Forgive the shorthand please. Think I'm only home for a short time.
Some kind of cardiac events going on. He has no cardiac history, but was found to be in Atrial Fib. His belly is also greatly distended. Not stool. Huge pool of fluid. Doc wanted him in ICU, but hospital said no beds. We were sent to ED for evaluation to see if he could be on tele floor, or transferred to SW Washington Med Center, 30 mi south.
At the ED they found him to be in SVT, and after giving him some cardiac drugs (3 different ones) they were able to see the underlying rhythm, Atrial "Flutter." Until the cardiac drugs he was consistently running heart rate in the 160's.
DH is not in room close to nursing station, but they have an alarm on his bed. I fully expect to have to go back shortly, but had to come home to check the kids, talk to them about being here alone, and get my meds. I will update as possible.
Oh New Realm I had just finished reading your other post about Dr appts and wondered if they had figured out what was up, hope all goes well. Thoughts and Prayers. Rk
I just came home from being with Paul and preparing to post an update, but had tons of calls. He had to stay in last night and again tonight. His heart rhythm stabilized on and off through the night. Today it was all over the place again, but he's much more comfortable once he had the fluid relieved from his bladder. Turns out it WAS in the bladder, not free fluid in the abdomen. Seems he may have neuro-genic bladder so he will come home with a catheter in for 2 weeks. Then will have trial runs without it. Doctor suspects bladder problem is a prostate issue. The urologist asked if a TURP was ever discussed with us when DH had urinary retention after ortho surgery 3+ years ago. His PSA was high then, but that happens with any kind of trauma to the region. They suspect there could be Prostate Cancer, and that is something I would not opt to treat. Some studies show the quality of life is better doing nothing. The surgery can be worse than the problem itself. Still we have to determine DH's heart rhythm issues to see if this is transient or not. He is doing much better. He has a Sitter tonight so I am home and hope to relax and sleep. Thank you all for your Love and prayers.
I hope everything goes okay for you. I will be thinking of you. I am glad you got a chance to go home and sleep. I spent one night in the hospital with my DH last Monday and I only got 3 hours of sleep so I know how draining it is. Take care and keep us posted.
Thank you for taking time to update us. We've all been sending good thoughts your way. I do hope you had a good evening and a good night's sleep. Take care.
New Realm. at least you are getting some drs input on how to treat DH. my DH also suffers prostate issues and bladder problems. we were offered the TURP as a solution as well but after consulting and reading up, i would not subject DH to that either unless it was the only choice. there are complications to that procedure and 'dribbling' can be one of the side effects that could occur- plus the recouperation and issues along with after the surgery seemed to hard for DH to handle. get info prior to doing this at least so you are informed. i hope you have home health care coming to help out with him when you take him home. catheters are going to be a problem with dementia-they will try to tug on them -plus there is risk of uti from the catheters themselves so get some good help while hes getting over this. i also send you hugs , and hoping you get some much needed rest. let us know how you are when you can-Divvi
My hb had a TURP w/local anesthesia last year and had/has no problems. He would forget how the catheter worked; so until he FINALLY understood after several show n tells and notes typed and posted by the potty, it was tricky. Read that messy. His enlarged prostate (no cancer found), didn't permit full drainage, and urine was backed up big time. At point of renal failure; but as soon as the catheter went in a couple days before surgery, he began to feel better. Pray all goes well whatever decisions are made.
Even if it is prostate cancer, that grows very slowly, doesn't it? I think (if I remember correctly) that doctors often recommend just keeping an eye on it.
Thank you all for asking about us. Yep, we are at home since Sunday afternoon (2/1). I had started a new thread about the discharge and coming home. It is called, "DH's advises I consider choice... coumadin vs. stroke."