Home | Posts RSS | Comments RSS | Login

Update...Update...Get your update!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Once again it has been a crazy week around here. Dad is back in the hospital. He was doing fantastically until Wednesday night. He just said he was feeling "under the weather." Well once again, that "under the weather thing" just happened to be his body retaining fluid. Another "side effect" of the chemo...the drug that is doing so wonderfully combating his cancer. Anyways. He, luckily, had an appointment with Dr. Millstein (cardiologist) who is an exceptional doctor. He insisted dad be admitted because his heart rate was in the 40's (about half of what is healthy). Due to this low heart rate his kidney started failing. As some may know, dad only has one kidney. He was born with one kidney therefore he has had to take extra careful care of the one kidney he still has. With this they addmitted him to C.C.U (basically ICU for coronary patients). His renal (kidney) sepecialist came in and shocked us when she said his kindey was only working at 20%. NOT GOOD.


Then there was a miracle.


His heart went into a sinus (normal rhythm). No more atrial fibrolation! Mind you, he has been in atrial fibrolation since his chemo began. Bascially A.fib as it is called is fluttering of the atrial chambers of the heart. They aren't as strong as they once were and can not give a strong pump as they should. But his nurse realized a legitimate "P wave" on his heart monitor and called the doctors in. Sure enough, for no known reason his heart bounced out of A.fib. This meant that his heart went from the 40's to the 70-80's! Wonderful! With this his kidney function jumed to 39% and things started to look up.


Even though he is not in Afib anymore. Being the exceptional doctor that he is Dr. Millstein still wants to put a pacemaker in on Monday. No more rush as there was before. So Monday dad will be under the knife once again. It is hoped that this device will keep his heart beating high enough to keep his other vital organs doing well. That way there is no worries of heartrates in the 40's anymore. If it drops below a certain bpm it gives his heart a wee little shock and bam he's back pumping at normal speed :)


As long as his bloodthinner levels are at the correct levels on monday he will be having his surgery. please keep him and our family in your prayers.


Sure this is just another "bump in the road" so to speak. It is very difficult to see my dad so sick. I miss him around the house. But I must say he is a strong, strong man. He takes all of these issues in stride and never looses his spunk :)


thank you to everyone for your continued support, our family couldn't do it without all the prayers and support!


xoxo

0 comments to Update...Update...Get your update!: