Patrisha

December 15, 2004

Some Bad and Some Good

The bad news is that Fred has been moved to cardiology because he had a heart attack last night.

The good news is that it was, apparently, one of those little ones that people regard as warnings to make lifestyle changes.

I have to call his two daughters and tell them. I also {on Fred’s instructions} have to tell them that he does NOT want them to come and see him. He said to remind them that if they insisted, that I was to tell them that they were doing this for themselves and their visits would be stress he doesn’t need. I am not thrilled to be giving them either of those pieces of news.Maybe I won’t have to mention the latter one; he gave them pretty explicit information when he found he was going into hospital.

More good news is that doctors seem to be keeping very good tabs on him. While I was there this morning, he had a visit from a nephrologist and his cardiologist as well as the man who did the surgery for the colon cancer. They are allowing him to inject his own doses of insulin which is helping how he feels a lot. {I raise a sceptical eyebrown when he insists that his older daughter’s need to micromanage EVERYTHING comes from her mother!} I was pleased to see that in the four hours I was there, the nurse asked him twice if he had injected any insulin and if so, how much and wrote it down both times. He is somewhat distressed that the two times he has checked his blood sugar, it had been around the 300 mark. To put this in perspective, he tightly controls his readings at home checking six times a day and keeping it between 90 and 110.

He told me that he had sat in a chair for ten minutes before I came and when I left, he was talking to his friend Bill and sitting up on the side of the bed. Before I left, I gave him what he calls a “million dollar back-scratch” which he appreciated. His speech is slurred and he forgets things but when I voiced my concern to the nurse, she said that most probably it was the effect of the pain-killing medications. The time to worry about it, she said, was if he was still doing that after the medication is all out of his system.

Ok, I must eat and then call his daughters.

Until later..

Issued Puppet

December 16, 2004

Yes, that is good and bad. But you are going to be such a stellar help in getting him to change his lifestyle (read as, you are going to get his butt to go on walks with you!!). It does sound like they have a great team of doctors and nurses checking on him. You’re obviously a great help too. You’re in my prayers.

TheWoodsprite

I’m sorry for the bad part of the news. When I was taking care of my Brother, I also had the job of keeping certain people he didn’t want to see, away from him. I found this very stressful. Bro also liked to manage his own meds and expected everything to be exactly the way he wanted it. So my prayers are with you! The pain meds are probably what’s making his speech slurred. Hang in there!! hugs,

roseyrays

Your in my thoughts Best Wishes

All Cats Rule

oh no… I’m sorry to hear that. I hope he will be ok. And most of all that his daughters will respect his wishes and not be selfish. I hope he recovers quickly from this. I hated being in the hospital… I had to grin at the micromanaging part 🙂

Oh my. I hope that it at least does trigger whatever lifestyle changes are needed. You are in my thoughts. I hope the daughters take the news well.

~Slappy~

Newsnut

my prayers are with you

gray tabby

good and bad. but, the good part of the bad part is that they are keeping close watch on him and it happened in the hospital. he’ll be alright in a few days, i’m sure. i’d hate to have to tell his daughter’s not to come but it is what their dad wants. i hope they listen. will continue to pray for both of you. take care,

Shi

My thoughts are with you and Fred.

Dangnabbit

Sending thoughts of healing to Fred, compassion and wisdom for his caregivers, and peace for you.

Niles Crane

LOL @ your raised eyebrows. Us control freaks tend to get a bit bent out of shape when another control freak tries to butt in. I suspect you are right about Fred.

Redsirens

Keeping you both in my thoughts, will be praying fof a speedy recovery for Fred.

Little Runner

I wish you luck with the daughters. I hope it goes well with them. I hope he will be all right. Our doctor told us that if Jim’s sugar goes with no reason we should get him to see her because he probably has an infection some where. Take care. Blessings.

LiteBrite

That is so scary, but I’m so glad to hear that he is doing ok…. you are one strong woman!!! You are both very much in my thoughts!

MargUK

I’m sorry about the heart attack but it’s good it was a small one & at least he’s in the right place! I would imagine it’s the pain meds that are making his speech slurred. If it’s difficult to tell his daughters that he doesn’t want them to come in you could perhaps say it was the hospital who had mentioned this instead of Fred? Maybe they would accept that more?

Kemma

Thinking about you…

I’m glad to hear that the nurses are taking such good care of Fred. I’m sorry about the little heart attack. The million dollar back scratch is probably very therapeutic. You’re so good to him. (and him to you, of course)

God Bless You Both

Pskettios

I am glad that he is doing okay now and I definitely agree with one of the first notes – he is with a great person to help him make a lifestyle change, if it’s one of those “warning” heart attacks. I hope you are okay.

Mezzo

Well, I guess if you have to have even a teeny heart attack, the time to do it is when you’re already in the hospital! Hang in there….praying still on this end! Love ya! ~M

I’m just catching up on all your notes about Fred. I’m sure you’re both relieved that the surgery is over. What a stressful time for you both.

I hope the good continues. Good luck breaking the news to the daughters. That’s a tough job.

woman in the moon

December 17, 2004

Fred is so lucky to have you and your million dollar back scratches.

RetroGirl

December 26, 2004

Aye, this is terrible. But I know that he is home now and improving.