie

[JudyA]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Reenie,

I can echo what Burt said. Before I was diagnosed with HOCM I was tested for many many things to try to find the reason for my chronic exhaustion. A sleep study showed that my O2 Saturation dropped to 88% and below during REM sleep. Shortly after that I started using an O2 concentrator at home at 2L/Min, to use only when I sleep. It did make a world of difference at the time- I didn't wake up in the morning nearly as exhausted as I had previously been doing.

In May 2003 I had a severe case of pneumonia(I was coughing up blood before I went to the Urgent care) and could barely get my breath. I did not go to the hospital, and returned home, but the oxygen was soo nice to have available. From personal experience I know that as his lungs continue to heal they are still very irritated and may need that extra support through the oxygen. The extreme weakness was overwhelming to me- and does not go away overnight. It took me over 3 weeks to get back my "normal" strength, and I used my oxygen frequently during that time. I know of others that have felt the effects of that weakness for far longer, and then your strength begins to return.

If your father still needs the oxygen, they will coordinate for an O2 supplier company to bring a concentrator to his home although he may leave the hospital with a tank.

Strangely enough- the Urgent care doctor told me that the x-ray showed that my heart was enlarged. When I told this to my primary care doc, he dismissed it, saying " those portable machines don't always give the most accurate pictures". If he had taken the X-ray seriously maybe I would have had my HOCM diagnosis 2 years earlier. Go figure!

I will add my prayers to all the others for his strength and a smooth recovery. Take care.

Judy

[Laoshur]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Reenie,

I have been offline for awhile, but I will be praying for your dad and for all your family. I am concerned about his continuing to have low oxygen, but even more concerned about the pain. I know it is a long shot, but sharp pain coupled with shortness of breath and low oxygen could indicate a blood clot, as I know from experience. If the pain persists, insist that they check for this.

Rhoda

[Reenie]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Thank you, Rhoda. They did do a CT scan to look for a pulmonary embolism and didn't find one. They think the pain is from pre-existing GI problems coupled with the steroids. I think they're going to run more tests. I'll take all the prayers I can get.

Reenie

[Burton Borrok]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Hi Rhoda,
I’ve missed you. I know you’ve been ‘on the road’ but I’ve thought of you often. Please post a newsy letter about how you made out while traveling and how you are today. I’ll be looking forward to it.

By the way, anything new about China for you or for your husband? I’ve always thought you two were exceptional people who were doing much to bring our two countries together. If you are not returning to China, will you two be teaching in the states?

Anyway, as I said before, I’ve missed you.
Burt

[shirleymahoney]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Reenie

I hope your dad is doing better today, Please keep us updated

Shirley

[Reenie]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Thank you, Shirley. He's doing better but he's still extremely weak and sleeping a lot. My sister says he's pretty out of it when she talks to him. I don't know if he's been taking too much Ambien or what, but he needs to start waking up some now. I'm still worried.

Reenie

[LynnS]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Reenie,

(I'm just now catching up on posts and reading this thread first.)

Tim and I send our prayers and support to you, your Dad and your whole family.

We are here for you as God takes you on another 'adventure' and send our love to accompany you.

L

[Abbygirl2]

Re: Prayers for my dad, please.

Reenie, I too have been out of touch off and on but wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you and your family. I hope your dad continues to improve and gain strength. ((Big hugs)).

Pam