Monday, June 23rd, 2003
The weekend, etc.
Dad's doing fine today. He had a pretty good weekend, though he did have a period of anxiety yesterday evening. Dad took a dose of Lorazepam, and that helped greatly.
He and Mom have had some welcome company today. John Johnson came and visited with Dad while Johnny Kirk helped Mom take honeycomb off her beehives. What a help! Also, the crew that's been cleaning up tornado debris in their area came back today and cleared a huge pile of debris that Mom and I (mostly Mom) had collected over the past couple of weeks. Mom joked that she can't get a decent "burn pile" built if they keep doing that!
Dad's appointment with Dr. C. Jason Cherry, his new cardiologist, is scheduled for Friday, June 27th. We're praying that Dr. Cherry will be able to find what caused the seizures in the first place, and will be able to treat it effectively.
Posted at 3:06 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, June 19th, 2003
Stress test results back
Dr. Diffee called this afternoon with the results of Dad's nuclear stress test. Apparently, they weren't clear enough for the cardiologist, Dr. Cherry, to make a definite diagnosis, so Dr. Diffee is going to make an appointment for Dad with Dr. Cherry to do another evaluation. Hopefully, they'll get to the bottom of it soon.
Dad's felt good today, and his spirits have much improved now that the siezures have apparently ceased. As always, though, please keep him in your prayers.
Posted at 7:46 pm by Tony :: link
Wednesday, June 18th, 2003
A successful outing
Mom and Dad went out today on errands. Mom went to the Eye Clinic to get her new glasses fixed (they made them bifocals by mistake, which she can't use), and Dad sat in the truck while she went in for that. Then they went to Kroger for some essential groceries, and Dad pushed the cart around the store. Mom said he did fine, and Dad says that he wasn't even tired out by the experience.
Dad's gone four days now without a seizure. Now that his Dilantin level is up where it should be, we're hoping and praying that he may never have another, and just keeps getting stronger and healthier.
Posted at 3:12 pm by Tony :: link
Even better than yesterday
Dad feels even better today than he did yesterday! He's even planning to go with Mom to the grocery store today.
Also, Dr. Misulis' office called with the results of his Monday blood test; his Dilantin level is up to 13! They were trying to get it up between 10 and 20, so 13 is a great number.
Dad's recovery just keeps on going. Thanks for all your prayers, everyone!
Posted at 9:08 am by Tony :: link
Tuesday, June 17th, 2003
A good day
Dad had a good day today. This is the third day without a seizure, and that's the longest he has gone without one since June 5th. We are so grateful that he is doing so well. Please remember him in your prayers!
Posted at 10:01 pm by Tony :: link
''A hundred percent better''
Dad said this morning that he's feeling "a hundred percent better" than he did yesterday. He sounds a lot better, too. He got a good night's sleep and that helped him a lot. He says he has a little dizziness today, but nothing like yesterday, and only when he's getting up from lying down. Mom's still tired from yesterday, but she's very much relieved that Dad's doing so well. Dad asked me to thank everyone for their continuing prayers.
Posted at 9:38 am by Tony :: link
Monday, June 16th, 2003
Much improved—and asleep
Dad's gone to bed early tonight, quite tired from the tests today. Part of the stress test involved injecting a radioactive dye along with a drug that significantly increased his heart rate, and that wore him out.
Before he went to sleep, I got to talk to him for a few minutes and he said he felt much better than he did earlier today. (Somebody's praying out there, aren't you? Come on, admit it!) He thinks he'll get a good night's sleep tonight, and hopes to feel even better tomorrow. Me too.
Please keep him in your prayers, folks!
Posted at 6:38 pm by Tony :: link
"Lousy"
I just talked to Dad for a couple of minutes and asked how he was feeling, and he sighed and said, "Lousy, Tony." He went to bed last night feeling the unease that he associates with the onset of a seizure and woke up with it this morning, and has apparently had it to some degree ever since. He hopes that Dr. Diffee or Dr. Misulis will be able to isolate the cause and get him back to feeling reasonably good, but feeling this way has been very discouraging for him.
On the positive side, he still has not had even a mild seizure since Saturday morning—he only feels that he might at any time. Please keep him in your prayers.
Posted at 2:47 pm by Tony :: link
Tests went well
Dad went in for his nuclear stress test today. He said it involved an isotope injection in his hand and three CT scans over the course of four hours, along with some other tests. Not much exersion was required, but apparently they get a lot of info by watching the radioactive markers course through his circulatory system. No results yet, of course, but I'll post that here when it comes in.
Also, Dad's gone two days now without even a mild seizure. He felt some unease, as if one might be imminent, last night and this morning, but nothing ever happened. We were all grateful for that.
Please pray with us that Dad's test results are clear and good, and that he continues his remarkable recovery.
Posted at 11:53 am by Tony :: link
Sunday, June 15th, 2003
Father's Good Day
Dad had a good day today. We both were a bit restless in the middle of the night and watched a little television together, and he said then that he felt better than he had all day Saturday. This morning he said the same thing, and it seemed to carry through all day. Mom and Christie went to church together while I stayed with Dad, and he seemed fine all morning and afternoon.
As of when Christie and I got back to Nashville tonight, Dad hadn't had even a mild seizure, nor had he felt as if one were coming on. It does give us reason to hope that the worst is over. Thanks so much for your continuing prayers, folks; the answers are coming.
Posted at 8:45 pm by Tony :: link
Saturday, June 14th, 2003
Weekend update
Christie and I came in last night for a visit over the Flag Day/Father's Day weekend. Ironically, the flagpole that we gave Dad for Father's Day last year had been buckled by the tornado last month. The replacement parts that I ordered just arrived on Friday, so I fixed the pole last night and raised the flag this morning. God bless America, and God bless Dad.
Dad felt better all morning, but at about 11:20am he had another mild seizure. It lasted less than ten seconds, but it seemed to take a lot out of him. He's in bed napping now. They say it will take several days for the Dilantin to reach the level they'd like to see in Dad's system, so we keep praying that the seizures will stop soon and Dad will continue improving.
Thanks for all your calls and prayers!
Posted at 11:12 am by Tony :: link
Friday, June 13th, 2003
A recurrence
Dad had another mild seizure today. He had walked out and gotten the mail while Mom and Reed had gone to pick up some sticks in the yard, and after coming in and sitting in his recliner for about ten minutes, he came around and realized what had happened. He said he'd have thought he had dozed except that he was sore all over (all the muscles tense up during a seizure, and afterwards it feels like a full-body charley horse). He's feeling much better now. They called and talked to Shelly, Dad's nurse, and she said not to worry, as it would take several days for the Dilantin in Dad's system to reach the level required to prevent these from recurring.
Please continue to pray for Dad and Mom, especially during this time.
Posted at 4:05 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, June 12th, 2003
CT scan, other tests look good
Dad went in for a CT scan this morning, and had another small seizure in the truck on the way. Mom was driving, and she just took him right on to the hospital, where they took him inside in a wheelchair. He had his CT scan, then they took him to the ER for some blood tests.
After all that, Dad finally had his appointment with Dr. Misulis. He went over the CT results and said that they were clear, and Dad looks like he's recovering well, if we can only get him over these little seizures. He had Dad take three Dilantin capsules while he was there, and upped his dosage to two every morning and two every night. He said that he believed that would take care of it.
As of this writing, Dad hasn't had any more seizures, but he's felt all evening as if he might have one at any time. We're thinking that he might feel that way for a while even if the Dilantin works, and that it will lessen over the course of a few days. That's what we're praying for, and we appreciate your prayers as well.
Posted at 8:20 pm by Tony :: link
Wednesday, June 11th, 2003
*Test results back
Dr. Diffee called; Dad's blood tests came back and his Dilantin level is a bit low, so he's recommending that Dad up his dosage to two capsules in the morning and two in the evening. Dad weathered the day without even a small seizure, much to our joy. He's taking it very easy as he has a full morning tomorrow, with a CT scan scheduled for 7:30am and an appointment with Dr. Misulis at 8:45am.
[Note: this weblog entry and the six preceding it were saved offline and published later. Sorry for the technical difficulty]
Posted at 8:00 pm by Tony :: link
Tuesday, June 10th, 2003
*Small episode
Dad had another mild seizure tonight while sitting in his recliner; he relaxed again after a few seconds and came out of it very quickly.
It seems that once he's had one of these episodes it relieves whatever has caused it, and he feels better. if he doesn't have it, the faintness and loss of equilibrium continues.
Posted at 8:00 pm by Tony :: link
Monday, June 9th, 2003
*Good doctor visit, and a shower scene
Mom and Dad went to the Jackson Clinic today for Dad's appointment. Carla, the nurse, came out to the front and wanted an update on what had been happening. Mom and Dad brought her up to date on all three events. She told them that Dr. Diffee would want to see Dad after they took their blood samples.
Dr. Diffee came in a few minutes later and "got the picture" from Mom and Dad. He suggested that they get an EKG and go from there, so they hooked Dad up and read the meter. Dr. Diffee showed Mom and Dad his new computer which compares EKG tests over time. He showed them Dad's EKG results from today and from the last time he was tested, and there were only minor differences if any.
Dr. Diffee said that tests Dr. Misulis had done earlier had shown some blockage in Dad's carotid artery and heart, and that he would talk to Dr. Misulis today about that. He said he'd like to do a stress test on Dad, but since he's not really strong enough for a full treadmill test, he's going to schedule him for a nuclear stress test, which will give them more detailed results without requiring as much of a workout. The test is tentatively scheduled for Monday morning, and will take four hours. Instructions are that he should have no caffeine after 7am Sunday, which is not a problem since he's given up the stuff already.
Dad had another "small seizure" this evening, this time in the shower. He was using a shower stool as a precaution, and when the episode hit, he slumped off the stool to the floor. Mom heard him, and came in quickly and turned the water off. She turned off the hot water first, and the cold water that was left brought Dad right around, so he wasn't out but for a few seconds. (None of these episodes seem to be lasting more than about a minute.)
He didn't bump his head or anything else this time, and except for getting a bit chilled by the cold water, he felt fine afterwards.
Posted at 8:00 pm by Tony :: link
Sunday, June 8th, 2003
*Another episode
Dad had another episode again tonight while sitting at the foot of the guest bed watching TV. He fell forward and hit his nose on a chair, and managed to bloody it up a bit. Mom said that he soaked seven washcloths before it finally quit. He's feeling better now though, but is just very tired.
Mom and Dad are keeping their nurse and Dr. Diffee informed, and will see him on Monday unless Dad's situation changes.
Posted at 8:00 pm by Tony :: link
Saturday, June 7th, 2003
*No episodes is good episodes
Dad weathered the day without even a mild seizure. He did feel a little off-balance today, as if he might have one at any time, but it never came. Mom put a damp cloth with ice on his head and neck when he wanted it, and he believed that it helped.
Posted at 8:00 pm by Tony :: link
Friday, June 6th, 2003
*Chest discomfort, but no immediate cause for alarm
Today Dad stood outside for a while with a neighbor watching the tornado cleanup work, then came in and told Mom he was feeling some heaviness in his chest. He took a nitroglycerin pill, and they checked his blood pressure and found that it had spiked, but then it came down quickly. They called Dad's nurse and she said that they'd done exactly what they should have, and that based on Dad's blood pressure and pulse rate she said that it was very unlikely to have been anything like a heart attack. The plan is still for them to go in on Monday morning to Dr. Diffee's office for Dad's blood tests.
Posted at 8:00 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, June 5th, 2003
*A long-overdue update
As those of you who have had contact with Dad lately are aware, he has been progressing very rapidly. As a matter of fact, he has said that he can now see improvement from day to day, not just week to week. His legs and feet are much improved, and overall his health and strength are continuing to improve as well.
This evening however, Dad has an episode which Mom referred to as a "small seizure." Dad was sitting in his recliner watching television when his head fell to the headrest, his eyes rolled back and he began gasping loudly. Mom called to him and he quickly came back around, with a recollection that he had felt it "coming on" before it happened but no recall of the actual event. They called the clinic and the doctor on duty (Dr. Diffee) said that Dad should take one extra Dilantin capsule tonight before bed.
Posted at 8:00 pm by Tony :: link