Just checkin' in...
Hey everyone,
I want to thank you all again for your support and well wishes through this tough time in my family. The only thing we know now is that my Dad has atrial fibrulation, blood in his urine, extremely high sugar, and way up then way down blood pressure. We are treating him syptomatically. Today at my and my moms urging he met with a an OT and a PT. The OT gave him some useful tools that will help him in his everyday life. With a use of a jumpropey kind of thing he put on his socks by himself for the first time in a year and a half. I'm so proud of him. He is pretty much housebound, and the PT said he had to get out more, so she ordered him a walker, and a scooter to use. He also got an order for a recliner that will power lift him up from sitting to standing. It's not covered by medicare, but my brother works for Walgreens corporate and can get it at a discount. Whatever the price it's worth it to see my Dad moving around again. He also spent 1.5 hrs with a deitician who helped him and my mom better understand what he should be eating to keep his diabetes under control. It turns out he wasn't eating enough food, carbs in particular, so his body was holding on to the sugar longer. He is now on an 1800 calorie/day diet that they said should help him lose lots of weight. He's got a long road ahead of him. They still can't control his heartrate and bp, so I think he's going to be in the hospital for awhile. It may be a month or more before he can do the angiogram to find out what caused this whole episode. His EKG's are all abnormal, but he had one done 6 weeks ago that was fine. So something happened in the last 6 weeks. We just have to be patient until we can find out what. He seems in good spirits and even told me today that I was getting my figure back. At Thanksgiving he told me I didn't look as if I'd lost a lb. What a difference 6 weeks makes.
My husband has been a trooper through this whole thing, which has been made worse by the fact they sent Alex home from school early today because of diarrhea, so John wasn't able to work much at all. Sometimes it pays to work for your father. I have to go home on Thursday night because I see the surgeon, the shrink, and the nut on Friday morning for my 3 month checkup. I've been eating only protein bars and hospital food which is actually really good and very healthy. I've lost a few more lbs while I've been here. I also have gone to a local curves for the last 2 days to work my frustration out. They are much bigger than my curves and 2 circuits is 1/2 hr instead of the 3 at mine. I love some of the machines that my curves doesn't have. I hope they get them soon. Next week is Disney and I may actually make my goal of 225 by 1/25. I'm close...real close. I feel bad about going to Disney while my Dad is in the hospital, but everything is already paid for and nonrefundable. We didn't get trip insurance. Besides if we told Alex we weren't going anymore, I think he might take out his lightsaber and beat me with it. My parents are both insistant that we go. If my Dad is still in the hospital when we get back, I'll come back with Alex, and just keep him out of school for awhile. He keeps asking about him, and wants to know if he's going to die, like Dukie our cat. It would do him good to see him. Kids under 6 are not allowed, but there are some benefits of having a giant child. He's already taller than most 6 yr olds even though he just turned 4.
I'll end with some good news....we are really making a big potty training push for Alex. Since he has some developmental disabilities, they told us he wouldn't potty train until VERY late. Well, we started a Blues clues potty game where he gets 1 clue for every day with no accidents and after 3 clues he gets to sit in his "thinking chair" and figure out what his reward is. None of the rewards cost more than $6. Even with his diarrhea problems today he had no accidents. He is now 12 out of 14 days accident free. This is only during the day...at night he wears overnites...1 thing at a time). We are so proud of him. I don't want to jinx it, but we may have this potty thing just about licked, which will make Disney WAY more enjoyable. I miss him so much. I can't wait to hug him on Thursday night. I may never let him go.
I'll check in again soon and update, even if I can't post much. You are all such great people. I'd be sucking down Big Mac's right now if it weren't for you guys. Thank you so much.
Sheryl
292/228/160
Hey all,
I'm just back from the hospital where I've been since 5:30 am. My dad was pretty bad off this morning, but is stabalized for now. He is being transferred to a different hospital tomorrow and on Fri noon he's scheduled for an angiogram and maybe angioplasty. They said his 2 bottom vetricles are most likely clogged. If he has another episode tonight, they will have emergency surgery in the morning. Our hope is they can fix whatever's wrong via catheder, so he doesn't have to have open heart surgery.
I've cancelled my 3 month appt w/surgeon and may still cancel Disney. We'll have to see how everything goes. His kidney functions were normal this morning so there should be no reason not to operate. Please keep praying....
I didn't do so well with food today. I had 2 1/2 cups of potato soup, 1/2 grilled cheese, some roast beef, some NSA ice cream, a sirloin patty and like 2 cups of wax beans. I haven't figured out the calories yet, but it's gotta be like 1300. I'll try to do better tomorrow. They weighed my Dad today. He's 425 lbs. I never want that to be me. Even though I've had only 2.5 hrs sleep, I made myself stop by Curves on the way home for a few circuits. Now I'm going to bed.
Sheryl
Sheryl this must be such a difficult time for you and your family. I'm so proud that you have taken the steps to ensure that your own bodyweight won't cause your health to deteriorate the way your father's unfortunately has. Don't beat yourself up about your food choices - these are extreme cir****tances. You are doing fantastic. My thoughts will be with you and your family.
Hang in there.
Sheryl
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