Joe was in the ER

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HI Marybeth-

By the way congratulations on your new granddaughter. I love the name.

We heard from the PCP, who has scheduled additional tests on Dec. 31, and I have a call in to the cardio. They both spoke yesterday, so I have to get any additional med orders for today and beyond.

It must not be too terrible a kidney failure, or they would have been all over it. But he is symptomatic.

I should know more later today.
 
Hi Nancy!
Please keep us updated as to how Joe is doing. You both have been through so much. I hope everything turns out OK. I'm thinking of both you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Take Care!
Gail
 
Oh Nancy.... I was so sorry to read about everything that is happening right now to Joe. I wish I was as good as you are in writing just the right words at the right moment. Just know that you are both in my prayers right now. I be praying that with God's help the answers you need will be supplied in a very timely manner. Take care!!:)

Julia
 
I brought Joe back to the ER today, on the request of his PCP. He really hasn't been feeling too well, SOB again and nauseous, weak and fatigued.

They're going to keep him overnight to do some more testing. His initial tests showed some kidney malfunction, and he also has congestive heart failure with fluid buildup in a lot of organs, plus his pulmonary hypertension is pretty bad.

It's really going to be quite a balancing act to keep his kidneys happy while they try to eliminate the fluid. Better he should be in the hospital where they can monitor him.

There is a pulmonary hypertension specialist at Albany Medical Center, perhaps we can get in to see him. He usually treats primary pulmonary hypertension, and Joe's is secondary to his heart problems, but you never know until you try all avenues.

I'll know tomorrow just what is to be done.

Thanks all,
 
Nancy,
I'm glad Joe is where they can keep a close eye on him. He couldn't have a better advocate than you, and I really hope they can figure this out in short order so Joe can get his hands on those cookies you've been baking!

Sending you big hugs and wishes for the best possible outcome for Joe.

--John
 
Nancy & Joe

We are with you. We pray that our guardian angel can take a few minutes from our care and join both of you while you climb another hill.

God Bless!

John & Joann
 
Thinking of you both

Thinking of you both

Nancy, hang in there, and give our thoughts to Joe. I'll be hoping for a speedy resolution here.

All my best.
 
Here's a quicky update as to what's happening today.

Joe's heart enzymes are elevated into the heart attack range. We cannot pinpoint a specific incident which would be any indication of a heart attack. It's very puzzling. They did the test 3-4 times, it all came back the same. The cardiologist also said that it could indicate that something might be about to happen. And I know there are silent heart attacks.

They're going to give him a nuclear stress test this afternoon. Maybe that will shed some light

His primary care physician is also involved from his prespective and is looking for the big picture which might explain lots of peculiar things that have happened.

Heart problems can happen very fast to you guys, Victor, are you listening??? All of you, pay attention and if you are having symptoms, get to the hospital pronto. It could mean the difference between life or death. If we had waited to go to the hospital, Joe might not have had a chance. He didn't have anything overt, just a general feeling of being unwell.

Have to go back there now. Talk to you later. Thanks for all your good wishes. Keep praying.
 
Nancy,

Please stay strong and may God look over both Joe and yourself in your time of need.

Rich
 
Oh Nancy, I'm so sorry to hear that Joe isn't feeling better. It is a good thing that you took him to the hospital right away. You are here so often to help out everyone else, we will all be here, to help you and Joe, when you need it. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. If you get a chance, please keep us informed on how you both are doing.

Take Care!
Gail
 
Nancy, when we don't hear we know that all isn't well with Joe. This is the first place I checked this morning to see the latest and you are not here so I am worried - as others will be when they check in. Just want you to know I have you both in my sincere prayers. Love - Ann
 
geeezz, too much. can we say a little prayer--enough already!

God give you strength when you need it, and peace when you need it.
 
Here's the latest update-

When Joe is in the hospital, I try to be there by 7AM. That's so I can be there when the doctor's rounds begin. He had the first part of the stress test yesterday and the second this morning. I guess they will be reading it by this afternoon.

Yesterday, they did not give him any Lasix, probably because his kidney function was showing stress. So today, he has a few rales and that dry cough and a little feeling of congestion, plus he gained a pound overnight without eating too much yesterday. They will be starting again with the Lasix, but only 40mg, once a day. It's really too low to do much good, but they want to see what happens, and will increase it from there. It's going to be difficult to keep all of his little organs happy, since CHF and impaired kidneys don't get along very well. His liver, spleen and stomach still look a little sowllen to me as well.

Regarding the heart enzymes, I just don't know what that means. The docs don't seem to think it's an actual heart attack, but they are reserving judgement until the test results come back.

Joe's spirits aren't too bad and he's getting mean and nasty about going home. Today, I told him that he'd have to hitch, because I wouldn't drive him. I want him to get as much testing as they can possibly manage, so we don't have to be doing this every couple of weeks.

If there aren't any abnormalities in the stress test, I think he'll be home tomorrow.

It's going to be a matter of carefully balancing his medications, possibly with frquent kidney bloodwork and maybe we can get to see a pulmonary hypertension specialist in the near future to get his ideas.

Going back to the hospital.
 
Dear Nancy-
good thoughts to you and Joe. Tell those docs to get the story sorted, Joe needs to be home for Christmas!

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
-Mara
 
Hey Perry Mason....

Hey Perry Mason....

...,alias Mara, --the trouble maker.

You said it for me, THX!

Hang in there Joe and Nancy, put your spirit to the test!

God Bless all

tic, ..tic, ...tic.......................
:)
 
Hi Everybody-

Thanks for all your kind words and prayers.

Joe will be home tonight. His nuclear scan is normal, just a little impediment in some of the wall motion, probably from the surgeries he's had, but nothing major. The cardiologists feel that nothing is related to his valves, all seem to be working OK.

They do not think his elevated heart enzymes meant a heart attack in his case, probably from the kidney failure.

He is very anemic which has exacerbated everything, so he's getting "pint" and after that he should be feeling better and will be sprung from the hospital. It'll take all day.

The rest of the problems will mean tweaking his meds and trying to keep his heart and kidneys on the same page, which won't be easy.

I'm very glad we went when we did, because everything was seriously out of whack chemistry-wise; kidney function, CHF, anemia, lots of fluid on board in the liver, spleen and stomach area. If we had waited, maybe something would have crashed and brought the whole house of cards down.

He's got some appts. coming up with his hematologist, PCP and there will probably be a follow-up with his card. We also will be thinking about seeing the pulmonary hypertension specialist in the near future. We're also thinking about getting a workup at Cleveland Clinic as a possibility, since there doesn't seem to be any definitive one thing to point a finger at. Maybe I'm always looking for an exact answer. I guess I can be too pragmatic, and parts of medicine are truly inexact, much as we would have it be different.

His doctors are excellent and Joe is extremely complicated.

Donna-

Joe had terrific nursing and other care while in the hospital. It was really a pleasure. Only bad thing was, don't ever order a fish dinner while hospitalized. It could seriously compromise your health. LOL:p It's worse than green jello.

I also found out that the hospital has a "hidden menu" for folks who hate their food. It gives a little more variety, and will allow you to order off the menu a little. Something to ask about when you're hospitalized.

So we'll have a Merry Christmas after all.
 
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Nancy,
I want to second your idea for an evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic (the Mayo Clinic is also excellent for multi-disciplinary evalutaions). With all Joe has been through, a medical "team approach" may be very useful at determining the inter-relationships of his various conditions and medications. Also, a different set of doctors may have a fresher view as opposed to those who have been seeing him for a long time.

I wish I could send you a magic wand to fix these problems!

Thinking of you,
--John
 
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Hi Nancy

Hi Nancy

Tell Joe I'm glad he's home and eat lots of those yummy cookies you baked. Bonnie
 
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