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Title: Prayers for Lod
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Published: Feb 19, 2012
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Post Date: 2012-02-19 22:32:03 by christine
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Views: 5286
Comments: 287
I just received news that Jim was taken to the hospital several days ago for a bleeding ulcer and is not doing well. They have him on a respirator and he's not lucid. That's all I know tonight.
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#43. To: All (#0)
I'm just back from visiting Jim. Here's what happened. Over the weekend, he was having severe abdominal pain, but waited until Mrs. L left for work on Monday to call his doctor who advised him to get to the ER immediately. They took Jim into surgery to repair a bleeding ulcer. Later that night or early Tuesday morning, he became extremely agitated and ripped out all of his lines perforating an artery in the process. Back to the OR where they discovered an even larger bleeding ulcer which they repaired and stopped the internal bleeding from the perforated artery. Now they have him heavily sedated, intubated, he has an IV central feed, hands wrapped in gauze, and body restrained. Jim was awake. I shared with him everyone's expressions of concern and care. I don't know what his prognosis is. I do know he's suffering a lot and it's going to take a lot of inner strength and will on his part to recover.
I am sincerely sorry to hear about Lod, christine. Loddy is an important presence on this forum and is a voice for common sense and patience. He's a great gentleman to talk to and I always appreciate his quiet sense of humor. Prayers for him and Mrs. Lod.
Hi Christine, Thank you for your concern for Jim. I know Jim appreciates you. Below is a copy of my blurb from this morning. Since then I have learned that his breathing tube is or soon will be removed. What a great step, huh? I went by the hospital this morning on the way to work. His BP is slightly improved and his blood oxygen level is back to 100. There was a nurse in the room when I got there and before I left a respiratory therapist also came in. His eyes were open when I got there but staring at the ceiling. I leaned into his line of vision and his eyes came slowly into focus and remained so until I left. I talked to him and he again tried to respond which I discouraged. But I must have said something humorous at one point because he smiled back with his eyes and tried to form a smile with his lips which was impossible due to the breathing tube. When the respiratory tech came in it became crowded so I told him I was leaving but he strongly shook his head to indicate he didn't want me to leave. You can't believe how good that made me feel. I asked him if he knew what had happened to him and he nodded yes. But I went further and said that he had had to have a second emergency surgery and that an even bigger bleeding ulcer had been discovered. I told him also that it had been touch and go during the surgery but that it now looks like he'd been through the worst of it and was starting to heal. The nurse took a drop of blood from his finger to check his blood sugar and I asked if he'd been diagnosed with diabetes. She shook her head and said his blood sugar has to be tested because there is so much sugar in the I.V. food. That test was within normal limits. She also wanted to swab his mouth out but Jim wouldn't have it so she backed off. The respiratory tech then wanted to clean his breathing tube and his mouth and throat but he violently threw one of his legs over the other in a clear signal that he didn't want that done. He flat didn't want them to touch anywhere near his mouth. Understandable because at the very least that's got to be uncomfortable and is probably painful too. But it has to be done so the nurse said they were going to sedate him for a bit to clean his mouth and tube. At that point I knew it was time to leave so I gave him a final squeeze, told him I love him and that I'd be back. If it works out I'll try to see him later today and also stop by on my way home. Hopefully next time I'll be able to make him understand that certain procedures need to be done to make him heal faster so that he could get out of the hospital sooner. That might give him some food for thought. I also told him that John and Kim had come down Saturday and his face relaxed with a look of gratitude. I'll keep you posted.
That's good news! He sounds like a fighter.
btw, i think you were correct when you said his agitation saved his life. they may not have known about the internal bleeding otherwise.
Several years ago, on this forum,I started calling Lod...Sir Lod... No one has ever asked why, not even Lod. After arriving here, it did not take long to categorize the current dwellers, including Lod. Adding the esteemed title of "Sir" was my small attempt to show respect for a gentleman. Sir Lod has never digressed from the straight and narrow. A gentleman in my small book.
hi Cyni! i am going to print this thread and take it to Sir Lod when he's feeling better. it will so cheer him up to see everyone's comments. he will love that you came back to post such a nice sentiment. hugs, olde man ;)
Jim's breathing tube was removed late this morning. You must know that this is a momentous occasion for Jim's recovery, a turning point. I went to see him early this afternoon and ended up staying an hour and 15 minutes. Jim is lucid and grateful to be alive. He knows more or less what he's been through and he knows how close to death he has been. He remembers some of the hallucinations he had while in the coma, including family three generations back standing around his bed. So, he's awake, cogent and happy to have that breathing tube out. j
BTW, you're an angel.
awwww. ty. xoxox
suckin up to the suckups again? sheeeez. :p
More good news about Jim. I stopped by the hospital last night and Jim had been sitting upright in a chair most of the afternoon and was worn out from the effort. I left after just a few minutes. This morning he is doing much better. He slept throughout the night and looked good. Four positive events have occurred since since yesterday morning: 1. He had a shave 2. He ate a little soft food (said it was terrible) 3. He had a BM last night (said THAT was great) 4. The NG and oxygen tubes were removed from his nose. The monitoring electrodes are still connected and I assume those will remain at least until he is released from the ICU. He's a happy camper now that all the devices have neen removed from his nose and mouth. The wonders of modern medicine! j *************************** i plan to go see him this afternoon. we spoke on the phone yesterday. Jim sounded real good, but he didn't remember my visit on Monday. i've printed out the thread and will take it to him. :)
Glad to hear he's doing much better. Doctors are good for somethings, sometimes...
his two primary docs are politically like us too!
Is he out yet? Do they have him on a yogurt diet? How goes the thing?
Jim's out of ICU, but here's the report from Jay tonight. Jim had the endoscopy this morning and dodged yet another bullet. Turns out the bleeding was from a big clot in his esophagus of all things, and it was dissolved. I went to see him at 6:00 and he is very weak but alert. He tried to speak but even leaning over close to his face I couldn't understand him. He had just received a unit of blood when I arrived and shortly there after his blood oxygen level dropped precipitously. The nurses immeditely injected something into his I.V. and within seconds it returned to 100. Those people at Seton Northwest are really something special. j
Thanks for keeping us informed, christine. Hang in there, Lod! We look forward to your return! - randge
I went to the hospital this evening and Jim's improvement since this morning was, in a word, remarkable. This morning he was too weak to be heard. Tonight I actually heard his voice before entering his room. I couldn't believe it. His eyes were clear and, as I said, his voice was strong. When I entered his room he was vigorously brushing his teeth. Are you kidding? He hasn't been able to do ANYTHING vigorously since he was first hospitalized. He ate some today, he had ice chips throughout the day and some Italian ice after a few spoonfuls of broth. He had also sipped some ice tea. I also checked the cannister that was attached to the drainage tube form his stomach and there was no blood in it. Let us hope and pray that this time he truly is on the mend. j
This is wonderful news! Loddy will be back in no time. : )
yes! i was distressed when i read this morning's report. i'm feeling much more encouraged now. yay!
OK buddy, it's time to quit pinching nurse butts - and get back home - move it !
Good news. The drainage tube from his gut was removed this morning so he is no longer bleeding internally and is no longer tethered to the bed. When I got there he was sitting up in the side chair and was eating. He ate 1/2 a bowl of vegetable broth, some Italian Ice, some jello and had drunk some ice tea. That's the most he's eaten since he was hospitalized. He seemed tired from the effort but I suppose that's to be expected. He has good color in his face and his BP had gone down a bit. All in all he looks better than he has since his ordeal began. j
When I got there he was sitting up in the side chair I'm sure happy to hear that he's not bleeding internally but maybe someone should punch him in the nose for not taking better care of himself. Thanks for the update, too !!!
Jim was transferred today from Seton NW to the Bluebonnet Medical Rehabilitation Hospital. It sounds like he will get excellent rehabilitation and care there. www.texasneurorehab.com/medical-services/ Bluebonnet Medical Rehabilitation Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient services for individuals with brain injury and medically complex challenges.
Thank you for the update. Geesh, it sounds like when he got hit he got hit. Well, at least he is recovering even if it is a little slower than everyone would like to see. Give him my best wishes when you are there next.
Oh my! I don't know why the photo is oversized! I visited Jim today for the first time since he was transferred from Seton to TexasNeuroRehab. He is doing well, though still weak, but enjoying the physical therapy and strength training he's receiving twice a day. He's lost a lot of weight and needs to be fattened up. He is not enjoying the facility's food, but he's no longer on a restricted diet, so I can begin taking him some healthful smoothies. He's a bit bored and missing having access to a computer. I wish Mrs. L would get him a little laptop. I asked if there is a projected date for discharge and he answered that he didn't know. Ab, I took him your card which he enjoyed very much and asked me to thank you.
Understatement of the decade !
but enjoying the physical therapy Understatement of the decade ! LOL!!!
I should have known you'd "get it" !
so did i. :P
"speechless"
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#65. To: christine (#43)
#66. To: All, Update on Jim...Yippee! The ventilator tube has been removed!! (#65)
Here is the report from Jay, Jim's long time friend...
#77. To: christine (#66)
#79. To: PSUSA2 (#77)
#80. To: christine (#79)
#84. To: Cynicom (#80)
#85. To: All, Tuesday night update on Lod from Jay (#84)
#99. To: christine (#85)
#127. To: Cornhuskerkid (#99)
#130. To: christine (#127)
awwww. ty. xoxox
#131. To: More Good News about Jim from Jay (#130)
#139. To: christine, Lod (#131)
#140. To: FormerLurker (#139)
#150. To: christine (#140)
#151. To: titorite, All, Update (#150)
#156. To: christine (#151)
#157. To: Tonight's Report from Jay (#156)
(Edited)
#158. To: christine (#157)
#159. To: abraxas (#158)
#162. To: SIR Lod, christine (#159)
i'm feeling much more encouraged now. yay!
#163. To: noone222, All, this morning's report (#162)
#168. To: christine (#163)
#169. To: noone222, All, Update on Jim (#168)
#177. To: christine (#169)
#178. To: Update! abraxas, all (#177)
#197. To: all, (#178)
but enjoying the physical therapy
#201. To: noone222 (#197)
#203. To: Jethro Tull (#201)
#204. To: noone222 (#203)
#205. To: christine (#204)
Replies to Comment # 205.