Author Topic: My Dad's Situation, "At Rehab" UPDATE! (Read 92042 times)

bill440cars · « **Reply #1425 on:** July 19, 2011, 08:56:47 PM »

Well folks, my Dad was 86yrs old, on the 16th of this month. He is still with us and was doing pretty well, all things considered. Karla had just had a hysterectomy on Friday and we didn't get to take my Dad out to eat for his Birthday, til today. He is slowing up some and just the trip from his apartment, to the car, put a strain on him. I had thought that even fairly short walks, was starting to have to have more of an effect on him. I think it will be a good idea ro get him back in for a checkover by the doc. Maybe it is the heat, but I haven't had him OUT in it very much at all. I was afraid of the toll it might have on him. Soon as I know something, I'll pass it on. You all take care and try not to get overheated.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1426 on:** July 21, 2011, 05:31:14 AM »

Well, I was all primed up to go to Kansas to get the '72 SL350 I just got, until yesterday evening, when I went over to take care of my Dad. His blood sugar was up to 239 and was about 260, before I could get it to start back down. So, I put off that trip, til I can be more sure of him being okay. Getting ready to go back over to his assisted living apartment, to see how he is doing.

my78k · « **Reply #1427 on:** July 21, 2011, 10:20:06 AM »

Hey Bill, hopefully he will do better once the heat breaks! Keep us in the loop...

Dennis

bill440cars · « **Reply #1428 on:** July 21, 2011, 10:24:28 AM »

Quote from: my78k on July 21, 2011, 10:20:06 AM

Hey Bill, hopefully he will do better once the heat breaks! Keep us in the loop...

Dennis

Hey Dennis

Sure hope so, it makes me nervous to see the changes in him. Bad thing is, as far as the heat goes, we've still got August, after we get through July. $:-\$ I'll keep you all posted, as to his condition. Thanks again Dennis, Bill

bill440cars · « **Reply #1429 on:** July 21, 2011, 08:34:26 PM »

Well, my Dad had to go to the E.R. this evening, because of shortness of breath. There, it was determined that he had pneumonia in his right lung. Amazing how much time you can spend, when you go to the E.R., we had been there since nearly 6PM and have just now got home. We have no clue how long he will be in there. I'm just glad I put off that trip and was available. Undates, as I get them. Got to get some rest now.

dhall57 · « **Reply #1430 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:11:44 PM »

Bill, Take care of your Dad and spend has much time with him as you can, the bikes aren't important right now they can wait. Your should feel so lucky and blessed to have your Dad in your life for all these years and hope it will be many more.

dhall

bill440cars · « **Reply #1431 on:** July 22, 2011, 04:34:41 PM »

Quote from: dhall57 on July 22, 2011, 03:11:44 PM

Bill, Take care of your Dad and spend has much time with him as you can, the bikes aren't important right now they can wait. Your should feel so lucky and blessed to have your Dad in your life for all these years and hope it will be many more.

dhall

Thanks for that, I plan to keep him going as long as possible. I took him to the Barber Museum last October, but we didn't get to see as much as we would like to have and now, I am hoping to get him back down there this year and really do it up right. I don't have any idea when I can get him out of there, I am just trying to keep him pacified, while he is there. Everytime that I get him to talking motorcycles, he forgets about everything else and he tells some pretty interesting stuff.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1432 on:** July 23, 2011, 11:14:46 AM »

We just got back from visiting my Dad and he was in such a state, when we got there! He had it in his head that they came an got him and PUT him there and HE was going home. He thought he had no business there. But, I told him exactly when he got there and why. And he took it all in and accepted it and he felt alot better and SO did I. Sure hope they get this wound up soon. I'm supposed to get more info on how he's progressing and a possible release date, this afternoon. Catch you later on, Bill

bill440cars · « **Reply #1433 on:** July 24, 2011, 10:38:07 AM »

Just thought I'd update, for those interested:

Talked to the nurse today, he is progressing well, but they still have some antibiotics and treatments to give him. Then, in 2 days, they will do another chest xray and see how things look then. His attitude is alot better. Today and has not been any trouble since I fully explained that had happened and what they were going to have to do about it. Sure glad that he isn't to the point of being hard to deal with and I hope it doesn't come to that, for his sake and mine.

jtb · « **Reply #1434 on:** July 24, 2011, 05:10:33 PM »

HOpe he comes home soon, Bill. Good that you were able to make him understand why he's there. Stay cool, man.

John

bill440cars · « **Reply #1435 on:** July 24, 2011, 08:12:57 PM »

Quote from: jtb on July 24, 2011, 05:10:33 PM

HOpe he comes home soon, Bill. Good that you were able to make him understand why he's there. Stay cool, man.

John

Hey John, good to hear from you. Yes,he is ready to leave yesterday. LOL. I was there today, when the doctor made his rounds and he said that my Dad is progressing well and could be going home in the next day or 2. Yes, Dad is ready. There HAVE BEEN times that he didn't accept explanations that easily, but fortunately, he did this time. Dad says he still remembers us meeting you at the Cracker Barrel with the Jawa engine too. Have a good one John. Hope to see you at Barber this year.

DarkRider · « **Reply #1436 on:** July 25, 2011, 07:54:09 PM »

Glad to hear your dad is doing alright bill! Any update on the S&S situation? I havent had a chance to scroll back through this thread yet since im just now getting around to being on the comp more often lol. Been spending a lot of this summer working and riding.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1437 on:** July 26, 2011, 02:34:25 AM »

Quote from: DarkRider on July 25, 2011, 07:54:09 PM

Glad to hear your dad is doing alright bill! Any update on the S&S situation? I havent had a chance to scroll back through this thread yet since im just now getting around to being on the comp more often lol. Been spending a lot of this summer working and riding.

Hey Chris, good to know you are still out there. Yeah, my Dad is doing okay now. He has had quite a run with this pneumonia thing. He might get released tomorrow and if not, it should be soon for sure. He just turned 86yrs old on the 16th of July and wants to make it to 90, at least.
S & S are still around. I'm sad to say that, after I lost Brenda, it has taken me quite a while to get back on that and finish them off. Had so much going on and took a while to try to get my head on straight again, you know? I did finally get another lien release from Chrysler Financial and got a clear title in my Dad's name. Now, I need to get it set up in both of our names, like I did the Dakota (I've had the Dakota for awhile and had to get the Trans & Transfer rebuilt in it)

I hope to get things lined out, get that van out of there and then the lawyer will serve the eviction notice. Soon as that place is vacated, it will get cleaned out and cleaned up and put up for sale.

But uyeah, my Dad is doing well and progressing nicely. Things work out, we will be at the Barber Museum in Oct, for the weekend.

Thanks for asking.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1438 on:** July 26, 2011, 12:51:04 PM »

We just got back from the hospital and 2 things are becoming apparent and we will have to change to be able to deal with those 2 things. For one thing, there is concern that my dad is slipping into something like Alzheimer's (from what I was told, about the way he is acting). I have to admit that I had noticed some time back, that things I would tell him, didn't stick very long and sometimes, right after I would answer a question with detail explanation, he would ask the same thing again. He has commented that he didn't know where he was and there is concern about his living in that "Assisted Living " apartment and being able to go outside, without anyone realizing it and something happen. So, that is going to have to be addressed and It didn't even dawn on me that he could possibly do that (which makes me feel bad). Secondly, they did what is called a "Swallow Study" this morning, to see if it might be possible to get him OFF of using the thickener with his drinks. NOW, it has been learned that not only can he not come off of that, test showed that everything he eats, has to be of a "Pudding" consistency. We stayed there for his lunch, as it was his 1st experience of this kind and he was not comfortable with it, but I kept talking and trying to explain why it had to be that way OR he would end up with the same problem and come right back into the hospital. I felt so sorry for him when he was trying to eat that stuff and wanted something to drink, because his water was thick like pudding.

We're going back just before Supper and I hope to be able to keep encouraging him to keep at it. At Lunch, he kept telling me "Don't Get Old."

So, as it stands NOW, I have to make sure that he will be checked on frequently and that his meals, including his drink, are of a "Pudding" Consistency. It's hard for him to make these changes, but I am there encouraging him to try and he is trying. This will change the way we do things and make things uncomfortable for him and difficult for us to deal with as well. I felt so sorry for him today, eating his 1st meal this way.

onagd · « **Reply #1439 on:** July 26, 2011, 02:00:30 PM »

Hi Bill, Hang in there buddy. My prayers go out to you for strength to manage the situation with your Dad, and for a your Dad to understand and accept the help being given to him by all who are there to do just that.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1440 on:** July 26, 2011, 05:00:27 PM »

Quote from: onagd on July 26, 2011, 02:00:30 PM

Hi Bill, Hang in there buddy. My prayers go out to you for strength to manage the situation with your Dad, and for a your Dad to understand and accept the help being given to him by all who are there to do just that.

Thanks,I definitely appreciate that. I AM glad that he realizes that I'm not just sticking him someplace for the heck of it.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #1441 on:** July 26, 2011, 10:26:56 PM »

Hope all goes well with your Pop Bill, and him getting back out soon.
Hopefully you will be able to get up to Kansas to pick up that bike too.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1442 on:** July 27, 2011, 02:49:19 AM »

Quote from: Industrial-sized Dukiedook on July 26, 2011, 10:26:56 PM

Hope all goes well with your Pop Bill, and him getting back out soon.
Hopefully you will be able to get up to Kansas to pick up that bike too.

I appreciate that, some kind of getting things back to normal, WOULD be good to see. Gotta get things back in line, where my Dad is concerned.

And it will be nice to get that SL down here and have that to mess with.

Thanks for posting.

Hope things are well with you.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1443 on:** July 27, 2011, 07:45:47 PM »

Well, not only does my Dad have to keep using thickener in his drinks, he also has to use it in his foods too and thick as pudding now. He isn't happy about it, but I keep reminding him that I feel for him and that he needs to do it or he will end up back in the hospital for the same reason. So far, he's trying.Also, he WILL be leaving the hospital and going back to his apartment, but he has to go and get some rehab therapy 1st. He had gotten to where he couldn't go very far, without stopping and resting. He is leaving the hospital tomorrow and going to another location for the therapy and then will be released back to his apartment.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #1444 on:** July 28, 2011, 01:41:51 AM »

Quote from: bill440cars on July 27, 2011, 07:45:47 PM

He had gotten to where he couldn't go very far, without stopping and resting. He is leaving the hospital tomorrow and going to another location for the therapy and then will be released back to his apartment.

My pops would get winded after a 1/4 mile hike to see a hospital attendee last Thanksgiving in Phoenix.

He complained about being winded then, but wanted to drive back home to OK to see his doctors about his shortness of breath. I guess conjestive heart failure shows more symptoms when it is time to be bi-pedal for more than a few minutes.

That visit after he got home was kind of BS, they gave him lacex and waited until he started dumping off fluids, (pissing) but other than that gave no real instructions as to what to do other than take meds. Said they would keep him overnight if he didn't start pissing off some fluids. At age 84.75 I think they kind of think he's theirs to kill, and no effort you contribute will change the fact that they will have him and his insurance bennies back soon. I asked about treating the symptoms he displayed, really got no reccomendations or advice from the physicians, just sort of an agreement that yes, his ankles will bleed from fluid retention, etc.

Hope back to the apartment is a reality . Once My pops was wheeled back in and put on a respirator, I had a bad feeling he would never come back home. He did have a few good days that had me thinking otherwise, but the siblings weren't into that. He was worth more dead to them, not just estate but they seem to plan on erasing everything , like tens of thousands they borrowed in the last decade or so.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1445 on:** July 28, 2011, 06:30:15 AM »

Quote from: tree fiddy of industry on July 28, 2011, 01:41:51 AM

Quote from: bill440cars on July 27, 2011, 07:45:47 PM

He had gotten to where he couldn't go very far, without stopping and resting. He is leaving the hospital tomorrow and going to another location for the therapy and then will be released back to his apartment.

My pops would get winded after a 1/4 mile hike to see a hospital attendee last Thanksgiving in Phoenix.

He complained about being winded then, but wanted to drive back home to OK to see his doctors about his shortness of breath. I guess conjestive heart failure shows more symptoms when it is time to be bi-pedal for more than a few minutes.

That visit after he got home was kind of BS, they gave him lacex and waited until he started dumping off fluids, (pissing) but other than that gave no real instructions as to what to do other than take meds. Said they would keep him overnight if he didn't start pissing off some fluids. At age 84.75 I think they kind of think he's theirs to kill, and no effort you contribute will change the fact that they will have him and his insurance bennies back soon. I asked about treating the symptoms he displayed, really got no reccomendations or advice from the physicians, just sort of an agreement that yes, his ankles will bleed from fluid retention, etc.

Hope back to the apartment is a reality . Once My pops was wheeled back in and put on a respirator, I had a bad feeling he would never come back home. He did have a few good days that had me thinking otherwise, but the siblings weren't into that. He was worth more dead to them, not just estate but they seem to plan on erasing everything , like tens of thousands they borrowed in the last decade or so.

Sure hate to hear about YOUR situation. Basically, we have our OWN version though it is mainly between Me and my (so called) brother, who wanted to put him in a nursing home back a few years ago and take everything he had, which would put Me out of everything. BUT, as most of you all know, we managed to turn things around and have my Dad in an "Assisted Living" apartment and we take him out to eat, out for Holidays and to cars shows and such. He has had a pretty rough time himself. He IS getting to the point to where his memory (short term, at 1st) is really flaky and has gradually been getting worse. worse, for some time. The hospital was ready to strongly suggest pitting him in a more secure place because of that short term memory, but when the Lady who runs the Assisted Living Retirement Home showed up yesterday, she told them that he'd been like that for some time and had never been a problem and accepted him back to there. So, the hospital backed off. There concern was that he didn't know exactly where he was and couldn't answer some of THEIR questions. BUT, he could tell them where his HOME is (even though, sadly, we won't be moving back there. He seems to understand and accept that though, as he KNOWS that my brother is nearby there and he does NOT want to see him. So, time goes on.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1446 on:** July 30, 2011, 03:53:23 PM »

Yep, he's out of the hospital and Now at a Rehab, to see if he can be gotten back up to where he can function again, with hi walker. On top of that, he is having to try to accept that he has to have his drinks, soups, etc, thickened to "Pudding" Consistency. I really feel for him, when he asks for a a drink and gets that stuff.

bill440cars · « **Reply #1447 on:** August 02, 2011, 09:02:01 PM »

My Dad has been having alot of heartburn and he is still having it at the rehab. I mentioned, yesterday to the Nurse, that this has really gotten bad, since he was put on this thickener and today, she worked with the dietician there and they found that there were 2 or 3 ingredients in that thickener, that cause a reaction for my Dad. They are going to start early tomorrow and try to come up with something that will work, but I was advised tonight that, IF it comes to it and IF he IS a candidate, he might well end up with a feeding tube in his stomach. That has really gotten me down and I am Praying they come up with another solution.

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Author Topic: My Dad's Situation, "At Rehab" UPDATE! (Read 92042 times)