glenmar
Posted : 7/12/2006 1:55:16 PM
I am cautiously optimistic. She was discharged today.....but hadn't gone home when I left...apparently it takes hours to escape that joint. The bp over the last 48 hours has been pretty good....I think the highest its gone is 160/? so that's pretty darned good for her......the doc isn't worried about the lows because she seems to tolerate them pretty well.
I got there this morning about 9A thinking I'd have missed the internist, but actually saw BOTH he and the cardiologist today. The ultra sound of the kidney artery was fine, so that isn't the source of the yo-yo bp. The current meds "seem" to be doing the job.....still 3 meds including a 7 day patch for one of them.....
The cardiologist is pleased with the heart rate holding its own with this BP regimin so isn't considering a pacemaker for now. The only major restriction for now is her water intake. She can have all the juice, milk and the like that she wants, but plain water or tea she has to limit to a liter a day, hoping to keep her sodium levels UP. The internist asked what sis and I meant about her "confusion" and boy was I ready for THAT, so he got a very clear example of how confused she was getting. Now, the ONE thing I don't like about the regular doc is that he is really pushing for a colon surgery to "fix" the diverticulitous. The cardiologist isn't gun ho about that, the SURGEON isn't even gung ho for it.....Dr. S is concerned that she'll have an attack and the "soft spot" will rupture.....however, she knows immediately when an attack is coming on, and the surgeon doesn't even want to do a colonoscopy until the bp is well controlled, so we'll see on that one. Dr. S told her he was going to call the surgeon and set her up an appointment and that she could call this afternoon to find out when it is......we are talking about an 82 year old woman with some health issues and a LOT of belly fat to go through. She'd kill me for saying that, but she's build like I am....short waisted as all get out and not much place for the extra pounds to go......
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So, have got the fingers crossed that THIS drug combo will do the trick and that she'll start feeling healthy again. Poor woman has felt like crap since April and she's not used to NOT feeling good....and tends to obsess about it.......and, I'd sure appreciate an occassional prayer mention that THIS regimen turns out to be the one that does the trick.....[/blockquote]