Update on my Dad and a great WOW!

Sorry i haven't posted much lately.  I have been on an emotional roller coaster with my dad over the past 3 weeks.    The docs now state he didn't have a stroke but the subarachnoid bleed was caused by him hitting his head on something.   The blood has disappated some but we have had highs and lows.  11 days after he was admitted to the hospital, he went to sleep and slept for 7 days straight, had a kidney infection and yeast infection.  The docs had to put him back on a ventilator and were talking about a trach and the fact he may never wake up.   I am on the phone with my sis and mom 3 or more times a day and this upset us all.   My mom didn't want to prolong a life of a deep sleep but having to make any decisions weighed heavily on us.   My sis was talking about bringing dad home to die.   Well, the following day, they went to the hospital (where they spend 7 or 8 hours a day) and dad was wide awake and trying to take.  They took him off the vent and he was pretty talkative when not sleeping.   As of Thursday, the docs state his prognosis is very good for a full recovery which is great but now he is back to sleep again today.    What an emotional roller coaster.

Through the past few weeks i found myself going back to horrible habits of emotional eating and thankfully i have not gained an ounce since my activity is much higher.   As of Thursday, I had to go back to journalling my food intake which has been a lifesaver.  When you have to write it down, boy, do you think twice.

Now for the wow moment.   I bought a winter coat in a size 16...woohooo!!  Secondly, while i never measured myself prior to surgery or now.....my measurements are now in the mid 40's for hips and boobs and 30's for my waist.....i haven't seen those numbers in over 20 years!!!!!!!!   So if there is any incentive to keep on track..i can't think of a better one.

Take care and thanks for all the prayers you have given for my dad.

Love you all,

Pam

God, what GOOD news this is!  I know it's scary with him going to sleep like that, but any time there is cerebral swelling or any swelling involving the nervous system, it takes a LONG time for that swelling to subside... recovery can easily take 18 months.  But I think you will continue to see steady progress, albeit slow.  This is wonderful!  And once he is released from the hospital, his progress will likely speed up.

Oh, and congrats on the sleek new measurements!  Way to go!

Thanks Suzanne.  Docs now state the infections will make you tired along with the meds for the same.   I think i feel the worse is that i have only been able to spend 4 days up in Michigan where he is when it first happened.  I offered to go up and relieve them of hospital duty for a weekend as they have to be exhausted and my mom said she would have to go daily anyway and that i need to save my money.  Leave it to parents to still worry about our money and i am 53!  lol    Only have 3 vacation days left so am kind of hording them in case something happens and i need to be there.

Love,  Pam

Pam - I know this has been hard on your and your family.  It amazes me that they didn't see the bleed when they did a CT scan and I am sure they repeated the CT scan - especially after he went to sleep and didn't wake up.

The body is a miracle though, and sleep was the best thing for him and his body knew it.  It would be a worry to see him sleep for 7 days straight though....  I assumed that the last time you spoke of going to the rehab apartment at the hospital that things were looking good.  We just never know what is around the corner, do we??

Thankfully you have realized your pattern of eating could be a problem and you have been able to stop and start journaling.  Good for you!

And a size 16 coat - WOW !  You are doing so well with your tool..  Congratulations!

Will continue to keep you and your family in thoughtful prayer..
Shelia

Thanks Sheila.   They did do a CT scan and see the bleed the day he was admitted but they assumed a stroke because of his age, etc.   But then when he woke up and didn't have any neuro problems and my sis remembered he fell in the garage (he could have grazed his head and was on coumadin) 10 days before.  They seem to think infection also makes him sleep while he is healing.   It is really baby steps and i think he good Lord is trying to teach my family patience.

Thanks,

Pam

Hi Pam,

I'm delighted that you Dad is doing better, but I'm sorry that it's been such a trail. I'm really glad that he didn't suffer a stroke and it looks like he'll recover well. I'll continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

I'm so glad that you recognized the dangerous behavior associated with the additonal stresses of your father's illness and that you have found and taken steps to take care of yourself. I doubt that you would have done that a year ago. Remember that we all make mistakes, but as long as we recognize them and then take corrective action, that's all they are ... just mistakes ... and we can move forward without allowing them to undo all of the work we have done to date.

Congratulations on your new sleeker, slimmer figure. It's amazing to see the metamorphosis unfold, isn't it?

Take care,

Barb

Thanks Barb....I really appreciate it.

Pam

I'm on an emotional rollercoaster with my dad too.  In fact, my dad may die before my surgery on Dec 12th.  We're not sure at this point.  He had a heart attack and stroke almost a year ago.  Since then he's been okay but weak.  Last week his Dr. put him in the hospital because his kidneys and liver aren't functioning well now.  Dialysis may help, but the Dr. says his heart is probably not strong enough to handle the dialysis machine.   So, the dialysis may kill him, but not having dialysis will kill him too.  Either way it's not good.  He's had 2 days of dialysis and he's weaker now than he's ever been.  We were warned that might happen.  We can only hope the dialysis works and he springs back, but we're trying to be realistic too.  So, I can feel your pain honey.  Seeing my dad's poor health, which is directly related to a life of too much rich food, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and smoking much of his life, makes me want to try that much harder to do what I need to make myself healthy.

So sorry about this Meredith.  Does your dad live close to you?  I hope so for your sake as it is so hard to be far from home.    How old is he?   My dad will be 80 in January and while he didn't smoke when he was younger and eat the wrong foods, he has been on the right track for at least 20 to 30 years.  At his age he still does all the grocery shopping (which he does almost daily to keep busy) and cooking and walks the dog 1/2 mile 3 to 4 times a day.    With him i think it is just old age and the body takes so much longer to recover.

You and your family will be in my prayers.

Pam