In Emergency/Observation Friday 7/18

[ODAT]

Friday night my mom was at my sister Cathy's house. Complained of being cold. Went into major shaking for 30 minutes and couldn't stop. They called an ambulance. My sister Debbie (here from Florida) called to tell me ambulance was there (I was already at the hospital) and I heard mom throwing up. They got her there by 10:30 pm. Took chest xray, blood, temp, blood pressure, sugar. Nurse said temp 94 but feels like she has temp so took renal. temp 101.4. gave 3 tylenol. Mom seemed fine other than the fever - no more shaking or ill feeling. It took until 4:00am for them to tell us they were keeping her in Observation. I stayed since I didn't want to miss doctor in morning. They told us they were watching because the ekg didn't look quite right (but couldn't tell us / didn't tell us exactly what looked wrong), and that she 'may' have an infection. I asked 'so will you start her on antibiotics?' no, not until it is confirmed. Well, duh the cultures take 24 to 48 hours yet they let her go the next day at 1:30 (which is when the doctor finally came around).

Next morning mom said she filled the bowl twice with you know what. I thought maybe because it was so much that her plumbing was backed up and she got ill from that.
Doctor didn't say much when he said she could go home. Just that everything looked okay. I was so tired my mind wasn't telling me to pursue what it could have been.

Mom went to get arensp shot yesterday morning from 'dr. lisa' and in the afternoon for an appointment with the vascular surgeon who is scheduled to do fistula on July 30. Dr. Lisa told mom she had a bout with Rigors and that she could possibly have an infection that should be taken care of before the surgery. Vascular doc in the afternoon wants mom to see heart doctor again to be cleared for surgery. Heart doctor is on vacation for two weeks, but considering the circumstances, his office person told Cathy that he is in for two days and scheduled an appointment for 8am on July 28. We should know the results of cultures today or tomorrow.

I am going to document all the happenings of postponing/cancelling of procedures. Also, to clarify once and for all that mom does want to do dialysis. Vascular surgeon said again yesterday, 'oh, I thought you were against getting fistula and don't want to do dialysis.' mom said, 'all's I said, and have been saying to all my doctors, is that I wanted to do knee surgery first.'

ay yi yi...

[Sluff]

Glad she has you. I hope the infection if she has one clears up quick. 

[Romona]

How's Mom?

[okarol]

Hope she's doing better.

 

[ODAT]

Morning folks! Mom's cultures came back showing no signs of infection. She sees her heart doctor at 8am Monday morning (7/28) to get cleared for her 7/30 access surgery. She will be kept overnight we were told. Is that standard practice? Her surgery is at noon.

We also scheduled an appointment to meet a geriatric doctor. The pcp she has now sees all ages and his communication hasn't been all that great, with my dad as well. He is real short at visits and whenever we call a specialist for a result, they tell us that Gupta knows and he tells us to call them!

Thanks for the hugs!

[annabanana]

I'm glad Mom doesn't have an infection! Hope you get a better doctor. It's horrible when the docs are so short with you. Makes you feel like they don't care at all.