kmunson's Journal, 14 July 2013

Will keep your father in my prayers. That is a very painful situation. Haven't worked in a hospital since 1998 so not sure how it is treated anymore. Please keep us informed. Is he a diabetic? 

Thoughts and prayers for pain relief and recovery for your father! Hang in there. 

Dad is on a diet for diabetic tendencies. I have never been official told that he is diabetic...but... He has also had the MRSA infection in the past. If that is what is causing this they may not be able to treat it successfully. In that case I just don't want him to be in any pain. He is 90 years old...has dementia so he is confused and cannot always tell us what the problem is. Makes treating him even harder. Nothing like sitting next to an emergency room bed with a parent that is in so much pain that they scream and swear. Near as we can tell...the nursing home called my sister at about 4 that they were calling the ambulance staff to come get our father from the nursing home. We arrived at the hospital about 6 pm just to check on what his status was. It took the ER until after 8 pm before he was given pain meds. There was a shift change at the ER at 8 pm and his care increased dramatically at that point. He was then admitted into the hospital for care. I haven't received an updated status this morning yet. 

It can be tough taking care of parents. I worry because I don't live near mine. Hubs parents are 5 minutes away but we don't have anything to do with them. 

My sister bears the brunt of taking care of Dad. Mom died before I had my kids. Stepmother is in nursing home herself...so sister has power of attorney and gets all the calls. Yesterday when she called that she was on her way to the hospital I told her I would go with. She was very appreciative that I came along. For once it wasn't all on her shoulders. I was very vocal about what I expected him to be getting for care. He does have a DNR directive...but that doesn't mean we want him to suffer. It truly is like having another child to watch over. Husbands father has cancer and has outlived what they gave him for time by five years. Now his cancer is out of remission...so don't know how long he has either. To lose them both so close together would be unbearable. I really am struggling today. 

Just got an update from the nurse working with my father. His infection stopped spreading at the thigh by all appearances. It had spread from the calf to the knee when I was with him last evening. He has not been in pain today, even though they have not given him pain meds. Hopefully that means the antibiotic is working on his infection. (he also has pneumonia which they report will be treated by same antibiotic.)  

Good news no pain! And no pain meds! 

Hopefully that means he will not be hallucinating as well. He always sees things that are not there when he gets on certain meds. Last night he was talking about a dog...and we were in the emergency room. Some times I wish I lived in his world. 

So very sorry to hear about your night! I pray things improve with both your father and your father-in-law. Get some rest and stay strong! 

Dad is doing better, father in law is hanging in there too. Now get to deal with my son losing a high school classmate (5 year reunion supposed to be in a month) to a freak work accident. The guy leaves behind a wife, two little girls and a third baby on the way. Everybody in three surrounding towns in shock over this one. He goes to work one day and by 2:45 pm he is in a hospital brain dead and the family had to decide to not use extraordinary measures to keep him alive because he would have been a vegetable if he lived. Puts life in perspective. 

Glad your dad is better. Sorry to hear about your son's classmate. So sad. 

At least my dad is 90...he has lived a long life. This guy was only 23 years old. Incredibly sad set of circumstances. This follows on the heels of one of my daughter's former college team mate losing her fiancée in a car accident 31 days before they were supposed to be married. Both my older children know now how fragile life is and that you never know when your time on this earth is done.  

Horrible circumstances for sure. Makes you say a prayer of thanks for blessings. 

I'm back so how is your dad, I was concerned for his leg and was wondering if he is better. 

He was taken back to the hospital for pain after being sent back to the nursing home. He is still fighting it. Just not happening very fast. Thanks for asking.