April 12, 2006 

April 12, 2006

Hello all, I am sorry this is so late in updating. As I am sure some of you realized we could not get into the blog lately. Computer coffee break. So, here is the update. A feeding tube has been put into place to allow his esphogus to heal. Due to the mass amount of radiation a lot of damage was done . He went to see the ENT people about his vocal cord not working well and they said they can do a procedure to help him with that. His osteoperosis is taking a toll on him as well and he is shrinking soem what but is being treated for that with Phosemax and calcium medication.
On 4/9/06 Dad has been diagnosed with a rare virus called CMV from the herpes family. He is on medication for that and to top it all off he got pneumonia. He is taking heavy duty penicillin for both of these and is responding well to this treatment. He is able to take one of his medicines with water and no morphine with no pain. Yeah! He is being fed with his tube and that is going well. Of course he is very tired from tests adn treatments but he is holding up well. On Monday 0/10/06 he was diagnosed with permenate lung damage due to the radiation treatment so it has been decided he will use an oxygen tank from now on to assist him in breathing. He is coughing up no sputum adn is on IV antibiotics still for his pnuemonia and the virus. His espohogus is slowly clearing up and he is still tolerating the feeding tube well. His blood pressure on that day was 120/79 and his O2 level was 97% with 3 liters of oxygen. That is good on both counts. He is still taking demacacycline orally but on this day it was with morphine. The vocal procedure was put off until Tuesday so he could rest a little more. He has a great doctor, Dr. Cooper, who is working closely wiht Mom and is she is nto comfortable with something then it does not happen and he explains everything to her until she understands. I am grateful for that.
Now, I talked to Mom last night, April 11, 2006 and here goes the newest update. Dad is on O2 for good at this time due to his lung damage from the radiation treatment.; the virus and pneumonia are getting more under control; he needed morphine wiht his medication and he is sleeping alot. Now you all know how my Dad is if someone is talking about him with him sitting there and not to him or maybe you don't. Anyway, those ENT turkeys decided they wanted to discuss the procedure while they were doing it to him. He only had teh area numbed so was awake for the entire thing. When it was done he let them no in NO uncertani terms that was not a good thing adn went up one side of them and down the other. He heard everything! I am sure they will not make that mistake again. =) He is ambulatory with 97% oxygen and his vitals are good and stable. There is no news of the prognosis from the vocal procedure but he tolerated it well and is now sleeping. But Dad heals when he sleeps is what Mom says so sleep is good for him right now.I will right more later.
God Bless... Connie