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Post by lildee on Aug 28, 2005 22:05:30 GMT -5
Writing you to let you know what's going on here. Friday hubby went out to Long Island to see his sponsor and do some 4th step work. Which was a good thing. It was a 50 miles drive each way. Anyway to make a long story short ... he got home and his leg felt sore and swollen. He thought it was from the long drive. So we massaged it and so on. Any way the next day it was a little better. But I was still concerned. Today he woke up and the numbness was spreading and there was some pain near the ankle. So I scooted him off to the hospital. Sure enough there is a major problem. He has a huge blood clot in his leg. (The doctors were shocked at how big it is, it takes up half his leg.) Anyway there is two routes of therapy to follow with this condition. Either surgery or blood thinning drugs. Well after multiple tests and so on they decided that surgery was out of the question. There is just too much vein involved to remove it. So the surgery would just be too risky. So right now he is in the hospital on major blood thinners. He will be in the hospital at least 5 days if not more depending on his condition. If the blood thinners present a problem they can insert a filter in another vein just incase the clot decides to break off and travel to another part of the body thus preventing a stoke, heart attack or the possibility of death depending where it lodges. So the idea is to keep up the blood thinners at high doses for at least six months, and with the will of God, the body will heal itself.
So I am going to be super busy running back and forth to the hospital so forgive me if you don't see me around much. Your prayers would be welcomed during the next few critical days until the clot stabilizes.
Love & God Bless
Arlene
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Post by MrDuck on Aug 29, 2005 6:26:07 GMT -5
Morning to you,
I am not trying to make light of the situtaion. But maybe it is a blessing in disguise. Thought I read a while back where you said hubby was using. This clogging in the leg, being in the hospital and follow therapy might just be the added incinative that he needs to stay straight. At least it sounds like they caught it in time to do something about it.
Wish both of you the best.
Ron
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Post by ChrisK on Aug 29, 2005 7:27:41 GMT -5
Arlene,
keepin you and your husband in my prayers
hugs
Chris
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Post by dg on Aug 29, 2005 10:45:26 GMT -5
Hi Lildee,
You both have my prayers and hope that the meds clears up this serious thing going on.
I know with all these new med technology on working with clots and things surrounding that stuff, they arer trying to do whats best for his situation.
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Post by caressa on Aug 29, 2005 10:46:31 GMT -5
God Bless and be with you both.
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Post by ~graced~ on Aug 29, 2005 15:52:35 GMT -5
((((((((lildee, hubby and family))))))))))
What a scary moment in time. And like Ron, I hope for him to see this as an opportunity. Life is too precious to be playing Russian Roulette with it.
*sending healing thoughts and prayers*
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Post by Lin on Aug 30, 2005 17:41:53 GMT -5
Still praying for you and yours. Let us know how things are going.
{{{{hugs}}}}LIN
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Post by lildee on Aug 31, 2005 17:34:31 GMT -5
Today is Wed. and hubby has been in the hospital since Sun. The doctors have pretty much ruled out doing any surgery because the blood clot in his leg is "just too big". ( They would half to remove half the vein in his leg and there are just too many risk factors.) So we are following the slow simple route with blood thinners and the will of God to heal this thing up. Right now they are trying to get the blood thinners up to a certain blood level before he can be released on oral medication.
Hopefully this will be a wake up call for him. His drug of choice cocaine does constrict the blood vessels, so for him to go out and use is a death sentence. He is also on the patch to quit smoking (another addiction that constricts the blood vessels.) This hospitalization has given him lots of time to reflect on his life and what is really important.
This whole brush with death has made the whole family a lot closer and understanding and appreciative of each other. We had been having trouble with our younger one even remotely accepting anything about his addiction but now she is open and talking and brought back into the world. She made the most amazing poster for her dad. The entire board was filled with pictures of the family and the good things we've done together. Everyone who sees it is in awe. My other daughter sketched an angel and on the poster it says something like "On the wings of angels our prayers are brought to God." It has been a dramatic wake up call for everyone.
It has rekindled family ties even outside of our immediate family. We have gotten closer to his sister and cousins who have been out of the picture for a while.
Phone calls and cards are coming in from all across the country and that is a good thing.
I want to thank all of you for your prayers and concerns. We are both truly blessed to have such a loving families both in our fellowships and our home. Thank you all for being there and sharing your love and hope.
Love & God Bless
lildee
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Post by mrsspanish on Sept 1, 2005 0:00:18 GMT -5
arlene
prayers are with you and your hubby
doris
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Post by ~graced~ on Sept 1, 2005 9:38:47 GMT -5
AWEsome things can come out of tough circumstances, lildee--I'm glad some of those are finding their way to you and yours.
Heck of a wake-up call--but it's somewhat familiar. It takes what it takes, ya know?
((((((((((Arlene)))))))
Be taking care of you.
......and prayers to you and yours.
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Post by dg on Sept 1, 2005 14:30:43 GMT -5
HI Arlene,
Good to see the post today as you all have been in our prayers and thoughts daily wondering if your hubby is doing ok.
Each day is a day of healing for each one of you.
So glad that younger daughter is finally opening up and that you guys are able to "talk". I think this is HP way of building the bridges to your family thru this "unfortuane" crisis.
Anyways May God continue to watch over you and continue to keep the hubby healing to better health.
Take care.. and hugs.
((((you and family)))))
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Post by lildee on Sept 1, 2005 20:46:11 GMT -5
Thursday update...
Well late last night (Wed.) they decided to move hubby out of ICU to a regular floor. Should be a good thing but addicts have a way of over reacting to change. Guess it's part of the obsessive personality. Anyway the change went really poorly. He was causing a ruckus cursing and scared to death because he didn't know what was going on. (Just shows you how little he understands about his ailment ... not even knowing he was in an ICU unit!) Anyway after a bunch of phone calls at one in the morning, I finally got a nurse to calm him down and explain what was going on. Along with this lovely blood clot he is having problems maintaining a constant blood pressure. Sometimes it goes really low and then if something bothers him it skyrockets. All connected to circulation and the clot. Had to do a lot of 12 Stepping on this one.
Well after the night I had no idea what to expect when I walked into the room today. Things were much better. The girls and I set him up so he felt a little more comfortable and putting things where he could get to them. It's hard for him to move around dragging a Heparin drip infusion with him. So it went a lot better today for all of us. At lunch in the hospital cafeteria they had a desert cooking show and there was also some shoe sales on display. So it broke up the monotony of the day. Everyone was in a lot better frame of mind.
Tomorrow I am going to go late to the hospital... I have to take the kids for school supplies .... school starts here the day after Labor Day.
As for me well last night was difficult. It was hard to hear the anger and discouragement, and fear in his voice. I found myself nervous and fretting and worried about what was going on at the hospital. (Maybe because I know too much about hospitals since this is my trade.) I feared that he was going to throw an embolism with his ranting and ravings. But somehow somewhere God gave me the strength to dig down and calm this crazy man down. It really is amazing how I have learned to draw on God's power to get me through some really tough situations. (Looking skywards... Thanking the Big Guy upstairs for this one). I have also learned just how contagious an attitude can be. If your walking around with a chip on your shoulder that negative attitude can get passed on to everyone around you. It is good to know that I don't have to accept someone else's negative attitude and spread a much more more positive attitude.
As far as coming home , hubby was originally thinking maybe Thursday or Friday.... well that isn't going to happen. His heparin blood levels haven't gone up. The doctors are looking for at least a level of 2.0 before they even consider letting him out. (Right now he is stuck at a blood level of 1.1 which isn't budging). Time patience and the will of God.
Will keep you all updated as things progress. Thanks for your prayers.
Love you all and God Bless
Arlene
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Post by dg on Sept 1, 2005 21:38:26 GMT -5
Thanks again for the update, as usual.. I am praying..
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Post by Lin on Sept 2, 2005 17:00:16 GMT -5
Me too...still praying and waiting for word that he's home and on the mend,.
{{{hugs{}}}
LIN
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Post by caressa on Sept 2, 2005 22:11:39 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing and keep us updated. Endorse yourself for recognizing what is yours and what is not. He is where he is as a result of choices made and you can be supportive but you don't have to take on or direct his recovery, he is responsible for himself.
My prayers are with you and yours, and wish God's blessings on you all.
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Post by lildee on Sept 3, 2005 20:28:45 GMT -5
Saturday update....
Well today was a relatively good day. I had to run around in the morning and fill my prescriptions and pick up a few things along the way , then off to the hospital.
Last night (Fri.) the same nurse was on from Wed. So hubby was all flustered about getting his meds and so on. So I had to teach him to be his own advocate. To stand up for what you know is right. He is supposed to get his Coumadin (blood thinners) at the same time each day so there is a constant level in his blood. Anyway this one nurse in particular I guess views nursing as a job and nothing more than that. So hubby had to push to get his meds. Well he finally got 6 PM meds at 9 PM !!!
It really is amazing though being in a hospital and seeing just how sick some of these people really are. It makes gratitude have a whole new meaning. Hubby's room mate is about 60 and has had cancer, diabetes, emphysema, and heart troubles and he has been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. The poor chap is hooked up to enough machinery just to breathe. It makes me really grateful that I can get around and just take a breath on my own and do the basic things we all take for granted.
Well the bad news is that hubby isn't going to be get out as soon as he thought. The blood thinners are slow in working on him. Today's level was at 1.3 up a little but not as much as the doctors expected. So they upped his dosage of medicine and told him that he very well maybe on the coumadin for life due to the size of the blood clot. Not great news. But all in all it was a good day and everyone's spirits were up. We even took a little walk around the hall, so the change of scenery helped out. And it was the most remarkable thing while we were pacing the hall our doorman from the building was a patient in the hospital too. He had a toe removed because of his diabetes. So now there is someone for hubby to chat with and something familiar and comforting.
Me I am actually grateful that hubby is going to stay in the hospital over the holiday weekend because around here you can't find a doctor in an emergency. So I am glad that he is in a safe place where I know he will be taken care of. Today I took it a little easier on myself and didn't rush off to the hospital. It was the little break I needed from the back and forth routine of going to the hospital.
Hubby had driven himself to the hospital and the car was in the emergency room parking lot since Sun. The security guards wanted it moved to the visitors lot. Well I told them that I didn't drive and they would be most welcome to move wherever they wanted. So I went with this young security guard to move the car. It was the most hysterical thing you could have ever seen. The fellow has only been driving for a couple of years and was terrified to move the car. We have a car that is plain boring on the outside but under the hood it is a "race car." So he was riding the brake for a whole block to the visitor's lot. It reminded me of a new driver on the road with his stop and start motion. I was smiling on the inside knowing that I couldn't have done much better. I give him a lot of credit for getting into a strange car and driving it. Gutsy fellow.
So things are looking good but moving slowly. Miss you all and thanks for your constant prayers.
Love & God Bless
Arlene
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Post by Lin on Sept 4, 2005 5:43:23 GMT -5
I'm hgappy he has a buddy he knows. That may help him during the times you ahve to be at home with the girls.
gratitude does kick in when we see others worse off than us.
And I totally understand how you are relieved he's there over the holiday weekend. I had many nights I knew my spouse was out driving drunk and i jsut prayed he'd be SAFE and the other drivers on the road woudl be SAFE,. Often before the night was over he'd call and say he was in jail. I was totally reli8eved becuase my prayers were answered. he WAS SAFE!
Keep us posted!
LIN
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Post by dg on Sept 4, 2005 11:41:42 GMT -5
Glad that your hubby is doing somewhat better. Each day is a day closer to him comimg home. Even tho it is going to take some time. Just take it easy and don't push yourself to getting yourself so worn out.  Tell hubby that my prayers are still being said and that it won't be too long before all of you are home together. (((lildee)) |
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Post by lildee on Sept 5, 2005 19:33:30 GMT -5
Monday (Labor Day) update....
Ahhh it's good to be home sitting in my comfy chair writing to you all. The hospital was busy with visitors today and the rooms were cramped , hot and stuffy. Hubby is doing better Blood levels are up to 1.6 so there is some movement there. But it is a slow go. I think everyone is starting to get antsy about the hospital and staying so long. Hubby is itching to get out and just move around freely without being attached to an IV pole. His room mate who was supposedly so ill with all the machinery attached may be leaving tomorrow and hubby is sitting on his pity pot ... Why am I still here? Not comprehending the grave nature of what is wrong with him.
As for me I am just tired of all the running back and forth. I was good to leave early today. We all needed a break from each other under such cramped conditions. The girls needed to be home to get everything ready for their first day of school tomorrow. For the little one it will be her first day of High school. So she is all wound up about it. (Geeze the time really flies both kids in high school ! I still remember taking them to kindergarten.)
So all in all it was a good day home early with home cooked food and a hot shower.
Tomorrow the regular doctors will be back from holiday and we can find out just where we stand in terms of how much longer they project he will have to stay in the hospital and what the aftercare regime will be.
Love you all and thanks for your continued prayers.
Arlene
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Post by ~graced~ on Sept 5, 2005 20:50:01 GMT -5
((((((((((Arlene))))))))))))) Scares me that the fella still isn't comprehending the severity of his circumstances....but denial is a strong thing to combat, eh?
I was glad to catch up and hear that progress is happening--AND that you've been able to take some time for YOU. It's gotta be taxing--but I do admire your perseverence!
*Hugs and more prayers your way*
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"Win, loose, or draw I have had one hell of a lot of fun being here."
~With Peace & Love, dg~ 8*)[/b][/size]
Hugs, Doris
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.