Curmudgeon In Hospice - [November 2013]

Subject: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 08:51 PM

Well...I certainly did not expect this when I took Tom to a 12:30 appointment at the wound clinic. Tom's left ankle and heel wounds seem fine... But the doctor was concerned about the difficulty of getting Tom's blood pressure (it's always complicated) and heart rate (likewise) and, telling for her, Tom's feet and hands seemed a lot colder than usual.

So... She suggested having him checked out and evaluated in the ER. That was 1:30 this afternoon. Tom's blood pressure fluctuates wildly between normal (for him) and very very low. They sucked a bunch of blood out of him to run some tests, and he had an EKG and chest x-ray. The results are unclear. It could he's just dehydrated. It could be the start of an infection (which is potentially life-threatening because he has replacement heart parts). It could be both.

So tonight after putting in a central line, he's been admitted to the CCU to at least try to get his BP stabilized.

He feels fine. No dizziness, no real problems of any kind that would have made us go either to Lee Urgent Care or the Wentworth-Douglass ER. But if something's brewing he's in the right place to head it off at the pass rather than waiting until it presented itself as a crisis.

I had planned some R&R for myself tonight -- going to see our friend Cecil Abels perform at The Press Room. I didn't let Cecil know on Facebook that I was planning on coming lest I jinx myself. Sigh. That approach didn't seem to work out too well. I just got home from the hospital at 8:15 and made myself something to eat (and fed the cats because they were getting twitchy). Neither Tom nor I had anything since breakfast. Sigh. I still really need the R&R, but I'm not driving to Portsmouth right now...

For the past month or so, Tom's been having a lot of tests done on his vascular situation (his circulation sucks -- especially in his left leg where the wounds are), and last week Tom's cardiologist decided Tom was too fragile to have the surgery his vascular guy was suggesting (a couple stents and/or bypass from right leg to left). Too risky. Of course, doing nothing also has its risks.

White light, prayers, good thoughts, etc. definitely welcomed.

Thanks, Mudcat friends, for being here.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 09:04 PM

Sorry to hear this, Linn- you've had no end of worries for some time.

The good thing is that, as you say, Tom feels fine.

They'll get him stabilised -we'll keep the positive thoughts winging their way to both of you so that you can get some sleep!

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 09:07 PM

One negative thought: You tell him I said to STOP THAT!! RIGHT NOW!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 09:40 PM

Just talked to Tom (9:38pm) -- he's settled into his room in the CCU. I'll call him again in the morning and then go over to see him.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 09:58 PM

I'm swearing on your behalf.
Sleep well. I'm wishing in your general direction. A better tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 10:11 PM

Linn, if he had to go into the hospital better that they're catching something early than when it becomes a crisis. Get a good night's sleep, and I'm wishing both you and Tom all the best.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 10:23 PM

Hospital is a very good place to be when things are whatif-y

Sending lots of good thoughts to the patient & the carer.

Both of you - rest & get well!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 10:26 PM

What SRS said...and more good thoughts and wishes-- for BOTH of you. ♥♥♥♥

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: gnu
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 11:13 PM

Yeah, I'll ditto SRS too. My thoughts and prayers as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: JennieG
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 11:21 PM

And ditto to you both from me, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Megan L
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 03:25 AM

Hope you see an improvement soon

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: gnu
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 06:23 AM

"Ditto" may take on a new convention if this internet thing catches on.

DITTO!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: maeve
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 07:00 AM

Love to you and Tom, Linn. You could sing Tam Lin while you have your visit.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 07:11 AM

Does he know that he is the only one who can fill the spot he has around here?
TOM! don't make me come down there!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 07:20 AM

Best wishes and good thoughts for you both from Staffordshire.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 07:43 AM

Tell Tom to CUT THAT OUT! Seriously, though, sending warm fuzzies and good thoughts his way (and yours, too).

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 08:13 AM

Thinking of you and Tom.
Lots of Love,

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: MMario
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 09:03 AM

I will echo Tami.....both the "cut it out!" and the warm fuzzies being sent your way.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 10:43 AM

Best thoughts for you both. When you have multiple problems everything you do becomes a balancing act.   The effect of a med or even the wrong food and upset the whole thing sometimes temporarily but significantly. Hang in Tom....I know your "pain."

Replacement heart parts can be quite handy because they get people moving pretty fast and you get to go to the front of the line. Saying "I think I'm developing an infection and I have an artificial mitral valve," generally even gets you past old ladies and children.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 12:24 PM

Thinking of you both. Hope they can sort some sort of plan out to get Tom healthier.
Damn!
mary

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Elmore
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 12:51 PM

My wife and I have multiple health issues, so, to a degree, we know how you feel. We wish you both the best.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Firecat
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 01:46 PM

Get well soon!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 03:34 PM

Zounds! At least it was good that general appointment noted problem and sent Mr. Tom in the right direction. Hoping proper diagnosis and successful treatment comes quickly.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 04:28 PM

Lots of good thoughts for Tom's early release.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: KathWestra
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 04:47 PM

Hugs and hopes and warmest light-filled wishes to you both. Glad Tom's in a place where he will be getting the best of care. And VERY glad he has an observant doc. xoxo

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: GUEST,gnulaptop
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 04:55 PM

Yeah... good docs are hard to find at times.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: GUEST,eldergirl on another computer
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 05:28 PM

getting older has its good side, but the other
side of it can be such Crap. hang in there Linn and Tom, there are folks rooting for you all over the world, me included.

x el

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: billybob
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 06:09 PM

sending my love too!

Please go to the Rainbow thread, so many good folks there who would like to add their love and positive thoughts Linn, it works for me, I have more loving support from the crew there than I have from my friends I see everyday!!

Wendy xxxxx

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 08:01 PM

I was concerned but not worried yesterday and earlier today. Right now I think I'm more worried than I was in 2004 when Tom had his heart surgery (aortic valve replaced, tricuspid repaired, double bypass and defibrillator installed).

Tom is still in the CCU at Wentworth-Douglass and the doctor is flummoxed. Tom's blood pressure is still fluctuating wildly, between what's normal (for him) and extremely low. He FEELS fine. And would really like to come home. Doesn't have the symptoms he SHOULD be having, but, then again, they really don't know what the source of the problem is.

I just left him (around 7 pm) after being left in the waiting room for an 2-1/2 hours while they put in an A-line -- and it ended up in his right wrist so it DOESN'T give a more accurate BP than the cuff on his left arm, which is what it was supposed to do.

I just don't know why Tom was okay until the doctor at his regular appointment at the wound clinic decided to send him to the ER to be evaluated because his feet were colder than usual. And he's had an incredible amount of tests lately because the vascular doc (through the wound clinic) was gathering information for potential vascular surgery.

I hope to be able to talk to Tom's cardiologist by phone tomorrow and see if he can give me any advice as to what Tom's going through right now. He doesn't work out of this hospital. And there's another doctor/friend I want to talk to. I'm just not sure I'm up to it tonight.

I'm going to go shower and wash my hair and then find something to eat.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 10:11 PM

And I'm a bit confused, too.

If Tom's problem is with his heart (complicated by his sucky circulation), why is his doctor an intensivist (well, that I can see) and pulmonologist who seems flummoxed at Tom's symptoms (or lack of typical symptoms)?

I'm going to bed.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: KT
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 10:17 PM

Hang in there, Linn, and best to you and Tom. Hope they figure this out soon and that Tom's deemed well enough to come home.
KT

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 10:41 PM

Oh, no! I hope the medical people figure out what's wrong quickly and help Tom improve. Hugs to you both.

I thought about adding this to the Jane's Rainbow thread, but I don't know if you'll have time to look at two threads.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 12:12 AM

Sometimes there's not a simple answer. I hope the doctors sort this one out to Tom's satisfaction. Our best to you, Linn, and know that we're hoping for more positive updates.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: gnu
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 06:49 AM

Hope you get to chat with Tom's doc today. Hope you got some rest. Ts&Ps from here.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 07:20 AM

Prayers and Good Thoughts coming across the ocean. Love from Roy & Elaine Harris

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: sciencegeek
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 09:43 AM

stay strong & also take care of yourself.

Health is a complex balancing act and right now the doctors are looking to identify what is out of kilter so they can address it. We start with the "usual suspects" and then widen the search if more info is needed to turn the puzzle into a picture.

Poor circulation is a symtom that should never be dismissed, so try to relax while they figure out just what is going on... easy to say, I know, but you need to keep your balance up as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 09:56 AM

While both doctors' confusion and Tom's bad circulation are nothing new, I hope they can figure out how to help him. Perhaps it might take a discussion with his cardiologist. (Not telling Linn anything she doesn't know--just being here and blabbing.)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 10:28 AM

Heading over to the hospital. Haven't been able to talk to any of my advisors (although I talked to Tom's cardiologist's nurse).

I will be at the Friday Press Room session (being Tom, so to speak) at least for the early part.

I would like some reassurance that either a) Tom's being in the CCU is right and good or b) that my wanting answers and reasons and more advice is keeping Tom from getting set back just by the inactivity of being in a hospital bed with more tubes than Carter has pills coming out of him.

He still FEELS fine!

But this morning I think I averted a crisis. When I called he said he really needed to cough but couldn't because he couldn't sit up. I called the CCU back and had them get a nurse in there so Tom COULD cough. Cough suppression is what landed him in the CCU last February (pneumonia) sedated and on a vent.

I'm TRYING to keep them from killing him!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: GUEST,Lauren
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 04:51 PM

Sobering news. I am wishing you both strength and healing.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: gnu
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 07:21 PM

Frustrating as all get out! Hang in there... BOTH of you.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 08:36 PM

More hugs, love, and prayers from here, Linn.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 09:55 PM

Things were better when I got to the hospital. I found Tom sitting up in a chair and, for the time being at least, his BP seemed to be stabilizing. He's in good humor, still feeling quite well, very alert and not as bored. Yesterday he ended up listening to the History Channel, so even though it's not his favorite -- NHPR -- he's still getting something to keep his mind occupied when I'm not there to read to him.

He can't have any food as they don't want his stomach and lower GI to steal blood from his heart, kidneys and brain.

I read to him most of the day -- online articles that I printed out plus a few more chapters of M.F.K. Fisher's "The Gastronomical Me" from "The Art of Eating." That got him thinking somehow about making an orange upside down cake so we discussed modifications to a pineapple upside down cake to experiment with sometime when he gets home.

Had a pretty decent talk with his doctor (well, I guess one of them -- I haven't met the cardiologist yet). He's more or less narrowed it down to his heart, but Tom's been dealing with congestive heart failure for years. Why things changed so suddenly and in ways he couldn't tell it was happening, I still haven't a clue. I still need to talk to a couple advisors -- an old friend who's a doctor (and was actually Tom's doctor before his heart surgery) and his cardiologist of the past 10 years. Also told Dr. Al-Alwan that Tom's cardiologist sent some of Tom's history over to him, so he'll go look for the information. (Why did didn't REQUEST it, I have no idea.)

I think I'm feeling less frantic and a bit more at ease. (For what that's worth.)

I "was Tom" at tonight's Press Room session, sitting in Tom's seat and making sure everyone got a chance to lead a song. And collected a bunch of much needed hugs (which are much better in person than as cyber hugs, although those are appreciated, too.)

Right now I think I should go to bed.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Megan L
Date: 12 Oct 13 - 03:16 AM

Lets hope things continue to improve and they find the actual cause so they can hopefully prevent it in future

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: open mike
Date: 12 Oct 13 - 04:12 AM

Sending healing thoughts for Tom and energy to Linn as being a care giver can be stressfull. It is so important to have you as an advocate to help with sending medical history reports, and co-ordinating the different specialists...so hang in there, both of you!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: gnu
Date: 12 Oct 13 - 06:09 AM

"I think I'm feeling less frantic and a bit more at ease. (For what that's worth.)"

A lot!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 12 Oct 13 - 10:24 AM

I'm sending you both virtual hugs for now and hope some day to give you real ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Oct 13 - 04:55 PM

Many thoughts for both of you!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 12 Oct 13 - 05:37 PM

More hugs and thoughts from the Harris family.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 12:36 PM

Hoping for the best but will settle for better.

Charlie and Judy, still in Sacramento

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon In Hospital - Oct 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 13 - 01:07 PM

Here's hoping all of these doctors get back to you soon so you can weigh the options. I'm glad you got out to the musical evening!

SRS