UPDATED* OT- Thoughts, prayers, critters- whatever you've got please!
P. Poster
on 10/23/10 12:27 am, edited 10/23/10 11:36 pm
on 10/23/10 12:27 am, edited 10/23/10 11:36 pm
UPDATE- And venting- sorry!
Yesterday was not good. She remained unstable and the oncall Dr and cardiologist ordered some more tests to try to figure out why (you would think this wouldn't have taken so long...). They did an echo and chemical stress test, another EKG, another CT and more labs. The cardiologist that was consulting got the results, and basically freaked out- said "she won't survive the night" and proceeded to call us and tell us this. "She only has 15% remaining heart function, she is now vomiting blood and we can't locate the source of the internal bleeding, we can't get her BP stable, and we will not be able to operate". WELL, Mr. Smartypants... Have you tried speaking with HER cardiologist whom she has seen for 20 years? No, of course he didn't.
We called him and had him come in (Thank God he has privileges there too). She ACTUALLY (after a reread of her results... Oy) has 35% heart function remaining (normal is 55-65% BTW, so this isn't as bad as it sounds, bad, yes, but not downright death walking). The "internal bleeding" causing her to vomit blood was in fact OLD blood from the HUGE hole she chomped in her tongue when she fell. HOW they missed her PURPLE, bruised and swollen tongue for 2 days I'll never know (I saw it in the ER and made mention of it to her nurse). She vomited blood twice, consecutively, it was brown, and that was it... Her cardio insisted that while the surgery is extremely high risk, there is NO reason she can't undergo the operation.
We ALL know there is plenty of chance she will not make it though, BUT, you can't leave a 400+ pound woman laying on her back, completely incapacitated, with a broken FEMUR that has a history of congestive heart failure, diabetes, ad nauseum. Doing THAT will kill her slowly and painfully (bed sores that won't heal, pneumonia, infection, ect). Doing the surgery will either mend her, or allow her to go in peaceful sleep. SO- she is scheduled for surgery sometime today, as soon as they can fit her in. We gathered family and friends to give our love and best, I passed on all your kind thoughts, prayers and words to her. She is peaceful, accepting and understanding of the risks- and knows this is the only option. We worked with her to tie up some lose legal ends last night (how morose, huh?) at her request. And now, we wait.
Thank you again for all the thoughts, prayers, critters, well wishes. Please continue them as she heads into this next step. I'll update when I know more.
Our beloved "Aunt Dot" (she was related by marriage, but has been a fixture in the family for well over 40 years, and is really more like my grandmother than an Aunt- but I digress) was run over by her car last night. It slipped out of park as she was getting out, knocked her to the ground and ran her over, before going on to destroy the neighborhood. She is 71, with an extensive medical history (heart issues, diabetes, ect) and is also SMO. She was rushed off to the Level 1 Trauma Center with a head injury and severe damage to both legs. They have been unable to keep her stable- her blood pressure is in the 50/20 range, she is in considerable pain, has a broken femur and a closed head injury. She was scheduled for emergency surgery this morning at 6am to set and fix the femur, but due to the fact they can't get her blood pressure up, they had to cancel. They have been throwing medications and fluid bolus at her for almost 12 hours to try to stabilize her, and it isn't working. Because of this, they have to use pain medication sparingly, as to not drop her pressures even more- so she is in a LOT of pain. She is in the "Trauma ICU" and things are just so uncertain right now :(
If y'all could please send your healing thoughts, prayers, and/or swing some critters for her I would be so grateful. Thanks...
Yesterday was not good. She remained unstable and the oncall Dr and cardiologist ordered some more tests to try to figure out why (you would think this wouldn't have taken so long...). They did an echo and chemical stress test, another EKG, another CT and more labs. The cardiologist that was consulting got the results, and basically freaked out- said "she won't survive the night" and proceeded to call us and tell us this. "She only has 15% remaining heart function, she is now vomiting blood and we can't locate the source of the internal bleeding, we can't get her BP stable, and we will not be able to operate". WELL, Mr. Smartypants... Have you tried speaking with HER cardiologist whom she has seen for 20 years? No, of course he didn't.
We called him and had him come in (Thank God he has privileges there too). She ACTUALLY (after a reread of her results... Oy) has 35% heart function remaining (normal is 55-65% BTW, so this isn't as bad as it sounds, bad, yes, but not downright death walking). The "internal bleeding" causing her to vomit blood was in fact OLD blood from the HUGE hole she chomped in her tongue when she fell. HOW they missed her PURPLE, bruised and swollen tongue for 2 days I'll never know (I saw it in the ER and made mention of it to her nurse). She vomited blood twice, consecutively, it was brown, and that was it... Her cardio insisted that while the surgery is extremely high risk, there is NO reason she can't undergo the operation.
We ALL know there is plenty of chance she will not make it though, BUT, you can't leave a 400+ pound woman laying on her back, completely incapacitated, with a broken FEMUR that has a history of congestive heart failure, diabetes, ad nauseum. Doing THAT will kill her slowly and painfully (bed sores that won't heal, pneumonia, infection, ect). Doing the surgery will either mend her, or allow her to go in peaceful sleep. SO- she is scheduled for surgery sometime today, as soon as they can fit her in. We gathered family and friends to give our love and best, I passed on all your kind thoughts, prayers and words to her. She is peaceful, accepting and understanding of the risks- and knows this is the only option. We worked with her to tie up some lose legal ends last night (how morose, huh?) at her request. And now, we wait.
Thank you again for all the thoughts, prayers, critters, well wishes. Please continue them as she heads into this next step. I'll update when I know more.
Our beloved "Aunt Dot" (she was related by marriage, but has been a fixture in the family for well over 40 years, and is really more like my grandmother than an Aunt- but I digress) was run over by her car last night. It slipped out of park as she was getting out, knocked her to the ground and ran her over, before going on to destroy the neighborhood. She is 71, with an extensive medical history (heart issues, diabetes, ect) and is also SMO. She was rushed off to the Level 1 Trauma Center with a head injury and severe damage to both legs. They have been unable to keep her stable- her blood pressure is in the 50/20 range, she is in considerable pain, has a broken femur and a closed head injury. She was scheduled for emergency surgery this morning at 6am to set and fix the femur, but due to the fact they can't get her blood pressure up, they had to cancel. They have been throwing medications and fluid bolus at her for almost 12 hours to try to stabilize her, and it isn't working. Because of this, they have to use pain medication sparingly, as to not drop her pressures even more- so she is in a LOT of pain. She is in the "Trauma ICU" and things are just so uncertain right now :(
If y'all could please send your healing thoughts, prayers, and/or swing some critters for her I would be so grateful. Thanks...
My DS 
Oh honey, I'm thinking of you and your family, keeping everything swinging and crossed for you all right now. ((()))
Yorkie xx
Yorkie xx
Had a band in 2005 at 280lbs, had band removed and DS done on Jan 22nd 08 at 220lbs in Spain, now 135lbs and a size 4!! Happy as a Clam!!
Dontcha love the DS? It's the best tool around!!
Barbara - Ex-Crapbander to DS. Love you Dr. K. 
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