The Day After

I wasn't allowed to stay overnight in The Dawg's room in CCU, so after seeing him twice on Thursday afternoon and after almost-no-sleeping in his room Wednesday night, I decided to go home and get a really good night's rest.

There was a phone call from the hospital at 7:30 am. It was Dr. Jenkins. She said, "Mr. Smith seems confused and agitated. He insists that we have kept you away from him for three days. He is asking for his wife." She asked if I would talk to him if she called back from his bedside. Well, of course I would.

Within moments Dr. Jenkins called back and put him on the phone. He sounded just find to me, and much better than he had sounded during the week before Thursday's procedure.

Carroll asked when I would be at MUSC; I told him it would be this morning but that I didn't want to drive in the morning traffic into Charleston, that I hadn't yet dressed, that I had a few errands to run, including going to the bank, and I needed to pick up something he had requested.
It took a bit longer than anticipated and was late morning when I arrived.

Time I walked in, Carroll asked where I had been; he said they had been treating him like a child and had put him on restriction! He said to please go let them know I was there so they would let him off of restriction and out of there. He was sitting up in a chair.

He said he wanted to get off of restriction so he could go get a beer tonight.

Carroll also said they thought he was crazy. He kept trying to figure out what he had done wrong to make them mad at him and put him on restriction.

I told him that morphine sometimes makes people disoriented and confused and perhaps even agitated. He said he would never take that stuff again. He continued to insist he isn't crazy.

Then he asked again where I had been before I got to the hospital and why I hadn't come to see him yesterday. (I was with him the entire time before the procedure and went into his CCU room twice afterwards. He also didn't remember that Vic, Edie and Courtney had visited.) He also didn't remember watching the Braves play ball, but later said they won, which they did.

When he dozed off, he kept saying "one day" and "restless man."

Hospital personnel told us that all of this could be attributed to the morphine and to his disorientation. Dr. Schreiner said that sometimes coming back to a different room could cause a patient to become confused, especially in CCU with all of the equipment.

Look at these beds and the surrounding equipment. It's much more intimidating than it looks in the photos.

This is Kissia, a nurse in CCU. She patiently answered all his questions.

Sam came in and touch Carroll's blood sugar level so that he could eat.

Becky took time with Carroll also. She's originally from Montana.

Kim is another friendly MUSC employee; she's with environmental services.

As of mid-afternoon, he has moved out of CCU into a room on 3rd floor.

He is still on oxygen; Dr. Schreiner tried to take him off of oxygen, but his oxygen level dropped when he took a few steps in the hall.

As the morphine is wearing off, he is becoming more oriented, but not totally.

Dr. Townsend just came in and said Carroll may be able to go home tomorrow (Saturday) but it will be with a portable oxygen tank.

Dr. Schreiner told us that they (the "team") are very pleased with the success of the procedure and believe Carroll is doing quite well. That's good news, huh?

Relief is Getting Closer

Dr. Timothy is meeting with us right now, going over risks and the procedure itself.

Here are some of the risks he mentioned, while saying it is a moderate to high-risk procedure:

vascular damage or kidney damage

damage to organ

infection

perforation of the ventricle - 1% to 2%

stroke - 2 to 5

death - 2 to 5 per cent

heart attack - 2 to 5 per cent

allergic reaction

needing emergent surgery

needing blood transfusion

other

All of the risks listed that do not have percentages by them seem to be less than 2%.

This is a bit different from what we had been told before but Carroll says anything is better than the way he is right now.

Here are Dr. Timothy and Kelly; they are going over the risks and such with Carroll.

Saturday Update: Trivia, Friends and MUSC

The Dawg and I have been quite impressed with everyone we've met at MUSC Hospital.

He has appointments on Tuesday with two specialists, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

We hope that we'll know more as of Tuesday as to treatment and such.

He's gotten out a little more in the last two or so days. We played a bit of trivia, a favorite pasttime of ours. One thing he has learned: I don't let him win just 'cause he's been sick. When he wins (which is too often, I think), it's certainly not that anyone is letting him win.

Last night we dropped by O'Lacy's for a short while so that we could see friends we hadn't seen in a while (Chuck, Richard, Liz, Pat, Danny, Susan, Shanna, Stephanie and more.)

The Dawg still gets tired and experiences shortness of breath with just a few steps. We both hope the heart specialists at MUSC can do something about that. Even with all he's been through, he says he doesn't have any pain; it's just the shortness of breath that keeps him from doing much. If replacing/repairing/treating the heart valve helps that and if the fluid is drained from his lungs, he'll be able to get out and about more.

Improvement? Tests! Food!

Today seems to have been The Dawg's best day since he got out of the hospital. Yippee!!!!
He still gets very short of breath but he's taking his breathing treatments. We learned there is still some fluid in the lungs; there are procedures to remove the fluid, thank goodness.

Part of the shortness of breath may be due to his heart valve problems. He has appointment with one of the heart specialists on Tuesday, so we're hoping something can be done about that.
He had open heart surgery to replace the valve scheduled for May 19th; that was postponed when he was hospitalized with pneumonia.

The Dawg will have more tests on Thursday at MUSC. We'll be there about five or six hours, or so we've been told. These were ordered after medical appointments on Tuesday.

He received a phone call today with a special pre-testing diet. He has to have black coffee, bacon and eggs and nothing else for breakfast on Thursday AND the exact same thing tonight for supper. Isn't that a strange pre-test diet????

That means he can't eat what he had last night:

That bowl was slap full of ice cream!!!

Tuesday night was a good one for the Braves! Hurrah!

Tonight wasn't so good for the Braves, but at least they've won 2 out of 3 in this series. There's one more game against Pittsburg on Thursday.

First Day Out of the Hospital

During The Dawg's last two days in the hospital, he was just itching to get out. He had energy, he said; he felt better.

Well, he IS better, but he's also realizing that what felt like energy IN the hospital is not the same outside the hospital. He's still very weak, tires easily and is very short of breath. Just talking on the phone is a struggle.

He gets weaker just walking to the kitchen or lifting anything at all, which is why he needs to rest, relax and do nothing.

We went to the Waffle House today. Thank goodness, there was a parking spot right at the front door, but Carroll still got tired walking in.

He lost a lot of weight during his 9-day stay at Summerville Medical Center. Of course, a meal a day at the Waffle House like the one he had today will put the weight back on.

And, naturally, I'm not going to sit there and watch him eat without also eating, so I'll probably be gaining as well. It's the story of my life - at least for the last few years!

The Braves won last night, so that was a picker-upper for Carroll. It was a great game!!!



He misses all of the nice, attentive folks at the hospital, but there are two things he likes about being out: he can watch all of the Braves' games AND he doesn't have to wear that "dress" any more.

We have more pictures that were taken yesterday at the hospital. Most were taken while the wonderful folks were rolling him out of the room for tests or bringing him back in after those tests. The two chest x-rays were done in the room.

It's amazing how mobile such equipment is now. There is so much that can be done right in the room. Even the transesophageal echocardigram earlier this week was done in his room.

Day 9 The Dawg is OUT!

The Dawg had several procedures today, including a chest x-ray around 2:30 or 3 pm. He was able to leave the hospital at about 4 pm - finally. That means he was at his house to sit and watch the Braves win their game against Toronto tonight! Yippee!

It's wonderful that he was able to leave the hospital, but this does not mean all is well. We won't know the results of some of the tests for a few days, so continue to keep him in your prayers.

He is still tired and gets winded quite easily. There is no doubt, however, that he is better than he was - and that is good news!

More pictures tomorrow!

Day 9 in the Hospital Procedures

Well, the Dawg had two procedures this morning. During one, he said they removed a quart of fluid from his lung. That ought to make a big difference, don't you think?

He'll have a chest x-ray at 12:30, then should be able to go home around 3 pm.

Day 8 in the Hospital Part 2

When I got to the hospital today, The Dawg was out of his hospital "dress" and in his regular clothes. No sheets on the bed and he was packed up. He was ready to go home. Dr. Bolster told him early this morning that he might be able to go home today, but that it would be up to Dr. Handshoe.


Here he is with Stephanie.

If you look closely in the above picture, you'll see a container of boiled peanuts next to The Dawg. His daughter-in-law, Edie, made them and brought them to him today. She also sent some on Sunday. Here's Edie:


Son, Vic, looks on as Stephanie checks Carroll, probably wiring him up to machine he took off when he got dressed.

Well, he's not going home today. More tests Friday morning; however, Dr. Handshoe has already said Carroll can go home Friday afternoon.

Here is Dr. Handshoe giving him the news:

He'll have fluid drawn off his lungs tomorrow to testing to determine what kind of fluid it is and what's causing it. There will also be biopsies.

Cancer has not been ruled out but Dr. Handshoe said the spot on the upper right lung didn't look like cancer, although, as he mentioned, cancer can look different some times. There's also a possibility of "bird fancier's lung disease." There are probably other possibilities as well. We should know more after tomorrow's tests are read, which probably won't be until Tuesday since Monday is a holiday.

Everybody at Summerville Medical Center has been wonderful, but The Dawg still wants to go home.

Here's another one of the nice people. She's Jenny, and she shares Carroll's last name. She's a Smith.

Thank goodness, the Braves are playing tonight on a channel Carroll can get in the hospital room.

Day 8 in the Hospital

There's a chance that The Dawg will be able to go home today!!! It's not definite, though. Dr. Bolster told him this morning the infection is not totally cleared but that he would let him go home IF Dr. Handshoe releases him as well. Even if he goes home, he will return on Friday for the bronchoscopy, based on yesterday's discussion.

We'll see.

Day 6 in the Hospital Part 3

The Dawg and I were both in his room when we started hearing a strange noise, which is not terribly unusual in the hospital. Something's always beeping. Maybe his IV monitor; maybe one down the hall. There are all kinds of sounds.

But this one was different. After the loud noise sounded a few times, we heard an announcement over a speaker system -- except that we couldn't understand it. I thought I heard something about behind the administration office. We heard scurrying in the hallway.

Then someone came to the door and confirmed our suspicions. It was a fire alarm!!!!

Now, here we are on 3rd floor - and he's hooked up to machines and such. (And him wearing what he calls "this dress" that's open down the back.)

The lady at the door said it was indeed a fire alarm, and then she started shutting the door. I asked what we were supposed to do.

She said to just wait. No one smelled any smoke. If there was anything to it, they would keep him (The Dawg) safe.

A short while later, someone else came and opened the door and said everything was okay.

Oh, well, so much for excitement in the hospital!

Day 6 in the Hospital Part 1 - Good News

Carroll had the transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) today and the report is good. Dr. Coker said there is no vegetation on the other valve.

Team members look almost TOO happy to be starting this process, don't they?

There's still some infection in the lungs, based on yesterday's tests, so he's still on antibiotics. There's also a yeast infection in his mouth.

He has his cell phone and is able to receive calls on that, although he gets very winded while talking.

The Dawg has had some nice visitors this morning. Danny Seay came by, as did Ruben Grooms. Carroll's son, Vic, was at the hospital before, during and after the TEE. I wasn't in the room when Danny & Ruben stopped in, so I didn't get photos of them. Vic is pictured below.

Pat Gerwig, who works at Summerville Medical Center and who goes to church at St. Luke's, came by shortly after the procedure. Wanda Garris called to check on The Dawg today. She and Carroll worked together at the shipyard a "few" years ago. Wanda was stuck talking to me because Carroll had just been given the medicines to make him groggy for the procedure.

Courtney, his granddaughter, came by last night after I left. He enjoyed her visit also.

Day Three

Well, Day Three wasn't so good, but that's primarily because the Braves didn't win tonight. In fact, they didn't win by a whole lot.

The Dawg was still tired today, wheezing and short of breath, but he's certainly better than he was on Thursday.

Now, let's talk about the personnel at Summerville Medical Center. Have you ever seen people who seem so delighted to bring the needles to stick the patients?

Laura, Jenny, Lori, Bobbie and Pam certainly seem to enjoy their jobs! They've been wonderful!

In fact, I almost hate to leave at night. They seem to enjoy The Dawg too much!






Here, I think Bobbie is having the same problem with Carroll that Mindy had yesterday. He's not supposed to talk when he's taking the breathing treatment (i.e. "smoking the peace pipe.")

He had some nice visitors today, including Vic & Edie, Lisa, Pete & Mary, and Pastor Holley from St. Luke's. Pastor Holley, who had just arrived (two hours earlier) back in the area from his daughter's graduation in Chicago, had devotions with Carroll.

Friday Night - More Great Folks!

In the previous post, we showed Mindy, the respiratory therapist who spent a long time with Carroll, listening to his stories about training pigeons. That's something he's been doing since he was about 12 years old. He had pigeons in a race last November in Jacksonville and has some entered in a race this coming November. In that race the pigeons will fly from near Nashville, TN, to the Spartanburg, SC, area.



The next friendly Summerville Medical Center employee we met was Julie. I can't remember exactly what she was doing in this picture, but I believe this is just after one of the contraptions he's hooked up quit working. It was telemetry monitor, I think. Julie had it working in no time.



Carrie was his evening nurse Friday evening/Saturday morning. Carrie is one more member of a great staff. She checked in on him several times and seems to be very patient. That's good!

George is another respiratory therapist. While The Dawg was taking another breathing treatment (smoking his "peace pipe"), we learned that George likes hunting and fishing.

Friday night, The Dawg watched the Georgia-South Carolina baseball game on TV, the live feed of the Atlanta-Arizona baseball game on the Blackberry and he worked today's crossword puzzle.

He's still coughing and there's still some wheezing. It will take more than these two days in the hospital to clear up the pneumonia and to find out if that is the only problem in his lungs. He's still getting three kinds of antibiotics and other medications.

There's only one time I've questioned his behavior. Yesterday when I looked up from paperwork, he was watching TV. He was watching one of those home shopping networks; they were selling nothing but bras! Somehow, I don't think he was in the market to buy one!

It's Day Two at the Hospital

It's Day Two for this hospital stay, and there are still likes and dislikes.

The Dawg is better today. This is a great big like. Of course, he's not well, but better than yesterday. Apparently the antibiotics, breathing treatments, rest, sleep, oxygen, etc. are all helping. He even sat up in a chair for a while today.

Here he is shown smoking a peace pipe. That's what he calls it but actually he's taking a breathing treatment. The Dawg wasn't supposed to be talking while taking the treatment, but he kept trying to talk anyway. Imagine that!

The respiratory therapist kept turning it off each time he talked. He's looking at her, just waiting to talk again.

Below, Mindy, the respiratory therapist, has a great big smile. Maybe it's because he FINALLY quit talking and finished the breathing treatment.

And, yes, he's still tired of wearing "this dress." The dress is a dislike.

Unfortunately, the TV in his hospital room doesn't have enough channels for him to get to see the Atlanta Braves play tonight, so that might cause a temporary setback. Being unable to see the Braves game is one of his dislikes.

Jane Hartwig from church (St. Luke's) came by today and prayed with him. When she left, he said he thought he felt better already! Now, that's a real big like!

The Dawg: Hospital Likes and Dislikes

This is the remote for the TV. This is a BIG dislike. Here's the reason. He can't go down on the channels, only up.

So, for example, if he has been watching something on channel 7 but wants to find something else. He can go up only. If he has just finished a show on 7 and knows there's a sports event on 5 that he wants to watch, he has to click on every channel up to about 125, then back to 2, 3, 4 and finally 5. No, he doesn't like this.



He liked his food tonight, especially the beef and rice.



Here, he's talking to Ella. She was the daytime nurse today -- and she's great. She even remembered us from his last stay in the hospital back in February (or early March.) Even if she weren't good, he'd like her. She has the same last name as a player for the Atlanta Braves. Nancy was there today also. Ella put up with a lot from us today - always with a smile.
Tonight, his nurse is Kevin, who is assisted by Tamme. I only got to see them briefly before leaving at 9 pm.

Oh, this picture also has a dislike. He dislikes the "dress" he is wearing. That's what he has been calling the hospital gown.


This sign, I guess, is a big like also. It's just outside his door; there's one just like it outside the door of the man in the next room. That's because both patients are men and both are named "Smith." Ella told The Dawg that if someone came in during the middle of the night with a humongous needle to tell 'em they had the wrong Smith.

In the Hospital

The Dawg’s open heart surgery - scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th - has been postponed.
That’s because he’s in the hospital with lung problems.

After an initial x-ray, his doctor thought the spots on his lungs might be cancer. Now, after a follow-up MRI, it seems that he may have pneumonia instead. His doctor asked him to come into his office this morning and decided to put him in the hospital immediately.
The lung specialist saw him this afternoon at the hospital.

Pneumonia is what they’re treating him for right now anyway – with intravenous antibiotics. Actually, he’s on three kinds of antibiotics. There also may be some fluid in his lungs because of his defective heart valve.

One of the doctors said Carroll most likely will be in the hospital about 5 to 7 days. Any infection of any sort must be completely cleared up before he can have the surgery to replace his heart valve.

He's in pretty good spirits. That's because he just found a Georgia Bulldogs football game on TV. You're probably thinking it's not football season. You're right; it's not the right season. It's a game that's almost 13 years old!

As long as it's Georgia, the year of the game doesn't matter!