Scary day

[plb - daughter]

This is Pennys' daughter again. Well, we had a scary day the day after my moms surgery. My moms' blood pressure was way to low - 80/41. It gave us a scare. She was so pale and her lips looked almost blue. They did an echocardiogram to make sure there was no bleeding or fluid around her heart. It looked ok. They gave her a few things to try to get it back up, but they did not work. Around 10pm last night they started her on some fluids. This morning she was very nauseous and vomited a few times. Her blood pressure was still low. They decided to give her some dopamine and 2 units of blood. They had to put another line into her jugular to give her the blood. They have poked her so many times, and her veins have blown, that there was no where else to put it. They also gave her another echocardiogram. This time they found some fluid in her lungs. They think this was from when she vomited, that she aspirated some into her lungs. A touch of pneumonia. So, next they gave her some antibiotics. After all of this, her blood pressure went up some. She took a long nap, and woke up feeling much better. She got up and walked for the first time today. She did real good. She is still in the ICU because of her blood pressure problems, but we expect that she will move out to the intermediate care unit tomorrow if the night is uneventful.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support. My mom appreciates it, and so do I. Thank you.

 

[Georgia]

Well, this sure makes a bad day insufferable for your mom. Thank heavens she's doing better. All my good thoughts and prayers are with her. Hope they put in a central line to do all her bloodwork for the rest of the time she's in the hospital.

You take care of yourself, too, while she's in the hospital. No sense in wearing yourself out while she has others to take care of her. She'll need you to be rested and energetic when she gets out!

You're great for helping your mom so much. Much luck to both of you.

Georgia

 

[Nancy]

Hi-

I'm so very glad they were able to get your mom stabilized. If she was able to get up and walking a litle bit, that is a very good sign.

My husband has had blood pressure that low, after some general surgery that developed problems. It's bad because they had to stop his pain meds and then had to be very careful with diuretics because they can lower the blood pressure even more. So it's a pretty tough situation.

Getting her walking around and moving a little will help the pressure to stay up.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom. Let us know how things are going for her.

 

[Ross]

Some of us can't get through this without something cropping up.
I'm glad to hear shes doing better now and hopefully that will be the last hurdle for her. They may want to seriously consider a PICC line if shes going to need alot of I.V. meds yet.
Thanks for keeping us posted!

 

[Kevin M]

The fact that she is up walking is great news.
Once you are in a vertical position, it helps the lungs to clear.

The breathing exercises and the walks will help a lot.

I'm sorry she had a rough time. I wish all the best to your mom.
Make sure you rest too. You're more useful if you are rested.
Kev

 

[pillarpaul]

Please give your mom our best. We'll continue to send thoughts and prayers for her continued improvement. Thanks for keeping us posted. As others have said, too, make sure you get your rest.

Paul

 

[hensylee]

Some time back I tagged onto Peg's thread asking for prayer for a friend who was undergoing bypasses. He had a rough time - lungs collapsed several times, etc. He finally got to go home after about two or three weeks, but was so weak he could hardly stand. My daughter (this is her bro-in-law) said how awful and pale he looked. I spoke to him via phone and he could hardly speak he was so weak. Last weekend, his bp was so low he had to be re-hospitalized. They took him off all but one of his meds and sent him home. Daughter says he feels brand new and looks like he has been re-born. It was his meds. Why don't drs know this? None of us really know how much our meds affect us, do we? Not saying this is your mom's current problem, just a heads up for all of us.

I pray that your dear mother will be getting about on her own very soon. You young'uns are doing a super job and may God bless all of you.

 

[ccrawford]

Keep up the good work

Keep up the good work

Hi Penny's daughter - Glad she is doing better. Hope you are too. This can certainly be scary and the most important thing you can do is be there for your mom and keep giving her encouragement. We look forward to hearing more good news about her improvements. Chris

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Penny's Daughter......I'm so sorry to hear of your Mom's difficulty. Thank goodness it is resolving. She is in our prayers and I know this will resolve......sometimes it seems like"three steps forward and one step back" in the beginning. Please give her our very, very best wishes.

Evelyn and Tyce

 

[Rain]

What's your name?

What's your name?

Hello Penney?s daughter,

Thanks for keeping us posted and tell your Mom she has lots of people here in vr.com land thinking of her.

I feel soooooo sorry for her having to vomit.... ouchie, ouchie, ouchie!! If she can get through that she can get through anything. I'm happy to hear she's up walking around... that's a good sign.

Take care,
Rain

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi penny's daughter!
i was so sorry to read that your mom had some difficulties. i am, however, glad to see that she seems to be stable at this time. walking around is really great and helpful.
please wish her all the best from us. thank you for keeping us posted.
-sylvia

 

[Bob]

Hi Penny's daughter. Good to hear that mom is doing better. When she comes home she will need you to help her so it is important that you take care of yourself, gets lots of sleep and if you have a good friend ask her/him if when things get hard can you come and talk it out. This heart stuff is very hard on the family especially the second week.

As far as her comfort goes if you can get her a recliner it will help her sleep and will be comfortable during the day. If no recliner sitting proped up with pillows works. Sleep is very important visitors less so. Don't worry if she doesn't want to eat because we lose our taste and nothing is satisyfing. Most of us got by with juice and soup.

Now if you have a question or just want to talk remember that you have contact with people from all over the world who have been right where you and your mom are today. Just ask or talk. OK? Bob