About Me: Male, 49, Moscow - OH, member since Apr 2008
I am writing on behalf of my son, who is total dependent. The dob above is his, not mine. I am his mother/guardian. Joe has had two failed back surgeries, one in 1987 and again in 1991. He had a motor vehicle accident in Nov of 2001 which rendered him blind in the r
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[More]t eye, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder. He came back beautifully from that injury, even maintained his own apartment. In April of 2006 he suffered an anoxic brain injury and a heart attack (this was his second heart attack, the first was not diagnosed). He has a blockage, being treated with meds. Now I'm told he has an enlarged heart. He is on a bipap machine 14/10 at night. He recently was hospitalized for sinus infection, UTI, and possible bacterial meningitis. We struggle with his amonia level constantly. Trying now to wean him off depakote, which some say could be causing the amonia level. Last Friday we admitted him with a level of 239; was discharged home Sunday with amonia level of 143. Since then he has been on lactulose, awaiting prior approval for Xifaxan. I feel like my hands are tied. He is so lethargic, has only had one BM in a couple of days, despite the lactolose. My question is -- could the amonia level have elevated that quickly again???? This is Friday and he came home Sunday. Joe is total care; bedridden, has to be moved with an overhead lift and cannot even sit up. He looks miserable, but I don't want to run to the hospital so often because I am afraid they won't take me serious. What can I do?
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