Another Speed Bump
It's Friday and these days I am trying to take a small break at night and ask my brother to make the hospital visit during the day. I was able to leave work early today to get my teeth cleaned, so I had some free time to chill out in the afternoon. I probably should have done a bit more seeing that it was another 80+ degree day in SF, but nothing sounds better than napping right now.
We've been anticipating my dad's return to the Rehab Unit for a few days now, but as I've said before, if it's not this, it's that. He's still in TCU because the doctors want him to rest up for a few more days as he is not quite ready for Rehab, and well, now he has a bit of pneumonia.
No straight answer has been given to me or my brother about the condition of my dad's lungs. One day is that he has a fever because he might have aspirated, so he was given Vancomacin. Next day they look at the chest x-ray and there's no signs of infection. Another day his kidney is not working so well partly because meds like Vancomacin is harsh on it. Then another team of doctors say no real damage was found on the chest scans. And now he has pneumonia???
I am really anxious about getting that feeding tube removed. He's been on it for one week again exactly. First it was for a few days, hoping to schedule that video swallow test. Now it's been a week. For me, that's like the first order of business. Maybe it's because we are Chinese and everything is about eat eat eat. I guess there's nothing to do other than wait it out, again.
Even though the octreotide scan showed no signs of Pheochromocytoma, the doctors still hopes to do a gold standard test that would for sure prove the absence or presence of a Pheo. Apparently, the octreotide scan is only 80% accurate. However, this "gold standard test" is more complicated and requires my dad to be more alert to cooperate. Honestly, I am not sure when they intend to do this test, but he sure isn't gonna be fully alert or even have the good attitude to participate with knowing that he can't eat.
Sure, now he gets a double dose of Suplena each meal, that's 16oz of "complete" nutrition, but it's all liquid straight to the stomach.
With all this, it's going to be another weekend in TCU. Dr. Pence, one of the Rehab docs had mentioned to my brother that now that he's back up here, we need to give them a more definitive discharge plan. Suppose my dad needs 24 hour care and my brother gets a job, my brother won't be able to provide for him. Apparently, caretakers are about 6,000/month and Medi-Cal pays for maybe $5/hr for caretakers. Basically, if we don't come up with a workable discharge plan, Rehab unit will not readmit him on the basis that even if he is on the road to recovery, he will not leave to a place where it will help him continually improve. Because of this, my brother will go back to the doctor to make it known that he will be the primary caregiver. This is of course not an easy task for anyone, but at this point, it's all needed.
This weekend, probably no physical therapy, no food, still at TCU -- I guess the only thing to do is for me to diligently coach my dad on speaking so at least doesn't lose that completely. It's been really difficult to get a complete grasp of his condition as he is not too communicative, but hopefully that can be slowly reverted.
We'd like to thank everyone for their continued thoughts and support, especially these new donors:
The Florendo Family
Eduard Hueber
Justin Ong
We've been anticipating my dad's return to the Rehab Unit for a few days now, but as I've said before, if it's not this, it's that. He's still in TCU because the doctors want him to rest up for a few more days as he is not quite ready for Rehab, and well, now he has a bit of pneumonia.
No straight answer has been given to me or my brother about the condition of my dad's lungs. One day is that he has a fever because he might have aspirated, so he was given Vancomacin. Next day they look at the chest x-ray and there's no signs of infection. Another day his kidney is not working so well partly because meds like Vancomacin is harsh on it. Then another team of doctors say no real damage was found on the chest scans. And now he has pneumonia???
I am really anxious about getting that feeding tube removed. He's been on it for one week again exactly. First it was for a few days, hoping to schedule that video swallow test. Now it's been a week. For me, that's like the first order of business. Maybe it's because we are Chinese and everything is about eat eat eat. I guess there's nothing to do other than wait it out, again.
Even though the octreotide scan showed no signs of Pheochromocytoma, the doctors still hopes to do a gold standard test that would for sure prove the absence or presence of a Pheo. Apparently, the octreotide scan is only 80% accurate. However, this "gold standard test" is more complicated and requires my dad to be more alert to cooperate. Honestly, I am not sure when they intend to do this test, but he sure isn't gonna be fully alert or even have the good attitude to participate with knowing that he can't eat.
Sure, now he gets a double dose of Suplena each meal, that's 16oz of "complete" nutrition, but it's all liquid straight to the stomach.
With all this, it's going to be another weekend in TCU. Dr. Pence, one of the Rehab docs had mentioned to my brother that now that he's back up here, we need to give them a more definitive discharge plan. Suppose my dad needs 24 hour care and my brother gets a job, my brother won't be able to provide for him. Apparently, caretakers are about 6,000/month and Medi-Cal pays for maybe $5/hr for caretakers. Basically, if we don't come up with a workable discharge plan, Rehab unit will not readmit him on the basis that even if he is on the road to recovery, he will not leave to a place where it will help him continually improve. Because of this, my brother will go back to the doctor to make it known that he will be the primary caregiver. This is of course not an easy task for anyone, but at this point, it's all needed.
This weekend, probably no physical therapy, no food, still at TCU -- I guess the only thing to do is for me to diligently coach my dad on speaking so at least doesn't lose that completely. It's been really difficult to get a complete grasp of his condition as he is not too communicative, but hopefully that can be slowly reverted.
We'd like to thank everyone for their continued thoughts and support, especially these new donors:
The Florendo Family
Eduard Hueber
Justin Ong
posted by Stroke Donation for Steven Leong at
12:21 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home