Life can change in a hurry

[Tobin S.]

About a year ago my dad entered a hospital to have back surgery. Everything went well and he was back at home after a few days. Then one night he had a coughing fit and spit up a bunch of blood. Back to the hospital he went scared shitless. He was 56 and had quit smoking 6 months previously, but he had smoked since he was a teenager and he feared the worse.

It turned out to be blood clots that had originated from his legs and ended up in his lungs. They thought it was a complication from the surgery he had just had on his back. That started a year long ordeal in which he has been hospitalized seven times by my count. One of the blood clots turned into a lung abscess. He was promptly given blood thinners and antibiotics. Everything appeared to be okay for a little while and he was actually able to return to work for a short time. Then he started having intestinal problems. I have irritable bowel syndrome and the symptoms he was having were a lot like what I had experienced with that illness. But it turned out to be something they call "c-diff" for short. I don't know what it means, but apparently it's some kind of bacterial infection. It was thought to be a complication from the treatment he got for the lung abscess.

The c-diff illness nearly killed him. He ended up on the intensive care unit with something called "septic shock." He pulled through, but he hasn't been quite the same since then. He then had another lung abscess. Now he is back in the hospital with the c-diff problem again. Fortunately, he got there before the situation got as bad as last time. He is in isolation, though. Anyone who enters his room has to wear a surgical gown and rubber gloves and you have to wash your hands real good before leaving.

My dad sounds terrible. His life is not in danger at this point, but at the relatively young age of 57 he already sounds like a broken down old man. He sounds like he's in pain all the time when he talks and the quality of his voice sounds different. I'm sure he's in a certain amount of physical pain, but I think the biggest part of it is coming from his mind. He sounds tortured and traumatized. He's got 28 years in at work. He's got friends there that are looking into early retirement or possibly something he calls "medical retirement." He has an old two story house that he's lived in for the last 20 years. It's a beautiful place and he's put a lot of work and money into it. He even won a city beautification award for it. Now he's talking about selling it and getting a little place like I've got- a small first floor condo. We have rules here that prohibit residents from doing too much work outside of their dwellings. Just a little green space and that's it. He used to love gardening and landscaping his place. Now the thought just tires him.

He's not the same man he used to be. I just hope to see him happy again. I haven't seen him laugh in a year. Thanks for listening.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My very best vibes to your dad, my dear Tobin...

Sometimes things can cascade out of control, and you wonder if you'll ever get the good times back.

I hope your dad will pull through and be able to laugh again, very soon.

I'm sure he's in shock from all the bad things that have happened...

:hug:

[Tobin S.]

2. Thanks Peggy

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. Tobin...

The body and the mind are amazing things...I don't have to tell you that.

His illness is bringing him down right now, but there is nothing saying that he will not recover and bounce back.

Stay positive...I will say a prayer for him tonight.

Best wishes to your dad...and to you also.

edit spelling

[Tobin S.]

8. Thanks LFP

:pals:

[MajorChode]

4. A good friend of mine almost died after knee surgery

Pretty much the same thing happened. Blood clots broke loose and went to his heart and lungs. He was revived about 3-4 times after his heart stopped. He woke up a week later in ICU, and spent about 2 years rehabilitating.

I hope your dad gets back to some sense of a normal life.

[Tobin S.]

9. Thank you

We're hoping this is the last go around at the hospital.

[GCP]

5. I've heard many variations of this story

I'm a visiting nurse and one of my patients was in and out of hospital with C. Diff for a year. She's finally licked it but I believe she's on prophylactic vancomycin for good. It's the last line of defense at the moment.
She's doing ok, and she's living her life again, but for a while, I wondered if she was going to pull through.
C. Diff stands for Clostridium Difficile - a nasty bug that's part of your normal gut bacteria, but it's usually kept in check by the other 'good' bacteria. A course of strong antibiotics - like for the lung abscess, can kill off all the good bugs and C. Diff takes over, massive horrible diarrhea and dehydration can occur. The treatment is more antibiotics that kill the C. Diff, but it's getting harder to do that.

I hope your Dad's feeling better :hug:

[Tobin S.]

10. Thanks and I appreciate the information

:hug:

[gmoney]

6. That's rough Tobin...

Sounds like quite an ordeal... I hope he has a speedy recovery and is able to stay healthy once this storm passes. And take care of yourself, too, during all this.

I gotta admit, a first floor condo sounds like a good idea to me though. I have no interest in what goes on outside my house walls.

[Tobin S.]

11. Thanks

Yeah, unlike dad I don't have much of a green thumb. Mowing the grass and trimming the bushes was the worst part of owning a house to me. I hated doing that.

[susanr516]

7. Healing vibes going out for your dad, Tobin

And hugs for you.

:hug:

[Tobin S.]

12. Thanks Susan

:hug:

[WinkyDink]

13. {{{TobinS Dad}}}~~~Best wishes to him and to you.

Hospitals are starting to scare me.

[SeattleGirl]

14. Best wishes for your dad, Tobin.

As the daughter of a woman who had a chronic illness, I think I understand how you are feeling. It's frustrating, and it makes you angry, and it makes you feel helpless. And sometimes, you might even feel a bit of anger at your dad. I know I did toward my mom, but I knew that it was just my frustration at not being able to help her to the extent that she felt better.

I know you will help your dad as much as you possibly can, but don't forget about yourself.

I do hope things get better for him.

:hug:

[Jamastiene]

15. Best Vibes

Yes, life can change very fast. Having a sick relative is heart wrenching. I feel ya on that. :hug:

[emilyg]

16. My best wishes for your Dad.

[AwakeAtLast]

17. So sorry to hear about this

Sepsis aged my grandmother 15 years in 3 weeks, so I know of which you speak. Here's hoping for better days ahead for him. :hug: