My Dad Needs Prayers

[max]

Patsy has given very good advice to you.

[csc]

Thanks for your posts! I found out that Dad has been waking up with trouble breathing right. He told me once he gets up then all is ok. I didn't know this before yesterday and now have to wonder what all he hasn't told me. The fluid building up in his lungs while he sleeps is causing this. His feet and ankles have been swollen. If those pills will work then a lot of this can be dealt with. My Mom used to have to take Lasix because she had the congestive heart faulure, so I do know about the potassium and the dangers of these. Thanks for mentioning it though, because the doctors don't always tell you all that. Guess it doesn't sound good for me having both parents with  C H F.

I sure appreciate you sticking with us!!

Carolyn C

[Patsy in GA]

Carolyn,  My Mom had CHF, also.  It is scary, but treatable.  I wonder if lying on two pillows or even in a recliner would be more comfortable for him as far as the breathing goes.  Poor thing...you know he has really felt bad with this and probably did not want to worry you.  Please give him our good wishes and let him know that we all care and are praying. 

You take care, Carolyn...you have had a lot on your plate, so don't over do.

Patsy

[csc]

Patsy, I'm going to talk to him about using two pillows. Now I know why he was getting up at all hours of the night or early morning. He'd go in and sit in his chair in front of the tv. All he ever told me was that he would wake up, not be able to sleep, so would just get up. That much was the truth--he just left out some major details! When I talked to him today he told me that he took the lasix yesterday and they worked well. His dr told him to cut back to one instead of the two pills and see how it goes. Dad told me that he slept better than he has in a long time and had no trouble breathing this morning. Well----I pray that is true, but that'd be my story too if I was facing a week in the hospital with a needle draining my lungs. Prayers really were answered so far. Thanks for helping!

Carolyn C

[max]

I hope using two pillows help. This is so tough. Keep us posted , and prayers will continue for all of you.

[csc]

Hey All, say some prayers for my Dad and us, please. I just got home and Dad had left a msg on our machine that when he spoke to his dr, the dr insisted he go get admitted to the hospital. He never called my cell. Dad sounded ok other than being upset. Will let you know what's up as soon as I can  Thanks

[max]

I surely will. Let us know what is  happening.

[Patsy in GA]

Carolyn,  I was just thinking about you and your Dad before I came on and saw this.   You know there are several lines of thinking here....at least the Doctor seems interested enough to be talking to him on Sunday, and in this day and age that is a good thing.  About the hospital stay...I tend to think it may be for the best.  That lasix is rough and with him being alone, it is scary.  Though it is painfull and scary to think of them inserting a needle and withdrawing fluid.....in the end he would be so much better off and then maybe a mild diurectic would keep the fluid off.  Just try to be reall positive with him and tell him how much better off he will be.

One thing, Carolyn,  whatever they decide to do here, you know we are with you and your Dad every step of the way, praying for both of you.  And, we know that with prayer and positive thinking we can do all things...though tough at times.  I just feel like that he his getting good care and he probably is just frightened at the thought of the hosp.  Please tell him how many friends he has praying and sending good wishes his way and let us know how he gets.

Patsy

[Jimmeluvrs]

Carolyn,

I've just been getting caught up on your thread.  I believe it's a good idea that the doctor decided to put your dad in the hospital.  If he's having fluid-retaining problems due to CHF, the hospital is the safest place for him to be.  We nearly lost my mom to CHF about 3 years ago, so it's nothing to mess around with.  She is currently on Lasix also.

We found her heart wasn't pumping/beating correctly due to damage from a heart attack she had several years ago.  It was filling up her lungs and she was having a terrible time breathing.  My dad called 911 and those wonderful emergency technicians saved her life.  She ended up having a pacemaker/defibrillator installed.  I've told her that's her guardian angel to help her heart beat correctly.  If it gets going too rapidly, the defibrillator will slow it.  If it would get too slow, the pacemaker would kick in and get it up to speed.  These devices keep a record of if they go off and when they go off, including date and time of day.  I believe she needs to get hers checked in May sometime.

I'll surely keep your daddy in my prayers, and certainly you, too.  It seems that dads, in particular, don't always want us to know what's going on with them and leave out what they want to keep as their secret.  My own dad was doing this for I don't know how long.  I wish he would've let us know he was having chest pains and irregular heartbeats.  The EKG they did in the ER showed that he'd had a heart attack (that went totally untreated) at some point in his life.  EKGs don't date when something like that happens.  It just shows up as an "event" amongst all the scrawling lines on the paper.

Prayers from here.  I'm glad your dad is right there in the hospital so help is close at hand.

Carolyn
South Bend

[mingy]

Just catching up after a week away.  We were too busy to even get a postcard for Daniel.  Tell him I am sorry about that.  Hopefully you will soon be able to post some good news about your dad.  We will be praying for him.  I will try to make more sense in a post later.  Pam

[csc]

I've read all each of you wrote and thank you. We talked to the doctor and he said that he wanted to keep a close eye on Dad. The lasix is being given through his veins and he is due for a heavy dose in the morning. Dad has some kidney problems, some of you may remember all that from a couple years ago. Dr is wanting to watch the potassium level and try to get things regulated. Dad needs postasium because of the lasix, while at the same time, if his kidneys don't eliminate it as they should, then there are the big problems that some of you know about and have warned me about. I'm not making much sense right now...I can hardly sit here and stay awake. There was no new developement that put him in the hospital today, but this is pretty serious. Daniel wanted to go with us to the hospital to see his Grandpa, so he was there and got firsthand detail. I think it did a lot of good for Dad to see him today. Charlie, Daniel, my brother and I were there till they wanted Dad to get rest. I talked to him after we got home and he was ok and ready to get some sleep. I called to make sure the hosp. had my ph # and the nurse said Dad was awake and transf. the call in to his room. Daniel understands this is serious, but knows Dad is better off being taken care of right now/monitored. I'll write more later.

Thanks so much

I wanted to post on the other threads, but I am going to have to wait til later. Please believe me when I say how thankful I am for your support and prayers!!!!

[williamsonmunier]

Carolyn, we understand, believe me.  I had forgotten a lot of this, as my mom had CHF 25 years ago, but it sounds like the dr. is really trying to get it under control, and once he does, the continuing medication can take over.

Please, please, know your dad is in our prayers, as are you, Charlie, Daniel, and everyone else concerned.  Also, we need to know that you are going to focus on keeping yourself in good shape too.  Try to get some rest, dear, for stress can be more damaging than we know at the time.

[mingy]

I hope you got some rest last night, Carolyn.  It sounds like your dad is getting good care.  He may not want to be in the hospital, who does, but hopefully he understands that this stay is important for him.  He won't be able to do the things he wants to do if he doesn't do this part right now.  I bet Daniel could get him to understand that!  I am glad he was able to go to the hospital with you.  I am sure it helped him and your dad.  Take care, get rest every chance you have.

[June]

Carolyn, hope all goes well with your dad.  Praying for your family and the medical team working with your dad.

[Patsy in GA]

Carolyn,  Just wondering how your Dad is doing today.  I echo what Pam said...I hope you got a good night's rest last night.  Prayers continue.

Patsy