So with all that happening, now I have to move to the 21st century. I'm getting a cell phone tomorrow and I'm learning how to communicate via blog. Big step.
Let me start that Doug will be doing baby steps and evey step is exciting. Who would have thought that hearing him say the words Shoreview & 2009 would evoke such strong emotions. Well they can when someone you love has seemed to lose the ability to say your name. Doug was able to answer his medical care givers. And even though a few negative things were happening, we found positive reinforcement that his internal brain mechanism is working.
His body burning with heat at 105 degrees & yet shivering due to the 55 degree cooling blanket he had to have underneith him. The valum must have worn off cuz he was corherant and responding to my conversation. Telling him what his tempature was, he looked up and said something like "what?" So difficult and yet so wonderful to know he could understand me. It looked like he was being tortured, eventhough we all know it was in his best interest.
Doug currently has a pick line, a feeding tube & EEG head gear to help bring his body back to "normal."
That's all for now, it's been a LONG weekend!
All my love,
Barbara Ann
PS David Hines is working on the hopsital lingo and met Doug's GERMologist!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Lets start from the beginning...
Last Tuesday, May 26th: my dad (Doug) was sick with common symptoms (headache, fever and maybe a little nausea)
Wednesday May, 27: Dad stayed home from work with a "cold" maybe the flu
Thursday May 28th: Dad called to cancel his Hip surgery (scheduled for the next day) due to illness. he was told to come get checked out for his cold (but his Dr wouldn't be in until Friday) so an appointment was scheduled for Friday.
Friday May 29th: 1:00 am Took meds to help fever but something just wasn't right. By 6:00am Dad knew he had to be seen immediately; his temp was 103.5 degrees and by 7am an ambulance arrived to take him to St. Joe's ER. He was admitted and taken in for testing. High fevers and shaking continued. Limited speech but he communicated full thoughts! At that point, we were told they were checking for every strand of flu. They found some sort of spot in his lungs from an MRI that they will monitor.
Saturday May 30th: Still high fevers and shaking. He is still completely conscious and with us, but it is difficult for him to communicate anything more than a yes or no. He had great eye movement, and he was following directions from the nurses pretty well. (squeeze my hand, move your toes, how many fingers). They gave him a painful spinal tap to test for meningitis and tuberculosis. They were giving him anti-biotics in case it was the bacterial meningitis.
By late Saturday they moved him to Neuro ICU.
Sunday May 31st: This morning he had a 10 minute seizure and they are now monitoring his brain with an EEG. From the spinal tap it shows that it could be Meningitis and/or Tuberculosis.
He still has high fevers between 102 and 103.
They keep reminding us that it still could get worse before it gets better. If seizures continue they will have to put him in a coma until they get the seizures to stop.
I hope this update will help all of you!
PS we are getting my mom a cell phone today, it has become apparent that she needs one!!!
Thank you for all of your prayers, positive attitudes and hugs, it truely helps my spirits!
Love, Julie
Wednesday May, 27: Dad stayed home from work with a "cold" maybe the flu
Thursday May 28th: Dad called to cancel his Hip surgery (scheduled for the next day) due to illness. he was told to come get checked out for his cold (but his Dr wouldn't be in until Friday) so an appointment was scheduled for Friday.
Friday May 29th: 1:00 am Took meds to help fever but something just wasn't right. By 6:00am Dad knew he had to be seen immediately; his temp was 103.5 degrees and by 7am an ambulance arrived to take him to St. Joe's ER. He was admitted and taken in for testing. High fevers and shaking continued. Limited speech but he communicated full thoughts! At that point, we were told they were checking for every strand of flu. They found some sort of spot in his lungs from an MRI that they will monitor.
Saturday May 30th: Still high fevers and shaking. He is still completely conscious and with us, but it is difficult for him to communicate anything more than a yes or no. He had great eye movement, and he was following directions from the nurses pretty well. (squeeze my hand, move your toes, how many fingers). They gave him a painful spinal tap to test for meningitis and tuberculosis. They were giving him anti-biotics in case it was the bacterial meningitis.
By late Saturday they moved him to Neuro ICU.
Sunday May 31st: This morning he had a 10 minute seizure and they are now monitoring his brain with an EEG. From the spinal tap it shows that it could be Meningitis and/or Tuberculosis.
He still has high fevers between 102 and 103.
They keep reminding us that it still could get worse before it gets better. If seizures continue they will have to put him in a coma until they get the seizures to stop.
I hope this update will help all of you!
PS we are getting my mom a cell phone today, it has become apparent that she needs one!!!
Thank you for all of your prayers, positive attitudes and hugs, it truely helps my spirits!
Love, Julie
Welcome
Please bookmark this address! http://www.heroff.blogspot.com
Corey and Nila Hines just set up this blog for Barb and her family to communicate about Doug's condition. Please stay tuned for updates!
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