10/5/10 2:00 am Well, one step forward, two steps back. Bob is in Vanderbilt in cardiac ICU. We came here today around 1:30 when he continued to have trouble catching his breath. His blood ox level was extremely low when we arrived. Of coarse it took a while to tell them the whole story and some didn’t get it even then. I brought the post surgery reports from Dr. Roselli and Dr. Pettersson. One of the ER Drs. told us he was having or had a heart attack because his EKG showed a left branch bundle block! Scared us!! I immediately called Dr. Roselli and he said it was doubtful. That it is not uncommon to show that block after a major heart surgery and it usually will clear up during the healing process. He felt like the issue was fluid still. So, what it has come down to is fluid around his lungs. They started oxygen and treatment with 80mg of Lasix in the ER, he has been on 40 mg post surgery at home. They did a CT scan, blood work, EKG, an echo cardiogram…..etc. Everything looks good except the fluid. His b/ox level is good as long as he is on oxygen but as soon as he isn’t it drops very low. Up here in the ICU the Drs. want to do a Thoracentesis, or a needle aspiration of the fluid. They’ll check for blood and/or infection and just relieve some of the pressure. They checked his INR and it is 4.4. Too high for a procedure. They ordered 4 units of plasma to bring the INR down before talking with us. When I heard this I told them that Bob was jaundiced in Cleveland after 3 units and his liver enzymes were elevated for 24 hrs. They decided to treat with more Lasix and call Cleveland later today to get more info on the jaundice and liver enzymes. Good plan! So here we are again. Hoping and praying that this guy gets well soon and doesn’t have to go through any more. I ran home at 10:00 pm to let Jaxon out, he didn’t want me to leave, then came back. Bobs brother Tom is still coming in later today. Doesn’t look like much sleep tonight, Bob is dozing off and on but we are both mostly awake. Wish us luck and keep the prayers up!!!
10/5/10 10:00 am The cardiac team came to see us this morning. They have decided to take the slow and easy route with Bobs treatment. We are on board 100% with that idea. He will be there a couple of days while they treat with lasix. If he doesn't respond they will bring in a lung specialist but there is no reasonn right now to think he won't respond. I came home to catch some sleep before Tom arrives this afternoon. Bob is comfortable and stable right now so we shall just wait this out and hope he gets to sleep in his bed again soon!
