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Subject: Cat's Corner

Posted by: Catreona
Date: Nov 11 20

A virtual blog to post updates on my mother's illness and other thoughts

629 replies. On page 19 of 32 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Catreona

That so called pre-op appointment of Dad's yesterday turned out to be nothing. They drew blood for lab work...again and gave him an EKG...again.

No meeting with the surgeon or a member of his team. Nothing to give him an idea in advance what's going to be happening and what to expect.

I guess my orthopedic surgeon spoiled us. He was very thorough, made sure both I and my family knew exactly what to expect. Even sent us to a class at the hospital, where the procedure was explained, the hospital stay was discussed, the works. Also, we got a thick book and a worksheet, oh, all sorts of materials. Hip replacement is pretty routine, so the system works smoothly and efficiently.

Apparently, blasting bladder stones, performing exploratory surgery for bladder cancer and doing prostate surgery are none of them so routine as to have well-oiled machinery to go with them. Or maybe the other hospital isn't as efficient. I'd feel better if Dad were going to the hospital where I was, but Dr. Mohamed (Never heard his last name) works out of the other hospital in town, more's the pity. It used to be very good, but I have my doubts.

Wouldn't you think a man just a few weeks away from his ninetieth birthday might merit a little special care? Sis has a bad feeling about the whole thing. She is easily upset, so I have to reassure her; but, to tell the truth, I'm uneasy about the procedures too.

Reply #361. Apr 19 23, 8:21 PM

Catreona

New development:
Dad's cough is so bad, he canceled the surgery. He has his medicated spray and is taking Musenex(sp?), but his chest congestion doesn't clear up. In fact, he says it feels like the gunk in his lungs is congealing, not breaking up. He tested negative for Covid on the home test earlier in the week, but he's going to test again tomorrow.

Reply #362. Apr 20 23, 5:19 PM

postcards2go

Oh, my goodness, Cat!
I know that no one looks forward to surgery, but it seemed necessary. It's a shame that it's been canceled. I hope your dad's cough calms down soon.

Reply #363. Apr 20 23, 6:27 PM

Dagny1

Best wishes and prayers going out for your Dad, Cat.

And congratulations on the Adopt Me! Badge!

Reply #364. Apr 20 23, 7:05 PM

Catreona

Thank you both.

He's so stubborn! He is still miserable, yet he refuses to contact his doctor, no matter how we cajole and bully and plead. Keeps saying he'll be better tomorrow, and then tomorrow comes and he isn't better.

He goes in to see his cumatin nurse tomorrow, being Wednesday. Sis and I are hoping she'll tell him what's what. He trusts her, and might, maybe, do what she suggests.

Reply #365. Apr 25 23, 6:04 PM

Catreona

Dad saw his Coumadin nurse today. Coumadin levels are normal, phew! That's one less thing to be concerned about. The nurse first suggested Dad's problem is allergies which, rather to my surprise, he rejected. Then she allowed as how there are some pretty bad cold viruses about just now, but she offered no suggestions. Sis and I were pretty disappointed with her lack of positive input. However, he did buy a bag of cough lozenges, which is a good, proactive step. He seemed to be better today. May his recovery continue!

Reply #366. Apr 26 23, 7:48 PM

Dagny1

Hopefully your Dad will continue to improve - and he can finally have the surgery!

Reply #367. Apr 27 23, 2:34 AM

Catreona

Well, Dad is NOT better today! Sis read him the riot act and he said, again, that he would go to Urgent Care. Has he gone? No. Am I holding my breath waiting for him to go? No.

Like Sis said, if he had pneumonia, he'd be dead by now. We're at our wits' end. Our last reserve is to tell him Mom would be disappointed in his behavior, she'd want him to take care of his health and go to Urgent Care. But if that doesn't work, and somehow I doubt it will, we're out of options.

I simply do not understand his attitude. He's usually very good about going to the doctor. He is also not usually a selfish, inconsiderate beast. Really, his behavior is almost more worrying than his mystery illness.

Reply #368. Apr 27 23, 12:55 PM

Dagny1

Oh, no, sorry to hear the latest.

Reply #369. Apr 27 23, 1:09 PM

postcards2go

I hope he comes around soon. Urgent care might be able to give him something to ease his symptoms, making him feel better. And... maybe not, but at least see if there is something they can do.

Difficult for you and your sister. My sympathies.

Reply #370. Apr 27 23, 1:43 PM

MiraJane

I was going to suggest what the nurse did: allergies. Even people who normally don't get spri g allergies are suffering this year. For those of us with allergies, this year is the worst I remember.

Cat, we didn't have much of a winter in this area this year. There were only a few snowstorms and the one or two that dropped enough snow to notice, the snow melted soon after arriving. The trees, grasses, weeds, shrubbery, etc. never went into a deep winter sleep. Then we had freak summer like weather right after Easter and all the plants wen "Yay! We've been storing up pollen and other breeding stuff for six months ths! Let's throw it all out there now!"

Every time it rains, the pollown washes I to the air. And the plants are so overly happy at getting water they burst forth with more pollen to toss our way. It's the botanical equivalent of the Indian Diwali celebrations. There they toss powder of many colors at each other. Now we have plants of all kind tossing pollen at us.

Reply #371. Apr 27 23, 1:59 PM

Catreona

Update: He is, supposedly, going tomorrow. Couldn't go this afternoon because Sis had an appointment and he, very sensibly, wants her with him. Knowing this, I feel somewhat easier in my mind.

Reply #372. Apr 27 23, 4:00 PM

Catreona

Mira, that is a great explanation. Thanks. I hadn't understood the reason for the prevalence and severity of allergies this year. Now I do. We got pretty much the same weather you did, of course. So Dad's illness might be allergies after all, I suppose. In any case, there may be some solid news to report tomorrow...maybe.

Hope you feel better soon, my friend. ♥

Reply #373. Apr 27 23, 5:29 PM

Catreona

After much shilly shallying, Dad decided to send his primary care doctor a message. He did that mid afternoon, sending a full account of his symptoms etc. The doctor's office replied late in the afternoon. The long and the short of the reply was, "Contact us again on Monday."

ARG!

Reply #374. Apr 28 23, 5:37 PM

MiraJane

Now all you and Sis have to do is to get Dad to get in touch with doctor's office early on Monday, 10 to 11am sounds like a good time.

Reply #375. Apr 29 23, 11:02 PM

Catreona

Sorry for no updates for a few days. Dad is feeling much better and his congestion is almost completely gone.

He never did contact the doctor's office again. Didn't seem to be much point.

Thanks, everybody, for all the concern.

Reply #376. May 04 23, 1:36 PM

VBookWorm

I'm very glad for you and your dad! Hopefully soon all the bad stuff will be completely gone.

Reply #377. May 04 23, 1:54 PM

Catreona

Thanks, Val!

Today's update is that Dad is feeling so much better, he is definitely going to call the doctor's office Monday to reschedule his surgery. Things are looking up. /keeping fingers crossed/

Reply #378. May 06 23, 3:50 PM

VBookWorm

Is it the bladder cancer surgery that your father is rescheduling, Cat? Whatever the surgery is, I'll be sure to pray it goes well.

P.S. How do you post those little hearts?

Reply #379. May 06 23, 10:00 PM

Catreona

Well, Val, first of all, thanks very much for your prayers. I've found that prayer really does a world of good.

Today Dad actually called the doctor's office, so the process is underway again. I'll post when details become available.

As I understand it, there are three separate procedures in view: Destroying or otherwise removing a large and nasty bladder stone, exploratory surgery looking for bladder cancer and "a prostate operation". He's pretty vague about that last one, but it has something to do with relieving the pressure on the urinary tract, pressure that, as you may imagine, causes all sorts of discomfort and difficulties.

Reply #380. May 09 23, 1:47 PM

629 replies. On page 19 of 32 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

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