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Lost Son's Updates on Dad with Hep C, Part III

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Posted 7/25/2014 7:37 AM (GMT -5)
I will try and convince him. It's hard because he is set on waiting for his Monday procedure. He thinks it's the high dosage of the diuretics that might be too much especially when the swelling doesn't get better.

Today as I was helping him back to bed I just kept thinking how thin and frail he was. I remember just 2 years ago he was full and strong and healthy and now he looks like a skeleton with a balloon in his stomach and feet.

Does the procedure also reduce he edema on his feet?
Posted 7/25/2014 9:49 AM (GMT -5)
Alex -

Depending how much water they pull out of your dad during the paracentesis procedure, he may be smiling quite a bit next Monday. I've been there a number of times and the relief is almost immediate - but they were pulling 6 liters or so at the time. He'll certainly be a bit more dizzy afterwards due to blood pressure drops. I would always take my time getting up either from a bed or a chair, abruptly is asking for trouble.

Compression socks are an option too if he can tolerate the strangeness in wearing them. I'm going to have to start using them again myself to try and keep the edema minimized in my lower legs and feet. I'm now in acute kidney failure and they've almost cut out all of my diuretics, so my swollen world is coming back to me, bummer. I only wear them during the day when I'm not moving around much. I take them off when I do plan on walking around a bit to ensure the natural pumping affect isn't hindered.
Posted 7/25/2014 3:04 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Lostson.
I am sorry that your dad isn't feeling well. I would take him to the ER if he still is not feeling well. My feeling is... Don't wait until he feels worse. Especially, since it is the weekend and they usually have a Skelton staff on the weekends. You can always call his local doctor or the transplant coordinator and get their opinion since they know your dad best.
Hoping that he is feeling better.
Btw... After the parencentisis ( spelled wrong) make sure they give your dad albumin.
WD
Posted 7/25/2014 4:06 PM (GMT -5)
He was wearing the compression socks for a few days but when things got worse he couldnt get them on and pretty much felt better with regular socks.

I hope he feels instantly better with the procedure. He is saying the pressure is getting very uncomfortable. Once they do this, does it mean the diuretics are now ineffective? at one point 5mg of Amiloride and 20mg of Furosemide were enough. Now 4 times that amount isn't doing a thing.

Just seeing if he is going to have to get these procedures often or if they keep on with the diuretics.
Posted 7/25/2014 4:13 PM (GMT -5)
Btw, just from my personal experience, the actual procedure (the big ol' needle part) doesn't hurt at all and this from someone who absolutely hate needles. Most of the times, I barely felt the needles at all and a couple times didn't even know it'd been done until I heard the water draining into the jars.
Posted 7/25/2014 10:26 PM (GMT -5)
bblbt,

What approach are they taking with your acute kidney failure? Is there anything that can be done? Can it improve? I hope so.

As for my dad, we agreed I would see how he feels tomorrow and if there is no improvement we would go to the ER. When he pauses for more than 2 seconds when I ask if he wants to go to the ER, I know he is not feeling well. Because he will try and stay away from the hospital all he can. He is scared that if he goes he will never get out alive.

I just hate knowing that as it stands now, with a MELD of 21 he is sick enough it could be fatal, but nowhere near sick enough to be considered for a transplant. :-/
Posted 7/25/2014 11:26 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Lostson,
I have been reading your posts this evening and reading about your Dad's paracentesis, (and other issues) and it reminded me of something. You very well may know this, and maybe this has been discussed, but just in case... Check out: www.carefusion.com.
They are putting abdominal tubes in place for people to draw the fluid off, themselves, at home. I even remember Connie, our dearly loved, Mega Monitor Guru, doing this and saying how much it helped her.
I was in Interventional Radiology today getting a port put in, and the doctor and 2 nurses were telling me how many they have been doing lately.
I also wanted to say I have 4 sons and your innate care, concern and love for your Dad is commendable. What a gift you are to each other!
Zoarie
Just for the record this is my third writing of the same email and they have all disappeared. ?? Yes, you can say I have no business having an i-pad and I would be the first to agree with you! Lol.
Posted 7/26/2014 1:41 AM (GMT -5)
Zoarie - I'm pretty sure the retyping messages thing isn't just you. It seems these message entry areas tend to lose/confuse the input focus very easily. I hope that the tech powers that be are aware of this ... or maybe we both share the strange disease of "fat-and-thick-finger-itis" ...
Posted 7/26/2014 10:59 AM (GMT -5)
Since we have gone to 7 pages, I will start Volume IV of Lost Son's Saga.

Click here for the link to the new thread: www.healingwell.com/community/post.aspx?f=25&r=n

Mama Lama
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