Thursday, November 05, 2009

Giving Thanks

Gee, it's been a few days since I posted, but it doesn't feel like it. I think I'm still living in Halloweenland. My yard looks like it, anyway. There has been so much to do this week, I haven't taken everything down yet. Tomorrow I need to go back over to the hospital for a competency testing on the new upgrades to the computer system before it goes live on Sunday. Even if census is low, everyone scheduled will have to come on in to work, because the system will crash and nothing will go as planned. That's always the way it is when we go through a major "upgrade." But hey, it's a living!

Today was MD appointment day. First J-Man saw our primary physician and had another clotting test done. These results were therapeutic, so he stays on the same dose of the blood thinner. His color is better, less sallow, and the swelling is minimal. Except for some lingering tiredness, he's feeling well. Everything's status quo.

Then we saw the gastroenterologist who reviewed the biopsy results with us and questioned us in detail about J-Man's meds and medical history. They still have no answer as to why his liver shut down, but Dr. R. is going to research the past medications and one of the ongoing ones to see if there are any rare incidents of liver failure with them. It's possible there was a latent liver problem from even as far back as the stroke and some medication may have triggered a strange reaction. He's still a walking mystery. But there's nothing that needs to be done there, either. Next visit is 3 months.

We have been so fortunate to have the terrific doctors and staff that we do. Because of his swiss cheese memory, J-Man's perceptions and timelines can be unreliable, and I have to be his walking memory bank. But everyone always asks him the questions first, which is so vital to maintaining his dignity. Then, if I have to modify or correct his answers, no one makes me feel like an overbearing wife. We have dealt with many healthcare personnel in the last month and not once have we had an unpleasant experience. Not once.

Well, if you don't count insurance issues.


And we don't.

8 comments:

Julie Stiles Mills said...

Sooooo happy things turned out well!!!!

p.s. My Halloween stuff is not in the yard. It is in the hallway. Which is so much better. umm hmm

MightyMom said...

glad to hear he's doing well.

so, when is it appropriate to throw away the pumpkins???

Sonshine's all ready for me to "take away the pumpkins and put up TURKEYS Momma!!"

haha.

AnnieO said...

The human body is such a complex thing, it is amazing to me how often riddles DO get solved! I'm glad your experience has been mostly positive with the specialists and staff you have encountered. That means a lot.

I got all my Halloween stuff down the next two days, a record for me:)

Cathi said...

So glad you've had such positive experiences throughout this. And very very glad he's doing so much better!

Mary Johnson said...

I used to be Keith's memory too -- until I lost mine. Now it's kind of nice to just shrug and say I don't remember...

Hope all the results today were OK. I hope they remain that way.

Mary Johnson said...

I used to be Keith's memory too -- until I lost mine. Now it's kind of nice to just shrug and say I don't remember...

Hope all the results today were OK. I hope they remain that way.

Libby said...

Mucking your way through the medical world can be a journey. It's good to hear that there are still folks out there that are patient advocates. Seems like all we ever hear on the news are the horror stories.

Arlette said...

So good to hear that J-Man is doing well and holding his own. Pretty scary to think that it could have been the meds that caused all of his problems. Praying for continued healing for the J-Man.
Aloha!