Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Tuesday Sept. 22, 09
Val's hemoglobin was 7.2 (don't quote me on that number, but below 8). So Dad got her to the hospital today for a blood transfusion of two pints of blood along with IV lasix (a water pill) or drug to have her pee out extra fluid she is carrying in her legs and lungs. Dad went home an slept for 2 and 1/2 hours. He is exhausted and doesn't realize it...actually doesn't allow himself to be. She was released at 2:30 this afternoon. Dad stopped in Barre to buy her a Reuben and a small cremee. She ate a 1/4 of he sandwich and half or less of the cremee. Eating is still very little for her at every meal. She continues to refuse occasionally her fosamax pill (actually, Dad gives it to her in a liquid form). I feel she does this to have some control over this situation in which she is loosing all control. My oldest brother Baine was at their house waiting for them to arrive home so he could help Dad get Val into the house. This was a welcome surprise and sooo very helpful for Dad. Thank you Baine!! Val was resting in her hospital bed all afternoon and told dad that she didn't want to go upstairs today. This was the first time EVER she said this. It is 10pm now and maybe she changed her mind, but Dad was going to put the baby monitor next to her bed so she could call to him. This is scary for Dad, and he didn't know if he would be able to stay upstairs the entire night. He may end up on the sofa down near her.

The hospice nurse and the VNA nurse will both come on Friday. Dad feels confidant that Val will sign the papers so he can get 2 or 3 times a week help. Actually, they will inform him of ALL the help he might need. I think there is alot of ways they can help him which we don't even know.

The chest x-ray was not good, but we all know what is happening in the lungs. The report read: sever pleural effusion on the right lung, complete opicification ( whiteness ) of the right lung making it difficult to differentiate from pneumonia int he right lung. The right border of the heart is also obscured which means there is fluid either around the heart now or just so much around the right lung it is now putting pressure on her heart. The report reads there is considerable progression of the disease state since the last chest x-ray ( I think the last one was when she came back form ME). Dad reports Val has been coughing more and more every day. Val reports she is sore in her abdomen from the coughing.

Small things are happening. Val think she has another ingrown toenail. Small in comparison, but a huge annoyance to Val. We will either get someone to come to the house again or I will cut them when I go up. Another commode is coming on Friday. The one Dad has for Val is used upstairs over the toilet. This one will be kept for downstairs use.

Love and prayers to Val always....Salynn

No comments: