My daddy is sick

[Quixotic1]

Hi, everyone, I'm still a little hit and miss here, but I am distracted.  Two nights ago my father had a big hemorrhage from his bowels.  He didn't tell anyone about it for about 8 hours and finally my sister took him to the ER yesterday.  that thought he had a twisted colon which had cut off the blood supply and caused the bowel to die.  But he had a CT sscan and apparently the colon is where it should be.  He is still in pain and they are going to do a colonoscopy tomorrow.  I guess we have something running in the family.

My parents are 84 and live in an independent retirement community.  My dad is incredibly stubborn, but I am very worried about colon cancer.  Also he and I have VonWillebrands Disease which is a mild form of hemophilia.  Because of this we are not supposed to take aspirin or NSAIDS, which all thin the blood.  Well, my dad pops aspirin like it is candy, despite all of my warnings over the last decade.  His doctor is really mad at him for 1) taking so much aspirin and 2) not telling him about it.

My mother is very limited in her mobility and her energy so my sister is with her to take her to see Daddy.  I am at home.  The last thing my sis needs is two people who can't get around and who tire easily.  So I am at home fretting.  I'm trying to concentrate on the forum, but if I sound a little drifty let me know.

So that is what is happening right now.  Sorry.

Quix  :((

[Fluffysmom]

I'm so sorry about your niece's knee!  After five knee surgeries, I can totally empathize.  I never had an infection, but one surgeon left part of a sponge in.  It worked it's way out through the sutures.  I hope the new procedure does the job and she heals up quickly.  Of course she needs her mom.

Your sister sounds almost as big-hearted and wonderful as you.  I hope you don't miss her too much.  Do you have another ride over to see your parents?  I'm glad they're in such a nice-sounding place.  

Take care,

Kathy

[risnerrose]

Wow . . . many things have resolved before I knew to be concerned.  I should check in little more often.  I'm glad things have improved with your father, since it seems your niece really needs her mommy right now.  

I'll send up a prayer for you and yours.

Sherry    

[Quixotic1]

Well, when it rains, it does pour.  My niece just called.  she is the one who had a knee repair last month and my sister (her mom) drove up to Seattle (about 3 hours) and spent two weeks with her.  Well, the knee appears to be infected and they are admitting her tonight to the hospital for a surgical washout and drain placement.  My DS will go up and be with her through the recovery phase again (I presume 5 to 7 days), so the house and my parents are on me for the week.

My niece is soo upset.  This surgery has been so hard on her and the healing just hasn't seemed normal - and, indeed it hasn't been.  She needs her mom.  My sister is my caretaker (which is mainly errands and house maintenance, and sometimes driving me around.)  She is also increasingly the overseer and caretaker of my parents.  My parents are both 84 and still live independently in a wonderful community that provides meals, housekeeping, transportation and wonderful social stuff.  So she sees them 2 to 4 times a week.  I usually see them about once a week.

This shouldn't affect my being able to be here.

quix

[shoshin]

Glad to hear your dad is on the mend.

I have had several OCTs for the trial I'm in. It's the ultimate in short and painless tests. You look at a little green dot and these other red lines kind of move around it and that's it.

Do you have any recommended sites or articles about the correspondence between thinning of the optic nerve and damage to the CNS? I'd like to know more about this.

Every time I've had the optical coherence tomography, the ophthalmologist has looked at the nice brightly-colored report and said that it doesn't look like the MS is affecting my eyes or optic nerve. But I surely feel like my CNS is going downhill :-(

I haven't really had eye problems, at least not any that can't be attributed to something besides MS (flashing light in the corner of my eye; pinpricky sensations that the ophthalmologist said could be due to dry eyes and in fact did occur during the period when I was having the most trouble with dry eyes and dry mouth).

sho

[Quixotic1]

Julie - People on the true interferons (Avonex, Rbid and Betaseron) can develop antibodies against the meds.  Actually it is common to make antibodies against them.  But, some antibodies bind to the interferon and rend it uselss as a medication.  They literally neutralize its action.   So one of the strategies when someone has been on it a while (usually at least a year for Avonex) and their MS seems to be progressing, is to check for these Neutralizing antibodies.  If they are positive, as I understand it then ALL of the interferon-beta meds are not going to work.  The whole group is out the door.  Copaxone stimulates a lot of antibodies against it, but none of them have been seen to neutralize its action.

Jen - My OCT is next Tuesday.  It is billed as being painless and only taking a few minutes in the cooperative patient.

I have trouble swallowing anything dry.  If I don't get enough enough fluids right along, things like meat (especially chicken breast) gets caught - completely caught.  Then if I try to swallow some water it comes explosively back out my mouth and the whole thing hurts like h*ll.  Since we know I don't have any esophagitis, then then next thing is to have me do the esophageal motility study.

I'm in Washington in the Portland, OR suburban area.

Yorkie - I'll pass along the Pez recommendation.  My dad's tloerance for pain is very low and I think they will substitute Tylenol #3's.  These are very weak opiates and should do the job.  I'll have to talk to him about his concern that he will "become addicted."  Unlikely.  But, then, we have to do something about the constipation.  He is worsen than I am with that.  I'm going to ask his GI doc if a dose or two of Miralax a week would be helpful.  He's on a very low fiber, low residue diet and constipation may become an issue.

That's all the news that's fit to print.

Quix

[jensequitur]

Cool!  I've been wanting to talk to somebody who's had the OCT - you're in Oregon, right?

Swallowing study - are you having trouble swallowing?

[Lulu54]

Glad to hear your dad is home and behaving....

Your checkup sounded reasonably good too - now are you also behaving?  :-)


By swallow study, are you talking about an esophageal motility test?  I had one this spring - not my favorite test but not so horrible either.  
Later,
Lulu

[Rena705]

I am so happy to hear that your Father is going to be alright and that he has some good doctors on his side!  We are really happy to have you back and thank goodness for cable companies...we wouldn't exist here without them...no I am not getting paid by a cable company.  I think they generally bear the brunt of our anger if services are down because we are so lost without this service we have become so used to having...thanks goodness they could get it up and working again is what I say.

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[Sarahsmom46]

We are soooo happy to have you back with us.  Darn the cable companies anyway....

What do you mean when you mentioned "neutralizing antibodies?"  I have never heard of that before.  

Julie

[Quixotic1]

I love you all!  Daddy came home yesterday and told us all how he had learned that aspirin causes the platelets to become slippery.  I wasn't even annoyed (surprised me) and was just glad that he has seen the light.  

So, he is improving and getting care from a good and caring doctor.  

Then last night my cable went out.  That meant no TV, no internet and no phone.  Without technology I was helpless!  I relaized that my cable was my link to the entire world around me!

I saw my neuro yesterday.  All looks good.  Despite my feeling that my arm is weaker, he says my exam is unchanged and my neutralizing antibodies were negative.  So everything is to remain unchanged.  Avonex plus once a month steroids.  Repeat the MRI in Janurary.  I will have OCT next week - Optical Cherence Tomography.

OCT measures the thickness of the optic nerve as it spreds out in the retina (forming the optic disc) and goes to all the light receiving cones and rods.  They have shown that this measurement echoes the amount of damage in the rest of the central nervous system.  When the OCT shows thinning of the layer, it indicates thinning or atrophy of the brain and spinal cord itself so it is an indication of the overall "lesion burden."

He also wants me to have a swallow study.

quix

[ShadowsSister]

OH Sweetie, I am so sorry about your Dad, it's so hard when our parents get sick or hurt. Know that I will be Praying for him, you & your whole family. I do hope they figure it all out and can get it fixed...
Again, I am so Sorry....(((((~!~)))) ShadowsSister

[Heartshome]

Great to hear your dad is okay. Sound like your whole family needs a nice, long rest. Take care.

[jensequitur]

PHEW!  Yeah, get some rest - you'll need it.  Good luck with your appointment!  

[yorkieville]

Hi, Mama Bear of the Den!

I am so relieved that your Daddy is ok. Not been on here, really struggling with pain and shortness of breath.

But I wanted to tell you, I understand your fear, because my Dad died of colon cancer that had metastasized to his brain.

Please tell him to pop Pez instead of aspirin!

(((Hugs)))
Sheila, one of your many Baby Bears

[Fluffysmom]

I'm so happy for you and your family!  I hope your dad will give up aspirin now!

I'm glad you got plenty of rest; must have been a trying time.

Hope the drive and your appointment go smoothly.

Big Hugs,

Kathy

[Momzilla]

Whew!

I'm glad they figured out what was going on with your poor dad.  He's been through a lot this past year. I can't imagine your relief!

Get some rest and good luck with the drive/appointment.

Hugs,

Zilla*

[hbananas]

Hooooorrraaaaayyyyy!!

Holly

[Cre8_it]

I'm sooo happy to hear this good news about your dad!!  :0)  Hope all goes well at your appointment.

Hugs
Zeta

[Quixotic1]

Your wishes all came true.  His bleeding was from some sort of inflammation and TOO MUCH ASPIRIN.  No cancer, no twisting.  They are keeping him for observation.  Thank you all!

I slept all day, probably in relief.  My MS neuro is almost 50 miles away, so I will be gone a good part of tomorrow.

Take care and I'll be back soon.

Quix

[Cre8_it]

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad.  It's tough when family members are ill, especially the not knowing part.  All you can do is hope for the best and try not to worry too much ok.

Sending hugs and prayers
Zeta

[monotreme]

Hi Quix,
   I am sorry that your dad is having problems and I am sure you are missing your Sunday dinner together.  I am with Heather and hope it is all from the aspirin and no serious damage has occurred.   I will pray for you and your family.   You're not alone,Quix.  

Elaine

[deborah0904]

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad.   I'll be praying for you guys!

[julia111]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Daddy ....... and sending lots of prayers your way.

I can relate to what you are going through as I too, have parents in their 80's, and deal with similar issues.  

Hernia surgery for Dad on Tuesday - and surgery for Mom in Nov. on her 90% blocked Carotid Artery.  In this case, she hasn't been taking enough aspirin as prescribed by physician!

Hang in there!

Julia

[sllowe]

Hi Quix,

Praying the aspirin hasn't cause permanent damage, and the colonoscopy reveals all that needs to be know so your Dad can get the care he needs.

Take good care of yourself throughout, you'll know something soon enough.  Like Heather says, all members will work w/each other so you don't have to worry about us too.

If you need us as a distraction, we don't mind having a Drifty Quizzle.
Sending you and your Mom frettless thoughts and healing prayers for your Dad,

-Shell