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Post by steffipoo on Jun 10, 2006 13:52:27 GMT -5
;D Hi guys and gals... Once again I was MIA and will be for a while. jeff spent the last 8 days at UCLA and now was diagnosed with a new condition. SO... I am now full time nurse here for a while. He went to his heart docs last monday earleir he went for an echo and his bloodwork and later on in the afternoon he went to heart docs. His pulse was a steady 135 as it was his last pcp appt and his heart doc was gonna let him come home get clothers and go check himself into the hospital thru the er. BUT ALAS she checked his bloodwork and sent him across the street to the hospital via ambulance.It was bad. he got out last night and not quite sure he should've been released but will hope he's okay. He has a-flutter whereby he now is on dogoxin, warfarin, and loenex shots which I give him 2 times a day for the next 3 days. SUSAN I need you.LOL Then they gave him another med called metapropol or something like that. When I went to pick up his meds as the guy was getting him to the car I discovered that a LOT of the new meds weren't covered so had to shell out some pretty good $$$$ even though he has medicare now. UGGGG.He's very shaky cranky and a bit strange today and his pupils are like pinhole size. Just weird. Anyhow its been an exhausting week and I am gonna go but this is why I haven't been here. Now they said Jeff hasta be checked 3 times a week for the coumadin then once a week then once a month. More dr.'s appts YIKES. OH YEA The nurse in the er who put his pic line in was amazing. She had to go reallly deep but she was great. Then the resident who discharged Jeff wanted to take the pic line out Jeff said no (I guess he kept messing things up with Jeff so he didn't trust him) so this guy says to jeff then I'll get the nurse to do it. Jeff said no she is new and not too confident. Then the guy told Jeff to take it out himself. HELLO. Wish I had been there. They actually got the er nurse to come up and remove it. No one was too happy then and the doc had a TUDE the size of texas. But he's home so thats good. C ya Steff
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Post by Emilysmom on Jun 10, 2006 15:45:49 GMT -5
Awwwww Steff, I'm sorry! One thing Jeff does NOT need is a new diagnosis! I know the Coumadin has to be tricky, along with the varices........it stinks for him to have so much to deal with! You're getting tons of great nursing practice Steff. I'm sorry it has to be this way, and with a patient you love so much. That has to be very very tough. HUGS, Susan
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Post by steffipoo on Jun 10, 2006 15:49:31 GMT -5
oh yea susan they checked his varices yesterday before they started him on the coumadin. It looked great so it was a go ahead. Are all the heart meds making him so shaky? really shaky??? UGGG thanks girl HUGS steff
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Post by Emilysmom on Jun 10, 2006 15:57:31 GMT -5
Yes.......I'd say the combination of meds could cause the shakiness. What do they say about his neuro status? He's still on Lactulose, right?
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Post by steffipoo on Jun 11, 2006 16:59:52 GMT -5
Susan I adore you. Guess what??? I called the on call cardiologist and read off the list of Jeffs new heart meds and all his meds. He stated that none of the new meds should produce hallucinations or anger or wow he is unbelievable. Not the man I married fer sure. Anyhow I did tell him Jeff did NOT wanna go back to the hospital unless he absolutely had to. Also he has an appt with the cardio.(the guys boss) monday so another reason not to say go to er. SO he did however say the same thing you did. He said the only med that could make his mental status different is the DIGOXEN BUT ONLY if it is combo with high ammonia levels. So Jeff drank and drank and protested and protested the XTRA XTRA lactulose . OMG Susan he is so different personality-wise not physical at all but wow angry mean just not my much too patient mild-mannered polite sweet guy. Today lets just say it worked(lactulose) for lack of a less disgusting way to put it. I am getting good with the shots too Jeff said the last 2 I did he didn't even feel. COOL HUH????I can't believe that I am actually giving him shots as I made my pediatrician take my first blood test at 14 looking up at the infant mobile crying my eyes out as i MADE the nurse take it from my thumb and squeeze. SHEESh. So definately I have come a long way.I can't even watch my kids or myself or ANYONE get a shot. HUH WHOUDA THUNK.... SO HUGGERS to you and BTW how is the GRANDBABY??? Do you have any pics to share? Any word on Emilys recess thing? ?? I Love your generosity girl thanks again. Steff
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Post by Emilysmom on Jun 11, 2006 20:01:30 GMT -5
Steff, It's one of those things that even nurses don't always understand........how important the Lactulose is in decreasing the ammonia levels. Too often, we have nurses who hold it and don't give it to the patients because it causes diarrhea and invariably the patient begins to have significant mental changes. I totally understand how Jeff can be so different personality-wise when his levels rise. It's really common, but has to be very hard for you! Again, I'm really sorry you're going through this.......and it has to be really hard on Jeff and the kids too. What's happening with the transplant team? I just hate that he's having so many different system problems at one time!! HUGS to you and the whole family!!! Congratulations on getting so skilled at giving shots!
Susan
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Post by Cbean on Jun 11, 2006 20:49:06 GMT -5
Steff! So sorry to hear about Jeff! Just wanted to send out some hugs to you! You are always such an inspiration to me! You've got an awesome tude!!!!! Hope things get better soon!!!!
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Post by CC on Jun 11, 2006 21:38:45 GMT -5
STEFF ~ Honestly I can't even imagine what you all have to deal with... MEGA HUGS going out to you girl and please know you are in our prayers daily BTW girl there was a time I too had to give shots to Colin and I was amazed at how well I did after the first few LOL One does what one has to due Hang in there and hope somewhere in the day you have some Steff time. CC ~
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Post by Valerie on Jun 12, 2006 8:41:43 GMT -5
Wow, Steff, sounds like you have so much going on, and you're handling it all so well! Sorry you're having to deal with this, and hope things get figured out so the sweet personality makes a comeback for Jeff!
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Post by SuziF on Jun 13, 2006 14:10:11 GMT -5
Oh Steff! Not what you & Jeff need at all...Make sure they're tracking the coumidin so carefully~ I really think alot of my dad's probs came from when they'd back off on running the bloodwork enough.
Hugs! Suzi
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Post by steffipoo on Jun 15, 2006 2:26:26 GMT -5
Thanks you guys..... Well couldn't wake up the hubby today. He can't hold anything in his hands and is shaking like crazy.(almost a weird shake like a seizure or posturing if ya know what that is). So the one time I get him up scared to death he says one thing to me and this is the last word I heard from his mouth. NO ER ... Take me to appt. His speech is crazy weird and I said okay picked the kids up early from school took em to moms and took him to dr. appt. NOW I had promised him I would take him to docs .The guard in front watched Jeff while I found a meter nearby. Jeff and him have become friends over the years. He had Jeff set up in a wheelchair when I came running over. So get him in to docs the nurses' there are all soooooooo sad cause mr. happy mr. personality is sleeping sorta with his eyes rolling up in his head. he stopped talking and then that was it. So really the doc saw him for a second they called the ambulance and off he went. I just got off the phone with the doc.I could only stay till 9pm. His ammonia levels are pending.....his kidneys are failing and they are considering hemodialysis , and his inr was soo high. Suzi since his kidneys and something else was bad the coumadin wasn't being excreted so his levels were crazy and his blood so thin they sent him for ct of the head to check for a brain bleed. his respirations were 3-5 and his heartrate which was 140 last week never went above 45 tonight. He is satting low and on lots of 02 and the doc just called to say they are putting him on a vent as he is no longer able to breathe on his own safely. Sooo sad. So basically she told me he is in a hepatic coma. i'll see him in the morning so thats good pray he gets better cause to see him like this breaks this girls heart... Steff
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Post by mommygwen on Jun 15, 2006 4:29:57 GMT -5
Steff, You have been taking such very good care of Jeff. He knows it, trusts you and probably wants just you to care for him. Do take care of yourself. When people ask if he or you need anything. It is OK to say that you need help with house, kids, car, paperwork or whatever so you can focus on his and your needs.
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Post by Emilysmom on Jun 15, 2006 6:52:46 GMT -5
Oh Steff, I am so sorry! I will continue to pray for Jeff. I sure wish we lived closer so we could be more help to you right now. Thanks so much for taking the time to keep us updated. Susan
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Post by Connie on Jun 15, 2006 8:18:41 GMT -5
Steff, I am so sorry! Please know that you and your family are in our prayers. Thank you so much for keeping us informed. We are one big family here and worry when we don't hear anything. Hugs, Connie
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Post by CC on Jun 15, 2006 22:52:24 GMT -5
STEFF STEFF STEFF, WE LOVE you girl and are praying much for you all I am soooo sorry this is happening and being in NJ and you guys in CA there is not a darn thing I can due for you I am up late most nights, if ever you want to just chat PM me and I will send you my email, phone number, Yahoo name, what ever. MEGA HUGS going out to you CC ~
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