disneydream06

Dad was supposed to have a special MRI yesterday for the clots in head, but they gave him all his heart meds at the exact same time and his blood pressure hit the floor. As a result they would not let him get the MRI and the window closed. The also figured that they dehydrated him so they gave him 2 bags of fluid.

Today was the holiday so the special MRI was not running. They said that they would keep him until tomorrow for the MRI. If they cannot fit him in they will discharge him and just book an appointment for that MRI.

On Tuesday he has an appointment to meet a man with one of the heart pumps. I have also found a group on FB fr people and caregivers of people who have LVads. I have been compiling a list of questions that I hope won't be too invasive.

Yesterday I met with a social worker who has invited me to a support group for caregivers. I would like that.

I have decided that this year I will meal prep food for Dad and just reheat. I need to eat better myself, but to eat healthy for me it has to taste good. I need more veggies and the thing with Dad's diet change for the heart pump is that I have to watch how much vitamin K he as as it causes clotting and many of my favorite veggies are high in Vitamin K.

Dad has been really board. He is down to 173 pounds. I could use that diet plan.

Dad when I went up to eat lunch with him he tells me that he has blood clots behind the eyes. A vascular doc comes in to ask question. The will try and schedule a special MRI (not a regular one as Dad has a pacemaker). This could rule out his candidacy for the LVad. At 2:30 the inserted the cardiac catheter.

When I came home a Doctor called. He sounded like he was 12 years old. His conversation led me to believe that Dad's numbers were so low that if he went home he would die. That Dad still had a lot of fluid around his heart and that he would need the catheter in for 4 or 5 days. I ended up having a panic attack while I was texting an out of state friend. I called DQ as I needed to un panic and she came over. Oh boy. I was too upset to sleep.

Today I go in and I see Dad for lunch. He said that they were taking out the Cath today and that once he had that MRI he could go home. Ummm... gee that's not what the young doctor said. I told him what was said.

I get a call at 2 asking if I could go back to Dad's room as a person from the LVad group was there. I go in and see that they did remove the catheter and a woman had an LVad machine out and was letting Dad play with it. She explained everything and showed hum how durable the device was. She ran through all the errors. She also said that if it stopped working Dad would not die as his heart still works, but just is very weak. Dad asked a ton of questions. They told him he could drive and go back to work after 8 to 10 weeks. Not sure what his choice will be.

Yesterday I took a quiet day. I thought they would be moving Dad and doing more tests. Sitting in a hospital room for hours is NOT productive, but needed or else Dad is alone with garbage tv...by garbage I mean nothing modern or good and with all those long long insurance preying on old people 20 commercials. Sigh.
I wanted to see if I could find an HDMI outlet on the TV to hook up a laptop, but they dont let you do that.

I didn't accomplish much... I'm just too overwhelmed in thinking...tackling one item is negated by another. Let's just say that while money can't buy happiness it does help with many problems.

Dad is not coming home this weekend. Today I was told that his kidneys have weakened in 2 days so much that they won't give him the meds that made him feel better over the last year. He either needs the electric heart pump or die. Or if the kidneys have gotten to the point where they won't rally then they won't give him the heart operation and he will die.

My head can't handle the financials. My pay can't handle the house.

I told the doctor I understand the procedure completely. It's the financial ramifications. I can't be out of work 2 2 or more months for the recovery. Family leave here is not 100% of my pay.

Sadly I had to call for help as I was too upset to ride the T. A cousin came to get me.

I need to find someone unattached to my family who can help me navigate this...and not make me Tyrion Lannister by killing my Mother and Father. Is there such a thing as a therapist/elder advisor/financial planner person?