Bozgratch

I went up to see dad later in the day, after he’d finished his dialysis. The poor boy was really exhausted. The last several days have been really draining for him.  Two dialysis sessions and one ultra filtration session in four days.  today no therapy of any sort (P.T., O.T., Speech) no sitting up, no shower, just sleeping and dialysis.

One of the GI docs was in.  Before they had been saying he has hemorrhoids. Today he said it was an ulcer.  Unless that’s doctor speak for hemorrhoid that bleeds I’m confused and didn’t think about the  discrepancy.  At any rate they are changing the treatment in the hope of stanching the blood flow from the rectum.  Instead of a suppository they are going to use a steroidal preparation which will also be easier for the nurses to administer.

Yesterday the actual infusions were 2 units of red cells and 2 units of plasma.  Some for his hemoglobin level and some for something called INR that the surgeon wants supplemented before the surgery. 

On the upcoming surgical scene — there is disagreement among the dr’s. about anesthetic.  The surgeon insists on a general; a couple of the other doctors want to do some sort of bier block. The surgery is still scheduled for Monday.

Jillian said that he was talkative in the morning before dialysis. But when he came back I could hardly even hear a whisper.  He was moving his lips but very little sound emitted.   

Well, they transported Frank down to dialysis before I could even get there.  Before the morning shift change @ 7.

Lots of questions to ask this morning, about his continued bleeding (how many units of blood he got), about whether they will scope him to determine where the bleeding is coming from, etc.

The night nurse did say that he woke quite alert and talkative — which seems to be the pattern lately — “lots” of energy (for him ) early in the morning rapidly declining the more he talks (who woulda thunk that talking could be so exhausting???)

So, we’ll see him when he gets back from dialysis — and he’ll probably be pretty zonked — that always takes a lot out of him.   (Hmmmm…. is there a consistent train of thought here?   There’s a LOT that tires him out in short order.  No reserves to call upon.  And not much rest between getting poked and prodded.

On a lighter side, Phyllis’ daughter had her baby — so there is new life on the scene.  She was going to wherever they are to see the baby either today or tomorrow.   So, she may not be up to see dad today or maybe she will…..

I guess the saying is true:

Life is all about how you handle “Plan B”