(no subject)

[rivka]

Lord, what a roller coaster we've been on for the last 24 hours.

Michael's dad had a rough time all day yesterday - he seemed to be in more pain, and more discouraged. They took his chest tube out in the morning, which was a painful procedure, and after that he just seemed worn out. The evening visit was when things got really bad, though.

He was nauseous at dinner time, and they gave him some Phenergan. Shortly afterward, he started saying things that didn't make any sense - sort of the way people sound when they talk in their sleep, muttering things with no connection to reality. He became agitated, nervously licking his lips and working his mouth, complaining about something we couldn't understand. Then he started seeing things. He pulled at his wires, urgently trying to tell us about something imaginary that needed to be fixed or changed. He could be reassured for a minute or two, but then he'd be off again. Eventually he started trying to get out of bed, and it was all we could do to keep him in it until the nurse got there.

He thought he was at home, and he was trying to get to the bathroom. The nurses got him up and onto a commode, and when they got him back to bed he was a lot calmer - but he still didn't know where he was. He reacted strongly to any noises out in the hallway, and given that it was shift change time there were a lot of them.

The nurses said his wife could spend the night, so we sent her out for a while to rest while we stayed by his side. It was much easier to calm and reassure him by this point. When his wife came back in, Michael and I went to get some dinner. By the time we returned, an hour later, he was calm and seemed to mostly know where he was.

This morning he was fine. He unfortunately remembers everything that happened last night - I'd been hoping he wouldn't - and is feeling kind of scared and, I think, ashamed about that. He's also tending towards post-surgical depression, and talking about dying. But he continues to progress well physically. While we were with him in the ICU this morning, he pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the bed with just a little help from Michael. At lunchtime, they moved him into a regular room. I think that will help a lot. They're talking about sending him home Wednesday if things continue to go well.

Last night was just awful. It's a real relief to find him so much better today. Michael's been a hero about all of this, but I know it's really been hard on him.

This afternoon we're going over to the Mid-South Blood Center to donate blood in Papa's name, given that he's now had two transfusions and may possibly need another. There's some sort of system where he gets credited for the blood we donate rather than having to pay for the blood he received, but I think we both see it as more of a moral obligation to give blood now.

We've also picked up a card for the ICU nurses. They've been uniformly wonderful, and I know that's made a huge difference.

Comments

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

Donating blood is a wonderful thing. I'm glad you're doing it.

I hope that getting out of the hospital and back into real life will help him cheer up.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

when my dad was in the hospital, the twin cities was on the verge of a nurses strike. if anyone even mentioned it to me, they'd likely get slammed up against the wall for a vehement lecture on how we don't pay those people enough.

ahem.

anyhow. icu nurses get major stars in their crowns in heaven, by me.

[mittelbar.livejournal.com]

Peep.

Thank you for the ongoing details. I think on you all lots.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Oh, no. I can understand how upsetting and distressing that must have been for all of you.

I hope you can convince Misha's father that it is perfectly normal for people in ICU to get confused and even a little crazy, and that it's nothing to be ashamed of. I know you know that-- you're a psychologist after all -- but sometimes under stress it helps to be reminded of things. (I had that conversation with my Dad when I visited in July, and he asked me, absolutely seriously, why the hospital would be trying to induce paranoia in a 72-year-old man.)

You're in my thoughts, and I hope the situation continues to improve.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Hang in there love. Give Michael my best. I wish I could do, or say, something more useful; but right now I just wait and read and try to let you know I'm out here, caring.

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

What you tell of the disorientation reminds me of some things that happened to my sister after her car accident. It really is scary. I'm really glad to hear he's doing better today. *hug*

-J

[red-queen.livejournal.com]

Have I ever mentioned ICU psychosis to you? Most ICUs keep Haldol on hand (which, as you probably know, is The Big Guns). It is transient, and attributable to being intensively cared for in part: the lights are always on, one never gets four hours of uninterrupted sleep, and blood flow to the brain may have been interrupted during surgery. It happens to MANY patients post-op or post-crisis, and is nothing to be ashamed of (if your f-in-law can believe it... hell, *you've* never met me, let alone him, but I can say both my parents went through this during their stays in ICUs.) It WILL END. It is not permanent.

Giving blood is a mitzvah. Blessings on you both.

Re: post-op depression: would it make sense to start him on an SSRI or somesuch if it persists? Just something to keep in mind and ask his doctors about.

You're making a huge positive difference for Michael and his family. Go, you.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the continuing update. Goodwishes continue.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

It's so annoying that you can't edit comments. I know there's an abuse issue (people writing nasty stuff then deleting it before the moderator sees), but it would be really nice to be able to change things within a few minutes of hitting send, when you realise what you've said sounds stupid...

Best wishes to all of you.

This afternoon we're going over to the Mid-South Blood Center to donate blood in Papa's name, ... There's some sort of system where he gets credited for the blood we donate rather than having to pay for the blood he received

!!!!

I know this isn't the time or the place for ranting about the US healthcare system - and besides, I'd be preaching to the converted. I'm just very shocked. In a supportive way, you understand.

[ailbhe]

Thinking of you...

[saoba.livejournal.com]

The ICU seems to *make* people easily prone to disorientation. I knew that from past experience and when I got to that point in your post I was kicking myself for not giving you a hint. Poor Papa. Poor everyone who loves him.

I still remember, over twenty years later, the faces of every one of ICU nurses who took care of my son, and several of the names. I remember watching in awe as they fought like hell to save the patient two beds over, the charge nurse rattling off instructions and calling for a doctor, and never failing to say please and thankyou.

An ICU nurse in Spokane took pity on me while Mikhail's dad was recovering from his heart attack and gave me daily updates by phone, including calling me one day before he took off early from a shift since he didn't want me to have to call, wait to get cleared by another staffer and call back.

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you and curiousangel are having to go through this but I'm relieved to hear that things are improving. I'm thinking of you all. *hugs*

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

ICU nurses are wonderful people indeed. I remember the nurses when J was in the ICU overnight a few years ago after the car accident.

I'm sorry things have been so rough. *hugs* I'm glad Michael's dad is doing better today.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

Watching someone you love in pain and not being able to do anything at all is one of the hardest things I know. Prayers and good thoughts countinuing.

[ljgeoff.livejournal.com]

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<<Last night was just awful. It's a real relief to find him so much better today. Michael's been a hero about all of this, but I know it's really been hard on him.>>

And hard on you, too. Good wishes sent your way.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Phenergan has caused hallucinations (excitability, delirium, etc.) in several people I know. I'm sorry he remembers it so clearly.

During my mother's recent hospitalization, at one point she was on something (I forget what, but it's a relatively simple / common drug --- valium?) that sent her completely loony. She kept trying to pull out her wires, and thought my sister was the cat. Spent some time petting her. Freaked my sister out no end. Fortunately, my mother remembers nothing of the episode.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I'd never heard of this kind of thing either, actually - "replacing" transfused blood is not a universal practice.

Usually you (or, more commonly, your insurance company) get charged for the processing costs of the blood you receive. The blood donation centers don't collect any profit, but they charge enough to cover the cost of the technicians and tests and storage and so forth.

It should probably go without saying, but I'll say it anyway: blood isn't withheld from people who need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

[andrianna.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that things are getting better with Misha's father.

Both of you and Misha's father are in my thoughts....

[mittelbar.livejournal.com]

Still thinking on you all.

Meditatively:
*brib*
*brib*
*brib*