VERY SCARED

[flip]

If he's a fighter, he will make it. Just help him be strong. Life ain't always fair but it's still good.

[st789]

Add me to the list of praying for Mike's recovering.

[kitkatz]

Hang in there.  Lots of prayers for you and him are headed your way!

[Brightsky69]

Marley,

I am so sorry to hear about Mike. I am glad to hear it sounds like he is getting better. I'll keep fingers and toes crossed for his recovery. 

[G-Ma]

I am praying for you and Mike and asking God's loving arms and angels around you both.  I have been where you are and it is not easy, all you can do it take a day at a time.  You need to take care of yourself so you can remain strong for Mike.
Ann

[KICKSTART]

  Thinking of you both 


EDITED: Fixed smiley error - okarol/admin

[pelagia]

holding you and your husband in my thoughts 

[Marley]

 

My husband is coming home tomorrow after he gets his dialysis and I can hardly wait to get him here!!  He will be on vancomyacin to treat the heart infection for a few weeks until it's gone.  He is still feeling pretty weak and is sleeping a lot (yea!).  He hasn't slept good since he started dialysis and I don't know how he can function on such little sleep.  Once or twice a month, I'll pull an all-nighter with him and I pay for it big time.

Thank you everyone for all the support you've given me and for your prayers. 

Marley 

[PD Wife]

I'm so glad to hear he's improving and coming home.  Just a word to the wise - my husband was on vancomycin in April in the hospital and about 6 weeks later he came down with c.diff as a result.  It is to be avoided at all costs, trust me!  We were not told about the risk of that happening.  Since then I've learned that probiotics might have helped prevent it.  Please ask and/or do your own research.  It has taken a terrible toll on his health.

Good luck!

[aharris2]

I'm so glad to hear he's improving and coming home.  Just a word to the wise - my husband was on vancomycin in April in the hospital and about 6 weeks later he came down with c.diff as a result.  It is to be avoided at all costs, trust me!  We were not told about the risk of that happening.  Since then I've learned that probiotics might have helped prevent it.  Please ask and/or do your own research.  It has taken a terrible toll on his health.

Good luck!

We second this! Since the first go 'round, we have used probiotics (lactobacillus is what I believe it is), specifically "Lactinex" which is over the counter but kept in the refigerator so you have to ask for it. It comes as chewables or powder. The chewables are tasty.

[DAUGHTER]

 

Comfort and Strength is what I pray for you and Mike

God Bless

[lola]

So glad Mike is coming home

[monrein]

Happy homecoming.

[Deanne]

I sending up prayers that he continues to do well and rejoicing with you on his homecoming! 

[Marley]

Nobody told us about the risk of getting C-diff from the vanco---I'll be calling his doc tomorrow.  THANKS PD WIFE!!  Since that is over the counter, can his doc still write a scrip for it??   I can't believe nobody told us about the probiotics, I'm getting madder the more I think about it!!!  He could all the help he can get right now and they don't tell me?   Probiotics are an immune system booster, right??  So it helps a body to heal?  I'm gonna do a little reading about that.     

Don't know if I mentioned it but he also has an eye infection we were told came from the the endocarditis.  He saw the opthamologist today and his vision is improving, it was wonderful hearing that!!  Since he is light sensitive in that eye, we're keeping a patch on it. 

He is still pretty weak and tired from being so sick and since he's come home from the hospital, he is needing my help getting up off the couch and he hold onto my forearm for support.  I'm using muscles I didn't know I had and they are not very happy, lol.  I'm hoping he gets his strength back soon cuz I'm not in the best of shape eiether and am going to need my Rituxan infusion soon......l

He goes back to the dialysis clinic tomorrow and life can get back to normal, well; normal for us anyway.

Marley
 

[PD Wife]

I get angry all over again just thinking about how very very ill my husband was with c.diff and it was probably preventable. Like you, nobody even mentioned the possibility of it happening.  My understanding is that broad spectrum antibiotics like vancomycin given in large doses like you get in the hospital not only kills "bad" bacteria but also the "good" flora you need in your gut.  Probiotics are supposed to replace the good flora to help fight off c.diff.

Good luck to you both.

Kate

[TynyWonder]

OK, I guess I am stupid but could someone please tell me what c. diff is?   I was given vanco this past February and did not know anything about c. diff?!!!!   Thanks!

Tammy

[glitter]

so glad your situation is better- I can hear how much you love him     

[circleNthedrain]

Hey TynyWonder...hope this helps a little.  C diff is a severe infection of the colon, often happening after normal gut flora is eradicated by use of antibiotics. The C. difficile bacteria naturally resides in the body, but becomes overgrown

[TynyWonder]

eeeeewww that sounds horrible!   Thanks for the explanation!

[Marley]

Tiny Wonder---I'm cracking up girl----"eewwwww"     You got that right girl!!!

My 'ol guy had another esophogeal (sp?) echo AND an angioplasty this morning and it showed the infection is a tiny bit smaler!!!  The heart surgeon won't be there until Monday, but the heart DOC told us that he will most likely do the surgery on Tuesday.  He told us it's a 4-5 hour surgery and if they find hubby needs anything bypassed, they will fix it then.  The heart-lung machine scares me and I know they will have to stop his heart.  Has anyone ever had this type of surgery done before??  Mike told me they said there is a video he can watch but he turned that down right away, he would much rather not know what they are going to do.  Not me---I'll watch it tomorrow---maybe. 

He is a lot calmer about the surgery now and is feeling a little stronger and less tired.  well, maybe still pretty tired, but he did get up and walk down the hall today. 

See you guys???  Didn't I tell you what a fighter my man is??  I still get that panic feeling in my gut but it's a little quieter the last couple of days.  Who said there are no more miracles in the world, I'm living with one of them!!!

Marley
 

[breezysummerday]

 

[Sluff]

Mike sure is a fighter and Marley you are also. Isn't love grand?    All the best to you and Mike on Tuesday I will be praying that things go well.
 

[pelagia]

Marley,

During the fall of 2007 my dad, who was 72 at the time, started sliding downhill.  He had no energy all fall and by Christmas he could barely walk.  His face looked purple.  It turned out that he had some sort of infection in his heart valve. (although I think they decided that it wasn't C. diff).  Somehow he had passed a stress test during the summer and as a result, no one was looking for heart disease. Another problem in my mind is that he goes back and forth between NY and Florida a lot and has two different sets of doctors.  As a result of this, I sometimes wonder if any of them feel "ownership" of him as a patient. In any case, the infection wasn't discovered until after he had a minor stroke in February of 2008, which likely was due to a piece of the infection breaking loose.  Luckily for him it was a very minor stroke which does not seem to have had any lasting effects.  During the surgery they replaced a heart valve and he also needed a double bypass.

But here's the good news - he felt really, really great after he healed up from the open heart surgery.  His color went back to normal and he gradually got stronger and stronger until he was himself again.  A number of friends have told me the same - that as scary as open heart surgery is, it made a huge difference for their parents in terms of how they felt and were functioning.  And, I have one friend who had to have bypasses when he was still in his 30s, due to genetic predisposition to clogged arteries.  He is now in his mid-50s and also doing really well.

I hope it all goes well.  If they start thinking about delaying the surgery for some reason, please ask them if there is a risk of stroke.
 

[Danally]

My dad had open heart surgery a year and half ago. They did his without stopping his heart. (There is two ways to do this surgery) He came through the surgery and made a quick recovery. Good luck!!!!!!!!
http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/heart/services/surgery/beating-heart.html