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From
the beginning......
11-23-08 Just a short note to let ya'll know
that Connie will be having triple
bypass surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
Problem was discovered when she began to have chest
pains on a routine visit to her MD last Thursday morning.
Long story short, she was transported to Texsan Heart
Hosp (Room 204) in SA on Thursday AM, had a heart
cath Thursday evening. Results showed they could not
do a stent because of the extent of the blockage.
They also discovered she has a "bulging"
aorta which needs to be repaired. The surgery would
have already been done but she also has a bad case
of bronchitis. They want to clear that up before surgery.
Cardiologist says her heart is healthy. We just need
to get the "plumbing" fixed. Then, she should
be good to go for another 100,000 miles. We are very
fortunate this was discovered now. She is doing OK,
but was very tired when I left her last evening. Lou
11-27-08
Connie came thru surgery yesterday
(Wednesday 11-26), but it was much more extensive
than they thought. She had a quadruple bypass, aortic
valve replacement, partial aorta replacement and a
lung biopsy. She was beginning to come around today
and is off the ventilator. They have hopes that she
will be able to be sitting up tomorrow. I am sure
she appreciates all of your prayers. We will continue
to keep you abreast of her condition.
11-29-08
The MD removed most of Connie's
wires and tubes yesterday and they got her out of
bed and into a chair beside the bed. All of her vital
signs were normal yesterday. I expect she will be
out of ICU today. I know she is getting better because
she is starting to tell me what to do again. We're
not out of the woods yet so keep those prayers going.
Lou
11-30-08
Connie took her first steps down the hospital
hallway with assistance from her nurse and Marla at
approximately 5:15 pm. She will try to walk a little
farther tomorrow. We continue to pray for daily improvement.
Lou
12-1-08
Connie made great progress up to 5:30pm yesterday.
At that time we had a little setback which required
a tube being put back into her stomach. Fortunately,
Xray this AM showed no significant problem. She is
being treated with additional medication which should
relieve the problem. Her MDs continue to assure me
her recovery is on target at this point in time. We
are hoping she can leave the hospital on Thursday,
but this will depend on how well she responds to this
new medication. Lou
12-2-08
One step forward, two steps back. Connie
experienced atrial fibrilation (rapid heart beat)
early this AM. She is being treated with medication
to bring it down, but at this writing (9:00 am) the
heart beat is still way above the goal. She is also
experiencing some bowel problems and is unable to
digest any liquid or solid food. Her surgeon tells
me both of these problems are not uncommon in this
type of surgery. In Connie's case she is just not
responding to treatment as quickly as they would like.
She is now, once again, hooked up to lots of tubes
for nourishment and medication. She is very tired
as she did not get much sleep last night. I'm hopeful
that later today we'll see some improvement.
6:45pm
- A CT scan of Connie's abdomen was done
this afternoon. After reviewing the picture, the MD
came in to talk to us. Connie's bowel problem turns
out to be a blockage. The surgeon covered our options
and the associated risks at length. When he finished
Connie said: "Let's get this fixed now!"
So, at 7:15 pm they will take Connie down for another
operation to correct the blockage. Keep her in your
prayers. Will update the website as soon as I can
with results. Lou
12-3-08
AM - Connie had abdominal
surgery last evening around 7:30. A CT scan earlier
in the day revealed that the bowel obstruction would
not resolve itself. The surgery was over at about
9:45 pm. The surgeon repaired a very large hernia
and another smaller one. The bowel had gone through
the tear in the intestinal wall and ceased functioning.
She is back in ICU this AM, but is making good progress.
Heart rate is still a little high but coming down.
She is experiencing some pain from the surgery, but
is receiving pain medication. She is not yet fully
awake, but can respond with a nod of the head. I think
she is resting as comfortably as can be expected at
this time. She has a long day ahead. I am encouraged
by the progress thus far this AM. More later.
Lou
12-3-08
PM - It's 10:55pm. I just checked with Connie's
evening nurse and he said she was stable and resting
comfortably. He told me her heart rate was staying
below 130. Her cardiologist told me this evening that
he is OK with the current heart rate considering what
she has been through. Hopefully, the medication she
is receiving coupled with another night of recovery
will cause the heart rate to come down. She is also
experiencing an irregular heart beat that comes and
goes. She is not experiencing any pain. She slept
most of the afternoon. Plenty of sleep is probably
one of the best medicines for her just now.
Lou
12-4-08
- It's about 10:35pm and I'm writing this
in my sleep. Connie's heart rate
dropped gradually all day long from about 125 this
AM to around 108 late this evening. Still not where
she needs to be but it's a welcome improvement. If
we can end the day tomorrow at 90 or below we'll be
very happy. Her irregular heart beat is still there.
Connie has an excellent attitude and is upbeat. Just
before I left this evening they got her out of bed
and into a chair. When I left she was watching a basketball
game. Hopefully, she will walk tomorrow. I am cautiously
optimistic that we have turned a corner. Lou
12-5-08
- It's 5:45pm. Connie has
been up walking today. Three times. She's also been
sitting in her chair beside the bed. Her heart rate
has not come down any further but then she's been
up and down quiet a bit today. And, she still has
the NG (nose to stomach) tube in and that's creating
some discomfort because it's been in for several days.
Her intestinal tract seems to be coming alive according
to her Internist. That's good news. I am still waiting
for that one great big fart that signals success.
We hope to see a little progress each day. If the
heart rate gets resolved I think we will be looking
at going home soon thereafter. Your prayers are working.
Keep praying.
Lou
12-6-08
- It's
8:20pm. And, it's DAY 17! I just spoke to Connie's
nurse who said her heart rate is ranging between 90
and 110. This is an improvement from this morning.
She still has the A Fib (irregular heart beat). The
MDs are trying different drugs to try and find one
that works best to reduce Connie's heart rate to around
75 to 80 and also cause a regular heart beat. Her
bowels are improving as the MDs do hear some noises
in the bowel, but we need lots more action here. She
is still hooked up to feeding tubes and will be until
her bowels return to normal. She also still has the
NG tube and this is aggravating to her. More tomorrow.
Lou
12-7-08
9:00 PM. Not much change today. Tomorrow
is a big day for Connie. If the procedure
is successful, it means she has turned a BIG corner.
Lou
9:40
AM. Day 18. Spoke to Connie
this a.m. She had a good night. And she was up and
walking this A.M. Heart rate is still in the 90 to
110 range and the A Fib has returned. So, tomorrow
she will undergo two procedures. One is a TEE (Trans
Esophageal Echo Gram) and the other a Cardioversion.
The first is to ensure there are no clots on the back
side of her heart in preparation for the second procedure.
The second procedure is to "convert" the
heart rate to a normal sinus rhythm. Both procedures
are done at bedside under medication that will mask
pain. Please keep the prayers going, especially for
the success of these two procedures. Lou
12-8-08
4:35 PM. Day 19. Connie had a restful day.
Heart rate stays around 60 and her heart rhythm is
normal. Slept most of the day. She was exhausted.
Still no activity in the bowel in spite of treatment
and medicine. Hopefully, tonight or tomorrow will
be the day. If we can get this problem resolved, then
it's on to liquid food, then solid, then a check to
make sure all parts are working right and then it's
"Homeward Bound". Lou
6:55
AM. Day 19. - I just spoke to Connie's
surgeon. Her heart rhythm converted to normal sinus
rhythm on its own last night. Heart rate is down to
60. No procedure is necessary. They will work on getting
her bowels moving today. Your prayers are working.
Now,
here's a "For What It's Worth" item. Last
evening Connie's Internist was in to see her and asked
if she had any questions about the upcoming procedure.
She said no and she was not worried. He told her that's
great and says alot about you because you have every
right to be worried. Connie told him lots of people
are praying for me. I'm not worried. Before he left
he told Connie he was going to add her to his prayers.
Lou
12-9-08
- 3:30 PM -Day 20. All of Connie's
numbers relating to her heart operation look good
- Blood pressure, heart rhythm, pulse, and respiration
are normal. They did call an Infectious Disease Specialist
to consult today. Saw him this morning. He said they
are wanting to ensure she does not have a "hidden"
infection. Also did an Ultra Sound this AM to check
for clots in her legs - no clots. The bowel continues
to be uncooperative in spite of new meds today. Although
the MD and nurse do hear bowel sounds we have no real
action. She still has the NG tube. I asked, last evening,
that a gastro consult be done but have not seen anyone
come in as yet. They are going to do a scan of her
abdomen to see what the intestine looks like. This
was ordered by her Internist. The bowel problem is
the only thing, at the moment, that is keeping us
from getting a target date to go home. We have been
here a long time but I met a man this am whose Mom
has been here five weeks today and won't be leaving
until the weekend at the earliest. She also had heart
surgery as well as every complication conceivable.
Latest problem is a staph infection. After watching
all this I believe I'm going to go on a fish and vegetable
diet. Course, then I'd probably get hit by a truck.
Bring on the cracklins! Lou
Continued
in next column...Connie
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