Well... here we go again... Perhaps the 3rd time is a charm. Dad is just completely struggling with his blood pressure, and Eddie & Tina so kindly dropped him off at SV's ER a few minutes ago. It seems like his low blood pressure is uncontrollable right now. I honestly don't feel like he's doing anything to stop healthy progression, however his body is in this limbo... It seems like it's not unhealthy enough where it's immediately life-threatening, but it is too unhealthy to maintain daily activity. Although I am not there, I am confident that he is not drinking or smoking (and so those around him agree)... He is just trying to regain strength in his condo, but everytime he tries to walk to the kitchen or the front door he feels like he's going to collapse - And he did twice recently, gaining a skinned knee & bloody toes (...what's that song he always used to sing..."went down the road and the road was muddy, stubbed my toe and my toe was bloody"... ha, anywho...). We'll see what the doctors can do this time to level him out - I'm hoping that it's something that will last...
Throat: The results of the biopsy were negative, which is great. However, the G.I. Dr. Coleman is "completely confused" about dad's situation... yay. He says that he has a long stricture, along with a yeast infection in his throat that is causing his swallowing troubles. He is used to seeing strictures, however most are short - But not dad's of course! Which means that the surgery that is up for discussion may be more difficult since there is a large area of his esophagus that needs to be replaced... Ugh. He has an appointment tomorrow morning at 7:30am with this doctor, so maybe we'll know more...
The Foundry: He has been meeting with Hugh Thomas lately to tour The Foundry & talk about admission dates, acceptance based on his health, etc. I do believe that dad's intention is to go to there sooner rather than later, but some health issues are slowing that process down right now. Hugh says that they can work around certain health problems (i.e. getting dad a "desk job", etc), but if he can't eat and can't walk 10 feet without almost passing out, those things are an issue. He promised me that he was going to check in out there on Monday, but now he's back in the hospital, soooooooooooooo.... who knows. My amazing boyfriend bought him an iPod yesterday, and his mom helped load a bunch of great music & audiobooks (some great self-improvements ones that he REALLY needs to listen too)... We thought it would be a great thing for him to have at The Foundry, especially in the dorm setting for comfort...
And on a brighter note, I'm VERY excited because Joanie Thomas (Hugh & Ann's daughter) is coming all the way out to LA to visit me in April!!!! YAY! :D
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Back on the Streets Again...
Dad was released from the hospital on Friday afternoon! He is back at his condo & seems to be in good spirits. He had lunch with Hugh yesterday, and appears to be "on board" with going to The Foundry, however he needs to figure out this "throat thing" first...
He is still having problems with his esophagus, and went in for another stretch this morning. His regular doctor was out, so he didn't get quite as much information from the "substitute stretcher" as I had hoped. But basically, he got it stretched again, so he's feeling fine right now - But we just need it to stay open - Otherwise we'll have to talk about that surgery option... They actually cut out a piece of your esophagus and replace it with a piece of your intestine... Ewwww, talk about bad breath... Kidding (that's what Jesse said, ha)! :) But that sounds way better than having a feeding tube permanently placed into his stomach. Also... on a little scarier note (but Dad told me to not get my panties in a bunch)... They are doing a biopsy on his espophagus - He says there is lots of scar tissue (& other stuff?) down there that they scraped and sent off for labs to test whether it was cancerous. He didn't seemed concerned at all... Maybe it's just routine!?
So now... Throat. Then Foundry.
XOXO Hallie
He is still having problems with his esophagus, and went in for another stretch this morning. His regular doctor was out, so he didn't get quite as much information from the "substitute stretcher" as I had hoped. But basically, he got it stretched again, so he's feeling fine right now - But we just need it to stay open - Otherwise we'll have to talk about that surgery option... They actually cut out a piece of your esophagus and replace it with a piece of your intestine... Ewwww, talk about bad breath... Kidding (that's what Jesse said, ha)! :) But that sounds way better than having a feeding tube permanently placed into his stomach. Also... on a little scarier note (but Dad told me to not get my panties in a bunch)... They are doing a biopsy on his espophagus - He says there is lots of scar tissue (& other stuff?) down there that they scraped and sent off for labs to test whether it was cancerous. He didn't seemed concerned at all... Maybe it's just routine!?
So now... Throat. Then Foundry.
XOXO Hallie
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Hospital Update
I hope everyone is having a fabulous Friday!!
Talked to Dad yesterday & this morning... He's hanging in there. Says they are holding him hostage until they get rid of the Pnuemonia... Which I think is a great thing! He has been coughing a lot, and is on breathing treatments & antibiotics. It sounds as those his blood pressure is maintaining.
The only other not-so-positive news is with regards to his esophagus - The doctor who stretched it on Tuesday, says that this is one of the worst cases he has seen... That basically Dad's esophagus keeps shrinking after each time it has been stretched. They can only stretch it once more because each time you risk a tear (which would be no bueno). And if it ends up shrinking again, then he either has to have surgery to repair it, or they would have to put in a permanent (I think) feeding tube into his stomach (no thanks!).
That's about it for now! Kate is so generously taking care of Hattie - THANK YOU KATE!
Jesse & I are off to Mammoth this weekend to ski with our friends, Erica & Matt!! :D
XOXO Hallie
Talked to Dad yesterday & this morning... He's hanging in there. Says they are holding him hostage until they get rid of the Pnuemonia... Which I think is a great thing! He has been coughing a lot, and is on breathing treatments & antibiotics. It sounds as those his blood pressure is maintaining.
The only other not-so-positive news is with regards to his esophagus - The doctor who stretched it on Tuesday, says that this is one of the worst cases he has seen... That basically Dad's esophagus keeps shrinking after each time it has been stretched. They can only stretch it once more because each time you risk a tear (which would be no bueno). And if it ends up shrinking again, then he either has to have surgery to repair it, or they would have to put in a permanent (I think) feeding tube into his stomach (no thanks!).
That's about it for now! Kate is so generously taking care of Hattie - THANK YOU KATE!
Jesse & I are off to Mammoth this weekend to ski with our friends, Erica & Matt!! :D
XOXO Hallie
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Dad Missed St. Vincent's...
... So he went back yesterday. Ugh.
Eddie & Tina brought over some groceries from Sam's Club (thank you!!), and found Dad in his bed without the strength to get himself up (although concious, thank goodness)... He was so weak, and short of breath. Nurse Tina took his blood pressure, and found that it was about 60/32 - SO low! They immediately knew they needed to get him back to the hospital, so Eddie called Steve Davis to come over and help him get Dad down his condo stairs. They brought him to the ER and he was immediately admitted with that low of blood pressure. The docs hooked him up to an IV immediately to get some fluid back into his body - They "think" that since his esophagus is still super skinny, that he wasn't getting the proper nutrition.
I spoke to Dad this morning, and he reported the following: The hospital was "full" last night, so he thought he was going to have to spend the night in the ER, but they moved him to "the Ritz Carlton of hospital rooms" yesterday evening (4th floor South, I think) - He said he could host a party of about 15-20 in his huge room... He has a couch & 2 chairs, a "wet bar" (better not be stocked, ha) and a flat screen TV... Says if he has to be there, he doesn't mind that room! The results of his CT scan last night showed that he is still suffering from Pnuemonia, bummer - therefore, they now have him on IV antibiotics. He is supposed to be having his esophagus stretched again as we speak (10:30am CST), so hopefully that will help him to feel better. Other than that, he hadn't seen a doctor yet when I spoke to him to get any sort of timeline as to how long he'll be there this time...
He was planning on having lunch with Hugh Thomas tomorrow at The Foundry. He was looking like he was strong enough to go over the weekend, but we'll see where we stand after this hospital visit...
Love you all! Keep praying - Mostly for an attitude adjustment for the old man!!!
XOXO Hallie
Eddie & Tina brought over some groceries from Sam's Club (thank you!!), and found Dad in his bed without the strength to get himself up (although concious, thank goodness)... He was so weak, and short of breath. Nurse Tina took his blood pressure, and found that it was about 60/32 - SO low! They immediately knew they needed to get him back to the hospital, so Eddie called Steve Davis to come over and help him get Dad down his condo stairs. They brought him to the ER and he was immediately admitted with that low of blood pressure. The docs hooked him up to an IV immediately to get some fluid back into his body - They "think" that since his esophagus is still super skinny, that he wasn't getting the proper nutrition.
I spoke to Dad this morning, and he reported the following: The hospital was "full" last night, so he thought he was going to have to spend the night in the ER, but they moved him to "the Ritz Carlton of hospital rooms" yesterday evening (4th floor South, I think) - He said he could host a party of about 15-20 in his huge room... He has a couch & 2 chairs, a "wet bar" (better not be stocked, ha) and a flat screen TV... Says if he has to be there, he doesn't mind that room! The results of his CT scan last night showed that he is still suffering from Pnuemonia, bummer - therefore, they now have him on IV antibiotics. He is supposed to be having his esophagus stretched again as we speak (10:30am CST), so hopefully that will help him to feel better. Other than that, he hadn't seen a doctor yet when I spoke to him to get any sort of timeline as to how long he'll be there this time...
He was planning on having lunch with Hugh Thomas tomorrow at The Foundry. He was looking like he was strong enough to go over the weekend, but we'll see where we stand after this hospital visit...
Love you all! Keep praying - Mostly for an attitude adjustment for the old man!!!
XOXO Hallie
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Billy at Home
Hellooooooooooo! I know, I know... what a bad Blogger I have been! Shame on me! :)
Dad went to the hospital for his Cardiologist & Esophagus appointments last Friday, and everything seems... well... okay. It's just a process, ya know!! His cardiologist actually said that his heart sounds good, and made a few necessary adjustments with his blood pressure medication to hopefully work on minimizing his dizziness (he didn't change medication, just lowered dosage of one). Dad said it has gotten a little better, but there is still a ways to go. On the other hand, his esophagus doctor said that he is not improving as quickly as expected, and will need to continue to visit the hospital for esophagial dialations every 2 weeks... He is now addicted to vanilla & chocolate Ensure - The high-calorie, meal replacement sort of shakes, ha!
Other than that, he has scheduled a Neurologist appointment for next week to figure out what is going on with the lack of mobility in his arm & how we can fix it. And I think he is going to see the Pulmonologist in about 3-4 weeks (Dr. Strickland, hard to get appointments)... He will be visiting Strickland because he says he is very easily winded & short of breath... Perhaps a little bit of pneumonia left in his lungs, hhhmmmmm??
He is back in his condo in Birmingham with his dog Hattie. He seems to be doing well - In and out of good spirits! He needs to stay positive!! He has definitely had some visitors... Eddie Burg, Kate Oatman... and Nuss I'm sure... Needs to be kept in check! I believe the plan is still for him to go to The Foundry, however I do agree that he may not quite be strong enough for that yet... I have been continuing to work on my checklist to keep things organized. I joined Sam's Club for $40 because they have the cheapest Ensure around only to discover that they don't deliver, don't accept payments online or over the phone, and don't even take Visa. Some great idea that was, ha! :)
XOXO Hallie
Dad went to the hospital for his Cardiologist & Esophagus appointments last Friday, and everything seems... well... okay. It's just a process, ya know!! His cardiologist actually said that his heart sounds good, and made a few necessary adjustments with his blood pressure medication to hopefully work on minimizing his dizziness (he didn't change medication, just lowered dosage of one). Dad said it has gotten a little better, but there is still a ways to go. On the other hand, his esophagus doctor said that he is not improving as quickly as expected, and will need to continue to visit the hospital for esophagial dialations every 2 weeks... He is now addicted to vanilla & chocolate Ensure - The high-calorie, meal replacement sort of shakes, ha!
Other than that, he has scheduled a Neurologist appointment for next week to figure out what is going on with the lack of mobility in his arm & how we can fix it. And I think he is going to see the Pulmonologist in about 3-4 weeks (Dr. Strickland, hard to get appointments)... He will be visiting Strickland because he says he is very easily winded & short of breath... Perhaps a little bit of pneumonia left in his lungs, hhhmmmmm??
He is back in his condo in Birmingham with his dog Hattie. He seems to be doing well - In and out of good spirits! He needs to stay positive!! He has definitely had some visitors... Eddie Burg, Kate Oatman... and Nuss I'm sure... Needs to be kept in check! I believe the plan is still for him to go to The Foundry, however I do agree that he may not quite be strong enough for that yet... I have been continuing to work on my checklist to keep things organized. I joined Sam's Club for $40 because they have the cheapest Ensure around only to discover that they don't deliver, don't accept payments online or over the phone, and don't even take Visa. Some great idea that was, ha! :)
XOXO Hallie
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