Pneumonia

Roche Family News
The diagnosis is pneumonia and a urinary tract infection. She is much more alert now although she says she still feels "blah". It is amazing what those IV meds do for her! She hasn't seen a doctor today but Colleen talked to Dr. Avandi?? (who we have had before) on Monday. Barring any complications, I imagine she will stay a couple of days and then head back to St. Anne's.

Welcome Back to Columbia

Roche Family News
Sunday evening we got a call from St. Anne's that they were concerned about Mom's change in affect today and were sending her back to Columbia's ER. She was very sleepy today and would nod off in the middle of a sentence. She was definitely heading downhill again and we all appreciate the attentiveness that got the nurses to call the doctor on Sunday night.

Pat & I did the vigil at the ER and at around 12:30 AM she went to a room. She has a urinary tract infection and the start of some pneumonia. She is on IV Levoquil and oxygen. It is always more comforting when she is in the hospital because they monitor her so well.

Her room is 561 and her phone is 961-4561. She will probably be too weak for phone calls tomorrow. We'll keep you posted.

Feeling Punky on Packer Sunday

Roche Family News
It has been a busy weekend for Mom. Colleen, John & Kate came to visit Sat and then a surprise visit from Patrick and Colin. Pat's here to take Colin to his very first Packer game on Sunday. Colin is very excited. He's packed all of his Packer gear and I painted a Packer G on his cheek.

Unfortunately, Mom is feeling pretty lousy. She is very congested and feeling worn out. She coughs a lot and says she isn't sleeping well. She is tired of feeling sick and I don't blame her. She can't seem to put one healthy week together. The nurses are keeping an eye on her. She is back on antibiotics and a medication for the congestion and they are giving her regular nebulizer treatments for her breathing. She's a fighter!

Trick or Treat

It was Trick or Treat with the kindergarteners from St. Mary's School today at St. Anne's. They were all very cute. They came in their costumes to the Gathering Room and sang a little song. Mom and & I went down to see them parade in.

Bridge and Al came last night and brought some sugar free candy. That helps her sweet tooth especially since they were having Chocolate Fest after the kids left and she couldn't have any.

Mom's breathing is labored and her cough is very congested sounding. She is back on the oxygen again. She is hanging in there though. When I left her she was catching up on her soap opera.

Looking Good

Roche Family News

Our Family Care Angel, Stacy attended a staffing on Mom this week. I thought her update would be pertinent. They have since increased her diuretic to help with the heart failure and breathing. Brendan and Tim and I saw her Wed. night and she was very cheerful. No Oxygen. We brought Sam and that always makes her happy.

Here's what Stacy had to say:

I just wanted to give you an update on the staffing held at St. Anne's today.
Your mother was not present at the meeting. I attempted to find her before hand and found that her hallway was being waxed and blocked off. Later, I found that she was visiting with her sister and niece in the sunroom downstairs. (Kathleen snuck her a box of chocolates).

Pat (RN), Dagnia (Social worker), Kristi (dietician), Trish (Rehab director) and
Sara (activities) were present.

Pat reported that your mother had an x-ray completed on Tuesday and this came back clear for pneumonia. They did find that she has some mild heart failure and today had a call into Dr. Hawes for new orders which may be causing some of the respiratory issues. They had given her some nebulizer treatments yesterday and have her on oxygen for her to be comfortable but said that her oxygen stats were good. They also had adjusted her Potassium last week as her blood levels came back off. The blood test from this week came back normal. Pat also stated that her legs are looking good and that they are healing further.

Trish (rehab) reported that your mother is walking 60-70 feet with her walker
2-3 times during sessions. At this time she continues to make progress for
Medicare B. They are watching this and have some concerns that she may get into a cycle where she bottoms out and progress stops due to her health and will need to re-evaluate afterwards. They are aware that the ultimate goal would be for her to go home and will continue to work towards that.

Kristi (dietician) is reporting that your mother's appetite is very good. Her
weight is stable around 140 pounds give or take 5 pounds. She weighed 160 when she was admitted to St. Anne's and they attribute that to the water weight. She is going to be looking at the menu again for your mother and see if some more of the sweets can be allowed now that the diarrhea is attributed to the colitis and not the diet. I believe there was some kind of cream pie issue yesterday . . .

Sara (activities) reported that your mother is not participating in any
activities at this time. I talked with her that your mother tends to need some
more encouragement to get out of her room. Someone from the activities
department named Sharon is visiting one on one with your mother and they hope through this to get her knowing someone that she will feel comfortable to come down. She also has a nice group of ladies that she eats meals with that are social and the hope is that she may participate with them. Sara also said that your mother is tired a lot of the time and that she simply does not feel up to attending yet.

When I saw your mother, she really looked well in comparison to my last visit.
She was dressed and had her hair neatly done. She recognized me and we had a
nice talk. She did not complain of any pain to me and said that everyone is
treating her well at St. Anne's. I hope that the heart failure gets back under
control and that she continues to make additional progress.

Stacy

Positive Culture

Roche Family News/It appears that my last blog didn't save so we'll try it again. The C-diff culture was positive. There had been one negative culture in the hospital so Dr. Hawes stopped the vancomycin antibiotic. The diarrhea has continued and is not letting up and it seems that there needs to be at least 3 negative cultures, a minimum of a week apart before the infection can truly be termed eradicated. So Dr. Hawes ordered an IV put in and the meds started again, Friday night.

As of Saturday, the IV was discontinued and oral vancomycin was started. According to our pharmacist connection, that is the better course as it is absorbed throughout the system. Unfortunately, Mom developed a rash from some sort of reaction. They are trying Benedryl and checking to see if another med is available. It is a shame that she is uncomfortable again. She is still sore from the continuing diarrhea.

Bridget & I visited on Sat. and she was happy for the company. Colleen is there today and helping her with the itchiness as best she can. We are still hoping for more progress walking and more independence for the future.

No news is Good News

Mom has had a pretty good run this week. She is looking good and feeling OK. Her legs are healing beautifully and she is walking with her walker more and more each day.

Her only issue now is the chronic diarrhea. It is getting very tiring for her and the staff. The doctor ordered another culture for the C-diff infection that she has been fighting. I'm not sure what that will help. If it is C-diff, nothing they have tried has gotten rid of it. If it isn't, what will they do differently? I hope this doesn't sap her energy again and throw her metabolism off.

Prayers are still appreciated, (they sure seem to be working!)

Tuesday Newsday

Pretty good weekend for Mom. On Sunday, Colleen, John and Kate visited and helped to arrange the room for Mom so she'd be more comfortable. She is doing better.

Bridget took her to the cardiologist, Dr. Thompson, on Monday. She handled the travel well and the doctor was cautiously pleased. He wants to see her back in 3 weeks as he feels she is still very fragile. Bridget found some discrepancies with the medication list from the hospital discharge and the list that ST. Anne's sent along to the doctor. She and I have been trying to decipher the changes and determine who has made them. It could be a full-time job.

Thank heaven for Colleen's sister-in-law, Diane. She is a pharmacist and is always there for us with explanations of medications and cautions about sudden changes. She has been a wealth of information.

There will have to be a few more follow up calls tomorrow. The medications for her leg ulcers has been changed by the St. Anne's doctor as well as an antibiotic that was treating the c-diff infection she's had. Unfortunately, she is dealing with the diarrhea again (more than you wanted to know???) and is very sore. The doctor was called but no treatment ordered, just a message to keep an eye on it. The Roche doctors will have to chase down some answers. Dr. Bridget is up tomorrow! Wish her luck!

The good news is that Mom's walking like a little soldier. If nothing sets her back, she could actually be walking again soon.

Busy Saturday

Roche Family News
It was a full Saturday for Mom. I got to St. Anne's a little after 7 AM and had to wake her up. 2 hours later we were ready to leave for the funeral. It takes some prep time to be beautiful! The funeral service for Mom's friend, Jean O'Connor was very nice and although it took a lot to get there, she was very glad that she went. I know she still feels sad that she couldn't be at Ella's, so she was determined to make this service.

We stayed for lunch in the church basement and she was able to visit with some of her good friends. It was good for all of them.

The story of the day had to do with Mom. It seems that Jean O'Connor's daughter called and spoke with Jean Fon's husband. She left the message with him that her Mom had died. Only problem was that Jean's husband said that "Betty's" daughter had called. Jean got on the phone and started notifying people until she called Jean O'Connor's daughter who put her straight. In the meantime, a whole lot of people thought it was true. Pat even started getting calls in Iowa, delicately asking how his mom was. It seems funny now, since she is doing so much better, but it wouldn't have been so funny last week!

After church we stopped home for a visit. When we finally got back to St. Anne's
about 3, they were playing Bingo. We all know how much she loves Bingo, so that is where I left her. When I talked to her at 8PM, she complained about being bored. Hard to believe this is the same woman that we sat vigil with in the ER just last Monday. It is nice to have her back!

Looking Up

Thursday was a good day for Mom. Bridget's friend Loye visited and made contact with the beautician so she was finally able to get the permanent she has wanted for months. That always makes her feel better.

Sad news is that Mom's good friend Jean O'Connor passed away this week but she is determined to go to the funeral. She seems strong enough so hopefullly by Sat. she will be able to get out for a little while and pay her respects. She has already given me the list of what to bring so she can be dressed appropriately. She's coming back!!!

Back Again

Roche Family News
Wednesday I received a call from Columbia Hospital saying that the doctor wanted to release Mom back to St. Anne's at 1:00. They planned to send her by ambulance. I questioned why the ambulance and was told that she was sore when she sat in the chair and they felt she would be more comfortable. My obvious question was, "Why is she being released if she can't even sit comfortably?"

I asked for the transfer to be put off until 4:00 and for the doctor to meet with us before she left. I also asked to take her in the car. My concern is that if she is transported by ambulance and not dressed, she ends up in bed and doesn't make any progress with her walking.

Bridget and I met with the doctor, Dr. Travedi and he was very helpful. He explained how serious this bleed had been and the seriousness of another. There is more danger in her bleeding again than the danger of a possible clot. He wrote orders to say that her blood should be checked daily for a week and she should return immediately to the ER if her count drops to 8 or below, indicating bleeding.

On the good news side, they feel she is stable and that the bleeding is under control. Her appetite is back and she looks much better. She was able to transfer to the car with help and walk to and from the bathroom at St. Anne's with help.

So she is back at St. Anne's, Room 215. Phone # 527-6787. Hopefully, PT will get to her today and she will start to build strength.

No Breaks for Betty

Roche Family News
Tuesday
Mom had a healthy return to St. Anne's on Thursday and Friday. She looked as good as she has looked in months. She was ready to rearrange and decorate her room and was looking forward to Bingo.

She had bouts of diarrhea over the weekend but on Monday, I received a call that she was bleeding rectally. It was a significant amount of blood. Dr. Hawes saw her at St. Anne's ( a monthly visit, not a nurse's call) and she sent her to the ER at Columbia.

Pat, Bridget, Colleen and I met her in the ER. She was as pale as is imaginable and very tired. They called in a GI consult and sent her to room 565. The GI doctor, Dr. Aman, decided to do an endoscopy to see if the bleeding was in the stomach and if he found nothing then prepare her for a colonoscopy in a day or two. Tom Coughlin came for a visit as we were waiting for the arrangements to be made for the endoscopy. He stayed with us until we saw her afterwards.

The endoscopy showed two duodinal ulcers, one larger than the other. The large one was "clipped" and the other will be treated with medication. Dr. Aman felt this was certainly the cause of the bleed and she was transfused with 3-4 units of blood, and then sent to the ICU for observation.

Mom slept comfortably and was stable all day so they have now sent her back to Room 565, phone # 961-4565. She should be there at least another day or two barring anymore complications. We all went home about 8:30PM. Another long day.

Moving Again

Roche Family News
Monday
Bridget and I did meet with Dr. Lee. He filled us in on Mom's status and said that Dr. Thompson, the cardiologist wanted to keep her until later in the week. Dr. Lee will be moving on and another doctor takes over tomorrow.

Wednesday
Bridget met with the new Dr. at dinner time today. He is planning to discharge Mom tomorrow. She filled him in on our need to have things spelled out clearly and specifically for St. Anne's. She asked for a copy of the med list, as it has changed significantly, and a separate copy of the discharge notes just for the family. That way we know what has been specified and we can more easily check to see if his orders have been followed.

She will be leaving by ambulance. They do not feel she is strong enough for a van or car ride. Bridge challenged the decision to discharge her but was told that it was time. She will leave with a catheter in place for awhile.

Thursday
Pat was there when Mom was discharged. He is here to check on her and to be a pallbearer at Ella Coughlin's funeral. She will keep the catheter until she is walking. She is also on oxygen. She sees Dr. Thompson in 3 weeks.

She is back in her old room at St. Anne's Room 215 and her phone number is 527-6787.

Moving Again

Roche Family News
Monday
Bridget and I did meet with Dr. Lee. He filled us in on Mom's status and said that Dr. Thompson, the cardiologist wanted to keep her until later in the week. Dr. Lee will be moving on and another doctor takes over tomorrow.

Wednesday
Bridget met with the new Dr. at dinner time today. He is planning to discharge Mom tomorrow. She filled him in on our need to have things spelled out clearly and specifically for St. Anne's. She asked for a copy of the med list, as it has changed significantly, and a separate copy of the discharge notes just for the family. That way we know what has been specified and we can more easily check to see if his orders have been followed.

She will be leaving by ambulance. They do not feel she is strong enough for a van or car ride. Bridge challenged the decision to discharge her but was told that it was time. She will leave with a catheter in place for awhile.

Thursday
Pat was there when Mom was discharged. He is here to check on her and to be a pallbearer at Ella Coughlin's funeral. She will keep the catheter until she is walking. She is also on oxygen. She sees Dr. Thompson in 3 weeks.

She is back in her old room at St. Anne's Room 215 and her phone number is 527-6787.

Weekend Update

Things are looking up after the whirlwind of Friday's rush to the cath lab. Mom is breathing more comfortably and pretty alert. The doctors have changed some medications (losing track and I'm not sure what they all are) and the changes have been positive so far.

We had to tell her that her good friend Ella Coughlin passed away on Friday and she is feeling very badly about missing her chance to see her over Labor Day. Pat had planned to take her to visit, but Mom ended up in the emergency room again. She is even talking about wanting to go to the funeral.

Bridget and I are meeting with the hospitalist, Dr. Lee tomorrow afternoon and I'm sure he wants to discuss discharge plans. We'll have to see what he has to say about the care she needs and whether St. Anne's will be able to handle it.

Pat is coming to town on Tues. for work and to check on Mom. Now he will also be here for Ella's funeral and to support Tom and his sisters. Tom was there for all of us, when Dad died. It will be another long, hard week.