Update….

Sorry I have not been able to log on to here for days ughhhhh anyways here is an update on my Dad which consists of several days9/18/2007:
Ran home for a minute….They still have not done the surgery (heh for TIME being of the essence). His blood is way to thin so they will try in the morning again. That was at 3 p.m.
They will re-check his blood through the night and in the a.m. to see if they can then or not. They did an echocardiogram this afternoon because he is throwing alot of PVC’s and having alot of atrial fibrillation. They are not so sure that clots are not being thrown from other places at this point. They have started him on heparin drip off and on because it leaves the body sooner than the coumadin. Which still they stopped the heparin this morning and this afternoon his blood is to thin so they started it back up. Doesn’t make sense to me but we shall see.
ANyways I am out of here for now
Hugs and THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS they are so appreciated

EDIT************************************
They did not start the heparin because his BLOOD is to thin. I do not know or understand why they restarted it since they had stopped it this morning. When they checked his blood it was still to thin to do the surgery so he would bleed to death if they went in. I could not understand why it was started again this afternoon if it was to thin to do the surgery. Just confused me, granted it leaves the body sooner but it is still a blood thinner
Hope that is clearer than mud!!….lol
Hugsssssssssss

9/18/2007 another entry:
Talked With Night Nurse Some More
09/18/2007

I asked her about the heparin being off this a.m. because blood was to thin, then back on again this afternoon and blood was still to thin. I told her I realized that it was a thin line and was basically a catch-22 situation. This is what she stated: They are still giving him the Vitamin K (in his belly) to combat the Warfarin [He is on a therapeutic regimin of warfarin or Coumadin and has been for years and blood is tested routinely. Actually it was just taken and results were in Friday and they left his meds the same]. Sunday night Mom said was his last dose taken. Now his INR is way high. An INR is a measure of anticoagulation related to coumadin (warfarin). This is even after he has been off of it, giving him plasma, and also the Vitamin K. The PTT is a measure of anticoagulation related to heparin. So his is ALL out of whack. She stated that it is still critical to wait with his foot the way it was. It was still real purplish/Blue because of the blood clot. Also the muscle damage is still very apparent. She stated that they HAVE to keep giving the Heparin depending on the protocol of his clotting times because of his heart as well as the leg/foot. She stated that his heart has had ALOT of problems today with the irregular heartbeats and they do NOT want a clot to form there either. They do not have the Echocardiogram back yet because the cardiologist has not read it and sent his report. So they have to wait on the surgery because of possible bleeding out but follow the protocol because of his bleeding and clotting times. They are doing routine or serial blood draws and titrating the heparin accordingly. The coumadin stays in the body longer and they can stop the heparin and it will be gone from his system in 2 hours she stated. So they are watching it closely. She stated his leg looked better (not as mottled) tonight but the foot was still pretty blue.
She is so kind while talking to her in person or on the phone. She will answer as best as she can any questions or clear up confusion. If she doesn’t know or won’t say she will tell me that it is a question for the Doctors.
He ate his lunch and supper real well and was going to get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some ensure for a bedtime snack. He has been asking all evening for that sandwich ACK!!!….lol
Thanks again everyone for all your prayers, thoughts and support. I so appreciate it and so does my family.

Not Doing Well….

09/19/2007

They went in and did an arteriogram this morning on my Dad. They stated that his left leg was full of aneurysms and clots. Also his heart was not doing well or his right leg. The surgeon called at 7:30 ish this evening and we are to meet him at Dad’s bedside in the morning to tell Dad that his left leg will be amputated above the knee, his right one in a month they will try again to go in and repair. If they can not at that time fix it they will amputate it as well. The surgeon stated that he didn’t know if he would make it through the amputation but if he didn’t amputate it he would throw a clot and it would kill him. So either way we will tell Dad and see if he can comprehend that and if he can it will be up to him whether it is done or not. Dad is and has NEVER been one to handle pain at all. We are ALL going from crying to just hugging at this point. No matter how frustrated one gets he is still my Dad and my Mom’s husband. Mom goes from handling it well to crying almost uncontrollably. She is worried about us and also me and that my vacation is messed up. I told her that was the least of my worries right now and I am thankful that I was in town. I told her obviously for some reason I was not suppose to go at this time. Whether it is because I might have been in a wreck to my tooth or HOLE I should say is still killing me. I am so tired of milkshakes.
Anyways wanted to leave a quick update
Hugs and love to you all and thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers
Melanie