Hospital stay

gkainz

gkainz

Final Approach
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
8,401
Location
Arvada, CO
Display Name
Display name:
Greg Kainz
I'm spending the weekend in the hospital, sitting with my dad who's recovering from a surgery on Thursday for a seriously infected abcess. He's showing some good improvements, but at times the confusion is very strong.

He's on the same topics when he's confused as he was a couple of years ago when he was seriously ill. Strange how these topics come up - worried about driving home tonight (he's here at least another 5-10 days), worried about "settling the bill and checking out tonight - it's time to go home" worried about his wallet and "not having any cash on him", being in a prison camp, all things that were very vivid for him last time, too.
 
When you have a serious infection, your brain DOES NOT WORK. Hey no kidding, it doesn't work. Sigh.
 
bbchien said:
When you have a serious infection, your brain DOES NOT WORK. Hey no kidding, it doesn't work. Sigh.
Click to expand...
My step dad has had two such episodes in the past few months.

I noticed when I was talking to him once the he was altered and it was the first sign the infection came back.

On one call he told me that George Dobro wanted to talk to me, I asked who that was and he insisted that I already knew George. When I told him no I didn't he started calling for his mother to explain it to me. I then mentioned that his mother was not alive any more and he got really mad. Strange how his mind just did not work.

Greg, sit back and be there for you dad. he may not remember you or these events when he gets better but I think it is important to support him and let him know he is not alone.
 
In some cases it is possible to use mental status to monitor progress; about 10 yrs ago my fil was in for prostate surgery. He'd had some respiratory problem the week before and we encouraged him to put it off but he was determined. Routine surgery and normal recovery but the staff watching the recovery was different than the pre-op staff and did not know he is lively and witty. When he started to get mentally dull and sleepier they figured 'just another old guy'. His d. would not accept this and pushed them to look into it so they finally acquiesced....and found he'd developed a pneumonia with no cough or dyspnea. Within a few days of treatment he was giving the nurses what for again and they couldn't wait to discharge him!
So glad to hear your dad is improving but keep an eye on him for continued improvement Greg; best wishes for full recovery.
 
Greg, good luck with your dad. He needs you now, and his confusion will get better as he recovers. Medical conditions mess with the mind. I didn't realize just how much my impending prostate cancer surgery was messing with mine until it was over. I'm much more able to concentrate on stuff now that it's over. He'll come along, too.
 
I've been here 25 hours now - if I really think about things he's saying when he's not in real time, they're things from our past - things from 30, 40 or more years ago. They're sometimes subtle, most of the time there's a connection to something current, and I really have to think about it to get it. It really is amazing how much being ill wacks the mental functions. It' s hard to explain to the staff here that he's not an alzheimer's patient - this is NOT his normal function. Most of the staff here are great - a few I'm sure say to themselves - "yeah, delusional family - they don't want to recognize it."

The last hard time Dad had in the hospital, I spent a lot of time with him, too. He would talk about things he had to get done RIGHT NOW (sometimes this was 2 or 3 a.m.) and he had hay to put up, horses to round up, fences to mend and a barn to paint. He's not been in farming in over 50 years.

Then we had a lot of conversations about trucks and equipment to fix, power line to finish or rebuild from the current ice storm or new job estimates and bids. He's been retired 10 years now, but those things are what are occupying his mind then and now, too.

Tonight he's exhausted but wakes every 10 minutes, throwing covers, pulling tubes and trying to get out of bed. I don't blame him - I would want to go home, too.

The dry sense of humor is still there, tho.

Nurse asks him "Time to check your blood sugars again. Which finger do you want poked this time?"
Dad says "Yours"


I just remembered during the last episode, he talked about the Stinson he had parked out behind the house. Said he was modifying it for fire fighting and I was supposed to go fly it to soak down the house. It took me a while to make the connections, as my dad never really expressed any interest in aviation, and does not own an airplane. However, our neighbor down the road restores Stinsons, and the Black Hills had a number of serious forest fires that year as well. Then it made sense.
 
Last edited:
Greg, I know it's hard. All I can say is "hang in there!" Since Leslie's on the board, I can't tell you about the things she said after she was brought up from surgery!:no:
 
Hmm, sounds like I'll have to have a chat with my DH when he wakes up; hope there weren't any recording devices nearby.....

As far as the infections... what Dr. Bruce said.

Add surgery and anesthesia effects to the mix, and it will take a little bit for things to get back on track, but it sounds like they're going in the right direction. How do I know? Because sarcasm and being a smarta$$ to the nurses takes energy :)

Let him know you're there for him, talk with him (even if you can't quite make all the connections; I'm not a medical professional by any means, but would guess that the stronger /longer lived memories and experiences are what comes to the forefront when you're 'flying on backup instruments', as it were), post here as much as you'd like.

Sending good health vibes your way, Leslie
 
Boy rough year for ya Greg with your Grandson and Dad. Glad your Grandson is doing better and will keep your dad in my toughts as I did your grandson. Hang in there!
 
smigaldi said:
My step dad has had two such episodes in the past few months.

I noticed when I was talking to him once the he was altered and it was the first sign the infection came back.

On one call he told me that George Dobro wanted to talk to me, I asked who that was and he insisted that I already knew George. When I told him no I didn't he started calling for his mother to explain it to me. I then mentioned that his mother was not alive any more and he got really mad. Strange how his mind just did not work.

Greg, sit back and be there for you dad. he may not remember you or these events when he gets better but I think it is important to support him and let him know he is not alone.
Click to expand...

Same with my Mom. She was totally out of it, in pain, sometimes belligerent, sometimes apathetic, sometimes delusional. She had an infection and fever.

Now that she's cured of that and on her medications she's more often in the real world than not. She still has a hard time making me understand something but she knows what year it is and where she is which is a great improvement.
 
I'm going through the same thing with my Mom, but it won't get any better.

About 30 years ago she had an immune based disease called ITP. One of the treatments at the time was massive transfusions of platelets. During this period she contracted Hepatitis C from the transfusions. It wasn't that big a deal for the last 30 years as Mom never drank - it just required regular blood tests to monitor her liver enzymes to check the progress of the Hep C. This winter, a few weeks before Christmas, it was like someone through a switch. My normally energetic, mentally sharp Mom became lethargic, slurred her speech, asked the same question 5 minutes after she asked it the first time. If you didn't know better you would assume she had had a stroke. She shuffles when she walks, requires a two hour nap in the middle of the day, slurs her speech. doesn't seem to understand what you're saying. My Dad spends most of each day taking care of her.

After 4 months of tests at the McMaster University Research Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, she was finally told it was the Hep C. It had finally progressed to the point where the what remained of her liver couldn't compensate. At 77 they say she's too old for a liver transplant and wouldn't survive the treatment for Hep C. They told her she may have two years left.

I'm reminded of the line from Grumpier Old Men which I can paraphrase:
"Did you here about Joe?
No. What?
Died in his sleep last week from a heart attack.
Lucky bastard!"
 
bstratt said:
I'm reminded of the line from Grumpier Old Men which I can paraphrase:
"Did you here about Joe?
No. What?
Died in his sleep last week from a heart attack.
Lucky bastard!"
Click to expand...

December of 2006 my mother had had a minor stroke, a minor heart attack, and her cancer had returned and she was too weak to start the chemo. I was taking care of her. Every night I went to sleep hoping that she would pass peacefully that night so as to continue the horror of her current existence and face the terrible toll the cancer was going to take on her in the coming months.

Two months later she had a heart attack, and the next day slipped into unconscious and died. She got to tell me she loved me and hold my hand. I had her living will and told the hospital she was to be DNR. I could not have asked for more. She avoid the pain. So I understand the line from Grumpy Old Men very well.
 
smigaldi said:
December of 2006 my mother had had a minor stroke, a minor heart attack, and her cancer had returned and she was too weak to start the chemo. I was taking care of her. Every night I went to sleep hoping that she would pass peacefully that night so as to continue the horror of her current existence and face the terrible toll the cancer was going to take on her in the coming months.

Two months later she had a heart attack, and the next day slipped into unconscious and died. She got to tell me she loved me and hold my hand. I had her living will and told the hospital she was to be DNR. I could not have asked for more. She avoid the pain. So I understand the line from Grumpy Old Men very well.
Click to expand...

Having had to watch my mother fade away, in minutes, after removing the breathing machine (per her instructions), I do as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top