Tough couple of days

lotstodo

lotstodo

aka "The Jackal"
I took a friend to an outpatient surgery appointment Friday, and it turned ugly. He was ill, with flu like symptoms, (he's a walking quad with a neck fusion and many other issues to begin with), and the Doc decided not to operate and sent him to his PCP. He was diagnosed with bronchitis, given a couple of shots, and we promised to look after him last night. Early this morning, he was largely unresponsive and we called an ambulance. He is in Douglas General on 4 l O2 and a Bipap machine with O2 sats that the Pulmonologist says he hasn't seen in a conscious person in quite a while. In fact he ran blood gas three times to be sure. We just got home, as his ex wife came to stay with him for a while.

He's finally resting after a lot of pain killers and the machine appears to be helping him. His sats are up into the low normal range for a long term smoker on room air even though he is still on the machine and O2. I really hate to see him like this. Life is such a struggle for so many people.
 
I am so sorry. My Mom went through something like that before they found lung cancer. Hope he recovers quickly!
 
newsjunky said:
I am so sorry. My Mom went through something like that before they found lung cancer. Hope he recovers quickly!
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My mom had severe COPD combined with Alzheimers. I am unfortunately familiar with what he's going through. He is already in such a permanently weakened state after his accident that he is severely affected by things like this. The last talk with the doctors seemed to be the first even slightly upbeat new today. They said that they expect him to get over this (it now appears to be double pneumonia), but not for a while. The next 24-48 hours will tell.
 
LTD, you are so right that some folks have it so rough. I'll keep all of you in my prayers. You are a good friend to him.
 
Tanks for the prayers and good wishes. I know that his family appreciates it. We are just back from the hospital again after being there most of the night. He coded at 2:45 last night, but they were able to shock him back. The doctors are still optimistic that they can heal him, but they are aware of his chronic problems.

I must say that I am impressed with the care he has gotten at Douglas General. The ER and ICU staff have been tremendous. My last experience with DGH was less than pleasant.
 
Sending more prayers his way. :pray You are not only smart but you are a good man. I am happy to know you! ;D
 
lotstodo said:
I took a friend to an outpatient surgery appointment Friday, and it turned ugly. He was ill, with flu like symptoms, (he's a walking quad with a neck fusion and many other issues to begin with), and the Doc decided not to operate and sent him to his PCP. He was diagnosed with bronchitis, given a couple of shots, and we promised to look after him last night. Early this morning, he was largely unresponsive and we called an ambulance. He is in Douglas General on 4 l O2 and a Bipap machine with O2 sats that the Pulmonologist says he hasn't seen in a conscious person in quite a while. In fact he ran blood gas three times to be sure. We just got home, as his ex wife came to stay with him for a while.

He's finally resting after a lot of pain killers and the machine appears to be helping him. His sats are up into the low normal range for a long term smoker on room air even though he is still on the machine and O2. I really hate to see him like this. Life is such a struggle for so many people.
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I'm so sorry about your friend LTD and I will say a prayer for him. He is very fortunate to have such a good friend in you! Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help either you or your friend and his family.
 
Well he was doing better, and they were going to move him to a step-down ICU bed last evening. Unfortunately he coded again before they could move him. They brought him back a second time and he appears to be stable again and back on the vent under sedation. The doctors have lost some of their enthusiasm, and seem a bit bewildered by this most recent setback. They are looking into secondary causes perhaps exacerbated by but otherwise unrelated to the pneumonia.

We went back in the wee hours to spell his ex wife for a while. She has been a real trooper. She has sort of taken over coordination of his care now, and I'm just awaiting my next task which will probably be going down to Valdosta State to pick up his son. I'll keep y'all posted.
 
Well, crap. I'm glad his ex-wife is being such a good egg. That says a lot about her. Please do keep us posted...we'll keep praying.
 
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