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Please Help
Please can someone help. My husband is very ill in hospital. He is 56 years old, had a major heart attack 7 years ago but recovered and has lived a normal life until recently. A few weeks ago, he developed an abscess on his belly (there was a spot and he picked it). His GP (doctor) didn't do a swab so they didn't really treat him with the correct antibiotics. He is also a Type II diabetic, food controlled.
The abscess was starting to heal up, but earlier this week he started feeling ill. Both myself and my son have had heavy colds recently and he thought he was coming down with the cold too.
On Thursday we was really ill, said he felt "wobbly" and he was a bad colour. I took him to hospital (not impressed with his general practitioner doctor - we are in the UK by the way) as I thought he might have the start of sepsis.
At the hospital his blood pressure was dangerously low - 60/45 with a pulse rate of 96. He was admitted straight away. Later in the evening they started to get the preliminary blood test results back and yes, he did have the start of sepsis but ontop of that, they suspected he'd had a silent heart attack.
The results of the second blood test confirmed that he had had a heart attack.
His daughter is a nursing sister at the hospital and what I've learned from her has terrified me.
Seemingly, the first heart attack he had damaged 54% of his heart - yes, it was a big one.
This one they estimate has damaged another 17% - 20% of his heart.
On top of that he has cardiac edema and they are treating him for that - although they were worried that the drugs they are using would drop his already low blood pressure (at the time 95/60 - they wanted it to be over 100 and steady) they decided to go for a calculated risk and give him the medication as his breathing even on oxygen is laboured.
As far as I can gather they may perform an angiogram on Monday and perhaps also an Angioplasty although his daughter let slip that they might be going for a bypass.
So far I have not spoken to his consultant as every time I go in, there seems to be some other family member there. Tonight his 90 year old father came in and much as I like the man, he was a pest - I was unable to even talk to my husband and eventually hubby told me to take his father home.
I am really scared for my husband and need to know if there is anyone on this forum who has been in a similar situation and survived or knows anyone who's survived and what the treatment was. Also what quality of life after the treatment.
Sorry to be so long-winded but really hope someone can at least give me some encouragement that all is not lost.
The abscess was starting to heal up, but earlier this week he started feeling ill. Both myself and my son have had heavy colds recently and he thought he was coming down with the cold too.
On Thursday we was really ill, said he felt "wobbly" and he was a bad colour. I took him to hospital (not impressed with his general practitioner doctor - we are in the UK by the way) as I thought he might have the start of sepsis.
At the hospital his blood pressure was dangerously low - 60/45 with a pulse rate of 96. He was admitted straight away. Later in the evening they started to get the preliminary blood test results back and yes, he did have the start of sepsis but ontop of that, they suspected he'd had a silent heart attack.
The results of the second blood test confirmed that he had had a heart attack.
His daughter is a nursing sister at the hospital and what I've learned from her has terrified me.
Seemingly, the first heart attack he had damaged 54% of his heart - yes, it was a big one.
This one they estimate has damaged another 17% - 20% of his heart.
On top of that he has cardiac edema and they are treating him for that - although they were worried that the drugs they are using would drop his already low blood pressure (at the time 95/60 - they wanted it to be over 100 and steady) they decided to go for a calculated risk and give him the medication as his breathing even on oxygen is laboured.
As far as I can gather they may perform an angiogram on Monday and perhaps also an Angioplasty although his daughter let slip that they might be going for a bypass.
So far I have not spoken to his consultant as every time I go in, there seems to be some other family member there. Tonight his 90 year old father came in and much as I like the man, he was a pest - I was unable to even talk to my husband and eventually hubby told me to take his father home.
I am really scared for my husband and need to know if there is anyone on this forum who has been in a similar situation and survived or knows anyone who's survived and what the treatment was. Also what quality of life after the treatment.
Sorry to be so long-winded but really hope someone can at least give me some encouragement that all is not lost.
Wow, 50/30 it is very low, this will be an extra challenge for your kidneys.
Now I start to be worry about you, are you sure that you are properly hydrated? Have you started or stopped any medication or supplement??
Are you taking Vitamin B (I think I have read something about its importance when on dialysis).
When my BP goes down (70/40), mainly because hot weather, I use a few grains of salt and a glass of water to get it up.
Jesus
Now I start to be worry about you, are you sure that you are properly hydrated? Have you started or stopped any medication or supplement??
Are you taking Vitamin B (I think I have read something about its importance when on dialysis).
When my BP goes down (70/40), mainly because hot weather, I use a few grains of salt and a glass of water to get it up.
Jesus
I do wish my BP would run around the 98 mark. Lately it is falling to around the 50/30 level and I have fainted a couple of times. The question seems to be what is causing it. Is it the BP meds, or is it the dialysis, or both?
On the 12th I see a new kidney specialist, and perhaps he can get me back up to speed. I don't let it stop me from doing what I want and need to do, as I do not want to lose the progress I have made towards my quality of life, but it does slow me down a bit.
I, also, see my cardiologist next month, and maybe he will take away the BP meds, and not require that I take them anymore. I think not having to take the medications would be a triumph for me, but it does make me a little bit nervous.
In any event, I am so happy for Grant and you, and I pray that he will continue to progress, which I am sure he will. God Bless you, both....
On the 12th I see a new kidney specialist, and perhaps he can get me back up to speed. I don't let it stop me from doing what I want and need to do, as I do not want to lose the progress I have made towards my quality of life, but it does slow me down a bit.
I, also, see my cardiologist next month, and maybe he will take away the BP meds, and not require that I take them anymore. I think not having to take the medications would be a triumph for me, but it does make me a little bit nervous.
In any event, I am so happy for Grant and you, and I pray that he will continue to progress, which I am sure he will. God Bless you, both....
One thing Graham's never had is high blood pressure. His, even before he had his first heart attack 7 years ago, was on the low side.
They stopped the Dopamine today (weaned him off it) and his blood pressure has held up. The highest it went was 120/70 but has settled down around the 98/68 to 107/68 mark now so the staff are quite happy.
He is still on IV Frusemide (Lasix) but the weight is literally falling off. He's asked me to get a tape measure and measure his waist tomorrow!!!
He is very, very weak still and tires so easily but the nurse said tonight that it's no wonder as he's been through a lot and not been able to get out of bed or a chair much for almost 9 weeks. She said his strength will come back but it will be a slow process.
The ironic thing in all this is that we've always eaten healthily - and cook healthily. I have a steamer which I make good use of, we cook from scratch using fresh ingredients and always have several vegetables with our meals (partly because we like things my son doesn't and vice-versa so we always make sure there is plenty choice). We all love fish so have fish quite often. None of us drink and if we do, it's perhaps a glass of wine at Christmas and New Year. None of us are particularly fond of it. We all prefer tea or coffee. Graham doesn't smoke but I do (my one vice).
At the moment they haven't put an exercise regime in place for Graham but I would think they will in the next week or so.
One thing that's got me this week is the amount of youngsters in the ward, young men in their early 20s. One has recently had open heart surgery and a CRT-D fitted. It's rather fun in the ward at the moment because several of the younger patients seem to be using it as a meeting place and they really have lifted the atmosphere and got everyone smiling.
One young lad has been a patient there since he was 7 years old - he's 22 now. A lovely young man. Knows every nurse and doctor by name, when their on duty, when their off, where they're going for their holidays and when.
Each of these youngsters have been born with congenital heart defects, some of them very serious but the way they are always smiling and joking really is uplifting.
Makes you count your blessings.
They stopped the Dopamine today (weaned him off it) and his blood pressure has held up. The highest it went was 120/70 but has settled down around the 98/68 to 107/68 mark now so the staff are quite happy.
He is still on IV Frusemide (Lasix) but the weight is literally falling off. He's asked me to get a tape measure and measure his waist tomorrow!!!
He is very, very weak still and tires so easily but the nurse said tonight that it's no wonder as he's been through a lot and not been able to get out of bed or a chair much for almost 9 weeks. She said his strength will come back but it will be a slow process.
The ironic thing in all this is that we've always eaten healthily - and cook healthily. I have a steamer which I make good use of, we cook from scratch using fresh ingredients and always have several vegetables with our meals (partly because we like things my son doesn't and vice-versa so we always make sure there is plenty choice). We all love fish so have fish quite often. None of us drink and if we do, it's perhaps a glass of wine at Christmas and New Year. None of us are particularly fond of it. We all prefer tea or coffee. Graham doesn't smoke but I do (my one vice).
At the moment they haven't put an exercise regime in place for Graham but I would think they will in the next week or so.
One thing that's got me this week is the amount of youngsters in the ward, young men in their early 20s. One has recently had open heart surgery and a CRT-D fitted. It's rather fun in the ward at the moment because several of the younger patients seem to be using it as a meeting place and they really have lifted the atmosphere and got everyone smiling.
One young lad has been a patient there since he was 7 years old - he's 22 now. A lovely young man. Knows every nurse and doctor by name, when their on duty, when their off, where they're going for their holidays and when.
Each of these youngsters have been born with congenital heart defects, some of them very serious but the way they are always smiling and joking really is uplifting.
Makes you count your blessings.
The kidneys and the heart work hand in hand, so it would stand to reason that when he was having the heart issues, it affected his kidneys. The kidneys are even responsible for signaling the body to make red blood cells. They are also responsible for problems, such as, high BP.
When I first suffered CHF, it pushed my kidneys over the edge, and I now own a kidney machine, and do home Hemodialysis, 6 days a week. I, too, lost over 35 lbs with lasix, in the early stages of CHF. It all evens itself out with diet, excercise, and following a strict regimen, including no alcohol, no smoking, very low sodium, etc. He will most likely have to lose more weight, on top of what the lasix takes off of him, but once the swelling is under control, he should feel much better.
I hope the best outcome for him and you......
When I first suffered CHF, it pushed my kidneys over the edge, and I now own a kidney machine, and do home Hemodialysis, 6 days a week. I, too, lost over 35 lbs with lasix, in the early stages of CHF. It all evens itself out with diet, excercise, and following a strict regimen, including no alcohol, no smoking, very low sodium, etc. He will most likely have to lose more weight, on top of what the lasix takes off of him, but once the swelling is under control, he should feel much better.
I hope the best outcome for him and you......
Update. The CRT-D is working well but Graham now has a problem with his kidneys.
It would seem that he's been carrying a lot of fluid for a long time - decades. Everyone, including myself thought he was fat - he wasn't. It was all fluid. The doctors here at the hospital cannot understand why Graham's doctors at home failed to notice this, and worse, why when he had his first heart attack in 2004, no-one at our local hospital picked this up.
They have been using IV Frusemide (Lasix) to remove the fluid and already, in less than 2 weeks, Graham has lost 2 stone in weight (approx 12.7 kilos). Unfortunately, this is, and the other drugs he's been on plus the various dyes used for MRIs etc., have had a bad effect on his kidneys and he has been on IV Dopamine for the past 5 days to kick-start the kidneys into working again. The doctors here say the kidneys have just become sluggish and they are confident they will recover in a week or two. I hope so as this is yet another worry.
The result of this is Graham is feeling very fatigued and has no energy. Even little things like shaving tire him out at the moment.
On the plus side, the weight loss is amazing to see. I have no doubt they will get Graham well here. They said they would get him fit and healthy and I believe them.
Graham however, will have to buy new clothes when he gets out. All the clothes he has now will just fall off him or go round him twice!!!
I can't see Graham getting out of hospital for at least another month but I'd rather he was well on the road to recovery than come out too early and end up back in hospital again.
It really is a patience game.
It would seem that he's been carrying a lot of fluid for a long time - decades. Everyone, including myself thought he was fat - he wasn't. It was all fluid. The doctors here at the hospital cannot understand why Graham's doctors at home failed to notice this, and worse, why when he had his first heart attack in 2004, no-one at our local hospital picked this up.
They have been using IV Frusemide (Lasix) to remove the fluid and already, in less than 2 weeks, Graham has lost 2 stone in weight (approx 12.7 kilos). Unfortunately, this is, and the other drugs he's been on plus the various dyes used for MRIs etc., have had a bad effect on his kidneys and he has been on IV Dopamine for the past 5 days to kick-start the kidneys into working again. The doctors here say the kidneys have just become sluggish and they are confident they will recover in a week or two. I hope so as this is yet another worry.
The result of this is Graham is feeling very fatigued and has no energy. Even little things like shaving tire him out at the moment.
On the plus side, the weight loss is amazing to see. I have no doubt they will get Graham well here. They said they would get him fit and healthy and I believe them.
Graham however, will have to buy new clothes when he gets out. All the clothes he has now will just fall off him or go round him twice!!!
I can't see Graham getting out of hospital for at least another month but I'd rather he was well on the road to recovery than come out too early and end up back in hospital again.
It really is a patience game.
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