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| Just because something is legal to do doesn't mean it is the smart thing to do. |
liner, Sorry to hear about your father and his difficulties. I am watching this thread with interest as I'm already started down the path of heart failure myself and can learn a little of what I might expect as I go. Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody is looking. | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
I’m sorry to hear you're in this situation. This thread has had some excellent responses, and I hope you can find helpful advice, especially from our resident cardiologist! We saw my dad’s heart failure cardiologist yesterday, and he felt that the foot swelling issue wasn’t related to his heart but might be due to his PAD. However, when we visited his vascular surgeon (who performed a bypass on his femoral artery in January), he disagreed with the cardiologist’s assessment. The surgeon detected a significant pulse in the leg, so now we’re back to square one with this new concern. The swelling is so severe that it’s leaking fluid and causing significant pain. Mike. | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
Update: He needs a full bypass in his leg, Cardiologist isn't thrilled about the need to go under anesthesia. Without this, his lower leg and foot are gone. He`s very down. It's amazing and scary how fast his leg arteries are clogging up. Hoping he can get a quick surgery date. | |||
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goodheart |
I’m very sorry to hear that, liner. Yes, surgery is very high risk. The good thing is, it really sounds as if you have excellent physicians on the case, very concerned about doing the right thing for your Dad. There’s nothing quite so important at this time for you, as having people you totally trust in charge. To gjgalligan: I hear you’re following along. You should know that liner’s Dad’s case is a VERY unusual one, with the term “congestive heart failure” used for both, but they are very different. Liner’s Dad’s heart muscle is thickened with amyloid deposits, and the muscle contraction is weakened from this. The inside of the left ventricle is very small and not much blood can be pumped out. The overwhelmingly more common cause of CHF is a dilated—think stretched out—left ventricle, with the muscle thinned, but the left ventricle cavity is enlarged, with weak muscles trying to pump blood out. Not only is this more common, it is much easier to treat with medication, and sometimes with a special pacemaker. Don’t count on advice from SF’s “resident cardiologist”, though. If you have this condition, get yourself under the care of a local cardiologist, preferably—if you have access—one who specializes in CHF treatment. _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
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| Member |
Gosh, I have no answers or helpful advice for your situation. But I prayed for him in hopes that there'll be a right answer and course of treatment found that gives him more comfortable years with you. Bob | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
Dad had another major surgery on his right leg due to PAD. He was blocked from his hip to his foot, and as a result, his right foot has swollen massively and split in several spots. It's likely he'll lose his pinky toe and at least 20% of the tissue on his foot. The wound care team is very concerned about him potentially losing the foot altogether. He's understandably angry and has been picking fights with me, my wife, my sister, and my mother. Even the clinical staff isn’t immune to his frustrations. His easy-going, joking personality seems to be gone, and this morning he told me he’s reached his limit. I’m alarmed by the rapid personality changes and the quick formation of plaque in both legs. Mike | |||
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| goodheart |
He could well be suffering from delirium--a short term disorder of his thinking--that can be due to many things related to surgery and his condition. As I posted elsewhere today, something as simple as a UTI can set this off. By itself, it just means the docs need to be sure they manage what they can (electrolytes, oxygenation, BP) and hope that recovery from surgery will return his mind to its former cheerful state. Now the "rapid development of plaque"--I'm afraid that's worrisome as it could imply that his heart failure is affecting his circulation in the legs. _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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| goodheart |
Liner, you may want to ask your Dad’s heart failure specialist if this drug could possibly apply to him: New drug approved for treatment of rare form of cardiomyopathy _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
I will, thank you! | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
Update on Dad: We had a tough day today. I spent it with Dad, and unfortunately, his mood remained combative and confused. His liver and kidney numbers continued to worsen throughout the day, and after seeing several specialists, he started to become unresponsive. Late in the afternoon, he crashed and coded. He’s now in the CCU with acute liver and kidney failure. The doctors believe the amyloids in his heart released clots into his bloodstream, which then attacked his liver and kidneys. He’s sedated and on a ventilator. My mom decided to move forward with life-saving measures, as Dad expressed he wanted to be saved if possible. Earlier today, I had a bad feeling and sent an Uber for my mom to come to the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers. He’s fighting for his life right now. 3-25 update: Still tubed and sedated, they`ll try and wake him today. Liver numbers are trending down from an AST number of 7000! He has a chest tube due to a Pneumothorax from CPR but he's fighting.This message has been edited. Last edited by: liner, | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
He was approved and has received Vyndamax, unfortunately, he`s in BI after severe complications from his Vascular leg surgery last week. He threw some clots and went into acute liver failure. | |||
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| goodheart |
Liner, very sorry to hear what’s happened. You and your Mom need to have a long talk with the doctors you trust the most about how far to go in this setting. He has so much going against him now. God bless. _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
Stan, thank you for your support. Dad's inability to clear his throat of mucus is adding to the challenges. His airway flap is gone due to long-term GERD, and they’ve been suctioning his throat every 5 minutes. They may need to intubate him again. I've also noticed that he's in and out of consciousness; he was similar to this Saturday before he coded. The doctor mentioned that his liver is healing, and his AST levels are now below 300. He might have a bone infection in his affected foot, and if he survives, he will likely lose his pinky toe due to dry gangrene. My mother is struggling to cope with all of this. Yesterday was especially hard for her, and the reality of his condition hit her hard. Her sister arrived last night, and I’m hoping she can offer her some support. I know he`s fighting but as you said above he has so much going against him at this point. | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
He`s still in the game, They need to take his 3-4-5 toes due to dry Gangrene. He still has the chest tube and he`s still pretty much out of it. I sat with him for about 8 hours over the last 2 days and he talked less than 2 minutes. His Kidneys aren't working well, he still has a UTI and they won`t take the toes for a while- he has to get off the chest tube 1st. | |||
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| goodheart |
Liner, this is bringing back memories for me of patients with "multiple organ failure"; you can fix one thing then another breaks down. I sure feel for you and your family right now. _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
I hadn’t looked at as Multiple Organ failure, but you’re right. He told me yesterday he didn’t want to do this anymore.I ASKED HIM to clarify what he meant but he didn’t. He can barely speak and stay awake. I’m waiting for his attending to call me. His nurse told me they are doing a vein mapping of his leg today but not why. | |||
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| Don't burn the day away |
4-1 Update, Chest tube was capped, they vein mapped his leg and the vascular team/Podiatrist decided it’s 4 toes. They don’t think his foot will heal and they may have to amputate below the knee. He doesn’t know this. He told my wife and me he’s done, he wants out of this world. He doesn’t want to suffer anymore. His nurse heard this as well. I spoke to his attending and she’ll talk to him this afternoon, she felt he was lucid this morning and he knows what he’s saying. He mentioned friends that died quickly via HA or accident and he’s suffered too long. My mother doesn’t want to hear this at all. He also met with the Chaplin and told her the same.This message has been edited. Last edited by: liner, | |||
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| goodheart |
We're here for you either way, liner. I'm praying for discernment and wisdom for the doctors and your family, and especially for comfort for your Mom. _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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