Three weeks ago, he started getting dizzy, running a fever and throwing up. Keep in mind that my father hasn't been sick (fever or throwing up) in 12 years, and in 23 years of work he has never had to take a sick day off for himself--he's always the one taking care of us. Mom went to work on Monday and arranged for a sub half a day on Tuesday.
Tuesday, Mom takes Dad to the doctor. First, they wait for over an hour (with my father's temperature steadily rising to about 100), to find out that the doctor he usually goes to isn't in and he has to see his partner. The head nurse, who takes Dad's blood pressure, comments nonchantally, "Do you have a history of high blood pressure?"
"No."
"Oh, 'cause it's really high today." And nothing else is ever said about it. His heart was racing, his BP was in heart attack range.
The doctor comes in and says, "We think you have food posioning, but we need blood work to be sure. Take this and go down the street and they'll do it for you." Which my parents do, and they also have Dad's stomach x-rayed to make sure it's ok, because he hasn't kept food and can barely keep liquids down for over 24 hours. This was around 1. The lab tells my parents, "We're sending this over right now. Call them in about an hour or so and they should have the results."
Mom calls. "The lab doesn't send bloodwork over until after 5." She calls back at 6:30 and gets "The lab didn't send anything over today."
Wednesday Dad's fever is 103 all day. Mom is freaking out and calls the doctor back eight times and doesn't get an answer. Turns out good ol' doc had the day off and all his messages to call Mom back were being stacked onto his desk.
Thursday, and the fever is still 103. Finally, Mom is able to get a hold of the nurse, who says something to the affect of, "We gave him the right medicine, stop calling."
Keep in mind this is happening while I'm in the middle of studying for my last tests before finals, so I haven't called in a week. I get a phone call on Thursday with Mom chewing me out for being 'an inconsiderate daughter', until I finally go, "Damnit, Mom, do you want me to come over there?!"
"No, no, no..."
"I SAID I was sorry for not calling! Stop trying to guilt-trip me!"
On Friday, my mother has to go to school, because it's the last day before Thanksgiving holidays and she has loose ends to tie up before school's out. At 11, with a fever of 103.5, he calls and checks out my little brother from high school and calls the doctor, FINALLY getting in touch with his own doctor (who also prescribed me my anti-depressants), and he's worked into the lunch hour. The doctor takes one look at his bloodwork and goes, "I'm terribly sorry, but we've been treating you for the wrong thing." "You have a viral infection of the muscle ( )." He's given new medicine which immediately takes his fever down.
Saturday, I went over for a visit, and he was doing a lot better, but he was having some trouble walking. We figured it was just being tired, since on Friday he was so sick he could barely walk down the hall.
Jump to last Wednesday, and I'm out for Thanksgiving. Dad's leg has been hurting so much he can't sleep and the doctor's muscle relaxants aren't helping at all. We drive 9 hours (yes, 9 hours in a car) to visit relatives in Mississippi, and he falls FOUR times going up and down stairs, giving me a nice-sized bruise on my arm from falling twice. He manages to stumble (literally) though the holiday and my grandmother's 75th birthday party with the help of heat pads, lots of asprin (which he's mildly allergic to, btw) and a walker.
Mom took him to the doctor today, and I've been expecting a phone call all day. At 6:30, when I'm getting ready for work, I get a call.
"Your father's in the hospital."
"The doctor wants to run some tests to make sure that he has nothing more serious than we already think he has, and it's easier for him to stay overnight. Call him tomorrow, please?"
I want to go home to visit him, but I have class AND work, so I can't. Jamie and I are the ones trying to be brave for Mom and Dad, but we're all scared out of our wits.
I'm sorry, but I just had to get this off my chest. Any thoughts, good vibes, or prayers are happily accepted. Thanks, y'all.
posted
((Mayday)) That's awful, especially the problems with the doctor. Stay strong, and know we're all thinking of you.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
So they never even addressed the blood pressure issue???
You and your family and definately in my thoughts and prayers today Mayday.
I didn't read this thread for a long time because the title -- I mean, I thought it was going to be a fluff thread. I had no idea it was something so serious.
Hugs to you, Farmgirl
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Oh man, Mayday... ((((Mayday))) I know how you feel. But it'll get better. I hope everything turns out OK..
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Thank you, everyone. This really means a lot to me.
Half update: I was out today doing Christmas shopping with Toretha (thanks for going with me, dear, I needed it), and when I got home there was a message on my answering machine:
"Hi Mayday, it's Mom... Dad's had some more tests, and he's staying in the hospital for a few more days..."
I'm going to call her in a few minutes, but I hope this means they found out what's wrong with him. ::crosses fingers::
posted
I'm sorry I didn't notice this sooner! I'll be thinking of you and your family. I hope the dr. pinpoints exactly what's wrong and how to treat it soon.
posted
Okay guys, I called Mom and Dad and here's the deal: he has something called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The short version is that GBS attacks the nervous system instead of the disease. He's going to be in the hospital for quite a while, and they're giving him hemoglobin therapy for it. When I talked to him he seemed in good spirits, but Mom says he's going stir-crazy.
Right now, it's only affecting his leg, thank God, since it could have gotten much, much worse (affecting his lungs, the doctor said). At least, he's going to be in bed for six weeks--at most, six months.
I'm so relieved that they know what's wrong with him now. Thank you, everyone.
Posts: 873 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
It's good that they know what it is, that it can be stabilized, and that he will ultimately be okay. Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
I'm glad you know what's wrong now. From what I've read, G-B syndrome can be scary to watch happening, but all you can do is trust that it has its course then goes away.
Looks like it can be a complication of food poisoning, so it's quite possible that he _did_ have food poisoning to start.
posted
I spoke with my father again today, and have been instructed to relay a thank you for all the support, hugs and prayers. He's starting to go a little stir-crazy, but I he's doing great otherwise. ::laughs::
posted
I talked to Dad again today, and great news! He's done with hemoglobin treatments and should start physical therapy tomorrow! That means he'll be coming home soon!
Posts: 873 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
My father is very sick.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
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)." He's given new medicine which immediately takes his fever down.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
i hope he gets better soon.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
That means he'll be coming home soon!
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I'm glad he's doing better.
