Dan's doctors continue to be pleased with how his new liver is functioning. Plus the change from Procraf to Cyclosporin (anti-rejection meds) cleared his mental fog - yippee! And he continues to eat very well, still eating the pureed vegetables, except for the carrots - oh well. The doctor removed the staples from his incision today. I jokingly asked "so will you use a staple remover?" thinking about the one on my desk at work. He said "Yes!" and pulled out a staple remover that looked alot like mine except the part you hold looked like the finger holds on scissors.
He was in considerable pain the last few days in his lower abdomen, the doctor did a CT scan and didn't find anything wrong, they did see the kidney stone still in his left kidney but it's not moving and shouldn't be causing that pain. They did another peracentesis and removed 2-1/2 liters of fluid (that's like a big bottle of Mt. Dew). The pain med made him sleep most of the night, a nice break for him. They are testing the fluid for infection, results won't be back for a few days. This morning's labs showed a slight elevation in white blood cells, so Dan's getting a few new antibiotics, more to be proactive in case there is infection in that fluid. Labs also showed elevated potassium and low calcium, both of which were corrected with medications. The doctors suspect this is from the kidneys still not working at 100% and not flushing out the potassium, not sure about that calcium since he's drinking a lot of milk. He also got more lasix and albumin to push the kidneys more. And Rehab doctors did their assessment yesterday and said he's still not ready to move to Rehab, that's disappointing but I know it will happen in good time.
Ministry happens in amazing ways. Along with getting to know the doctors and nurses very well, we've gotten to know some of the other patients' families, a few have been here almost as long or longer than Dan. God's love has been shared with so many people and in so many extraordinary yet ordinary ways.
Oh how He loves you and me....
Debbie and Dan
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 18th updates
The last few days have been pretty good. Dan's liver and kidneys are doing better every day, his blood sugar has been just about normal and he is eating well. The doctors finally changed his Prograf to Cyclosporin, these are anti-rejection meds, in hopes of clearing up the confusion and quieting the tremors, both of which seemed better this morning. He has been up walking a lap with the PT and OT the past 3 days and no heart afib. Rehab will reassess Dan tomorrow to see when he can start rehab. And it's possible Dan will be taken off "intermediate care" tomorrow, we hope he gets to keep his room, we've gotten to know the nurses in this pod very well.
Soaring,
Debbie and Dan
Soaring,
Debbie and Dan
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Great Day - Tuesday, Sept. 16 updates
What a great day! Dan was able to sleep for 5 hours last night (me too!). And the PT and OT came by again this morning, and Dan was able to get up and walk around the floor one time, then sit up in a chair for an hour, all without any afib! The cardiologist thinks they have the right medicine and timing, however he said the afib might come back, but we are grateful for a good morning. He is eating very well. Get this, part of his breakfast this morning was a high protein chocolate shake! Where do we sign up?!
The doctor ordered the catheter to be used again to help the kidneys a little longer with the fluid retention. And the wound nurse decided to replace the dressing on his 2 leg sores.
Funny of the day: A few nurses were helping change Dan's bed and helping him clean up while I was out of the room chatting with Dan's folks. We walked back in a few minutes later and the nurses told us that Dan had been flirting with them! I looked at him and he was grinning. I told him "the wife leaves for a minute and you start checking out the nurses." He nodded and said he has the prettiest nurses and told them so. Leave it to Dan to keep everyone laughing.
Praise God who gives songs in the night,
Debbie and Dan
The doctor ordered the catheter to be used again to help the kidneys a little longer with the fluid retention. And the wound nurse decided to replace the dressing on his 2 leg sores.
Funny of the day: A few nurses were helping change Dan's bed and helping him clean up while I was out of the room chatting with Dan's folks. We walked back in a few minutes later and the nurses told us that Dan had been flirting with them! I looked at him and he was grinning. I told him "the wife leaves for a minute and you start checking out the nurses." He nodded and said he has the prettiest nurses and told them so. Leave it to Dan to keep everyone laughing.
Praise God who gives songs in the night,
Debbie and Dan
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday, Sept. 15 updates
Today is Dan's 3 week "re-liverance day" anniversary and it's been a busy one already. He had breakfast, then the kidney doctor came by - Dan's creatinine level is down to 2, that's the lowest yet, so good news there. One of the liver transplant surgeons came by, the liver is still doing well. The speech pathologist helped him with his breakfast and his swallowing is doing better, liquids are still thickened and food is still pureed (don't tell him I told you, but he is actually eating pureed vegetables, including peas!). The PT and OT came by to try to get him walking, and sure enough, his heart went afib again, so it's back to bed. The afib lasted longer this morning, they gave him the heart medicine in pill form first, then in his IV. It took a few hours, but his heart rate finally slowed by lunchtime. They also removed the catheter which was causing a lot of pain, and no wonder, they found it was clogged probably after being in for 3 weeks. Hopefully the pain "down there" will go away now.
The doctors ordered a Paracentesis and ultrasound to see if he needs a Thoracentesis (google these to get more info, basically it's draining fluid from his abdomen and between the lungs and chest wall). My mom has had thoracentesis several times, it's a little painful but sure helped her breathing. I don't think there is a part of Dan's body that hasn't been poked, scoped, imaged, or connected to sensors or wires or IVs. And I am continually amazed at the grace God has given Dan to handle everything. He is my hero.
Calgon, take me away...
Debbie and Dan
The doctors ordered a Paracentesis and ultrasound to see if he needs a Thoracentesis (google these to get more info, basically it's draining fluid from his abdomen and between the lungs and chest wall). My mom has had thoracentesis several times, it's a little painful but sure helped her breathing. I don't think there is a part of Dan's body that hasn't been poked, scoped, imaged, or connected to sensors or wires or IVs. And I am continually amazed at the grace God has given Dan to handle everything. He is my hero.
Calgon, take me away...
Debbie and Dan
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sunday, Sept. 14 updates
Dan is enjoying getting to eat again, meals are pureed and low sugar, and liquids are still thickened to a nectar consistency (Hawaii ohana, think POG juice consistency). His heart has been fairly stable, just a few afib "blips" last night and this morning, and a few flutters as the cardiologist called it. The PT should be back this afternoon and hopefully his heart will remain stable so they can get him standing up and then sitting in a chair for a while.
PTL for the 2 wonderful nurses last night, who came in every few hours or so to change Dan's position in bed and massage his back - that really helped his back feel better and he was able to rest better.
The doctors are considering changing one of his anti-rejection meds from Prograf to Cyclosporine, hoping this will calm the hand tremors and take away the confusion that still is there.
I visited the chapel at Mayo early this morning, very peaceful environment, encouraging scriptures all around, confortable chairs with kneeling benches, a prayer journal anyone can write in. I spent some time reading scripture and praying with a kneeling bench. I felt very Catholic! But there is something to be said for kneeling humbly before God. This is one of the verses displayed in the chapel, and it spoke to me this morning: "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." Psalm 73:26 (New Living Translation). The Contemporary English Version says it short and sweet: "My body and mind may fail, but You are my strength and my choice forever." Amen!
Debbie and Dan
PTL for the 2 wonderful nurses last night, who came in every few hours or so to change Dan's position in bed and massage his back - that really helped his back feel better and he was able to rest better.
The doctors are considering changing one of his anti-rejection meds from Prograf to Cyclosporine, hoping this will calm the hand tremors and take away the confusion that still is there.
I visited the chapel at Mayo early this morning, very peaceful environment, encouraging scriptures all around, confortable chairs with kneeling benches, a prayer journal anyone can write in. I spent some time reading scripture and praying with a kneeling bench. I felt very Catholic! But there is something to be said for kneeling humbly before God. This is one of the verses displayed in the chapel, and it spoke to me this morning: "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." Psalm 73:26 (New Living Translation). The Contemporary English Version says it short and sweet: "My body and mind may fail, but You are my strength and my choice forever." Amen!
Debbie and Dan
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 13 updates
Dan went last night without pain meds, even though his back is really really sore. The doctors wanted him to go as long as possible without the pain meds so he can be more "awake" mentally. He had a few hours sleep last night, then off and on from 1am on. I got him to lie on his side so I could massage his back for a while, Dan's dad did this yesterday afternoon and it seemed to help, so I tried it last night. Dan says some crazy nonsense things from 1am on, things like "the little horses are our friends", "saguaro cactus are beautiful", "my mom is watching the fights", "Debbie, call your mom and ask her to change the oil". I can't wait to tell him this stuff when he's more "awake".
The PT and OT came by this morning and got him up and sitting on the side of the bed, that will be his big activity for the day. His heart rhythm was stable. He also got to eat lunch, the first he's eaten since his surgeries this week. If all goes well, the PT and OT will be back tomorrow to help him stand up and then sit in a chair.
Amy, Adam and Swen go back to Yuma tomorrow morning. We will really miss them, but they will be back in a few weeks, Adam has another trip in October. Adam enjoys his job with Kiewit, and he has been commended by his boss and others higher up, saying he is the best maintenance engineer in the region. Great job, Adam!
Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan
The PT and OT came by this morning and got him up and sitting on the side of the bed, that will be his big activity for the day. His heart rhythm was stable. He also got to eat lunch, the first he's eaten since his surgeries this week. If all goes well, the PT and OT will be back tomorrow to help him stand up and then sit in a chair.
Amy, Adam and Swen go back to Yuma tomorrow morning. We will really miss them, but they will be back in a few weeks, Adam has another trip in October. Adam enjoys his job with Kiewit, and he has been commended by his boss and others higher up, saying he is the best maintenance engineer in the region. Great job, Adam!
Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan
Friday, September 12, 2008
Better days
Thank you for your prayers for Dan. God has answered!
1- The doctors said the kidneys are functioning better now than they have in days and the swelling is almost gone. They told us they expected the kidneys to be seriously harmed because of the dye used in the surgeries, and they fully expected to have to do a few days dialysis. The doctors told us they could not explain how this happened (but we know why!). God is good!
2- They were able to do the 2nd surgery yesterday - their was a narrowing of the bile duct and they were able to insert a stent to keep it open and functioning - they do this endoscopically (down the throat - how in the world to they get to the liver that way?). The procedure went very well, and this morning his liver counts were the lowest yet, the ultrasound looks good, even the creatinine level went down more showing his kidneys are working even better.
Please keep praying for Dan's heart. He went afib yesterday morning and again this morning, both times when he was getting up to use the bathroom. So the cardiologists are back doing further testing, giving him diltiazem IV to slow down the heart. The doctors would like to get Dan up walking again, so we appreciate your prayers specifically for his heart.
Great is His faithfulness,
Debbie and Dan
1- The doctors said the kidneys are functioning better now than they have in days and the swelling is almost gone. They told us they expected the kidneys to be seriously harmed because of the dye used in the surgeries, and they fully expected to have to do a few days dialysis. The doctors told us they could not explain how this happened (but we know why!). God is good!
2- They were able to do the 2nd surgery yesterday - their was a narrowing of the bile duct and they were able to insert a stent to keep it open and functioning - they do this endoscopically (down the throat - how in the world to they get to the liver that way?). The procedure went very well, and this morning his liver counts were the lowest yet, the ultrasound looks good, even the creatinine level went down more showing his kidneys are working even better.
Please keep praying for Dan's heart. He went afib yesterday morning and again this morning, both times when he was getting up to use the bathroom. So the cardiologists are back doing further testing, giving him diltiazem IV to slow down the heart. The doctors would like to get Dan up walking again, so we appreciate your prayers specifically for his heart.
Great is His faithfulness,
Debbie and Dan
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