Update on my Dad

[Haole Girl]

He got through his first surgery without any major complications. As I'd feared, I just learned a minute ago the p.m. nurse got one of my Dad's meds wrong-- his bp medicine. Apparently there is a similarly named med they administered last night by mistake. Ugh. This is AFTER showing the p.m. nurse his meds list on my iPhone. I am tempted to type them out on a list with huge bold font and tape it to the side of his bed! One thing is certain, hospital nurses are whaay overworked. Good news is, everyone seems nice (excluding the surgeon w/ the bad bedside manner). And, the best news is my father seems to be getting through this ordeal pretty well. :-)

Thank you for all the positive vibes & well wishes!

:hi:

[Aristus]

1. I'm glad to hear he's doing well, HG.

:hug:

That's terrific.

I can concur with the overworked nurses bit, for sure. But every PDA Medical software system in existence has a list of "sound-alike" medications, the purpose of which is to avoid mixups like that. I hope everything goes much better from here on in regarding his post-op care...

[Haole Girl]

3. It was the generic name for Norvase...

they only reason the 7am-7pm nurse caught it was b/c the other med doesn't come in 10mg. I'm sure glad it doesn't!!
Thanks, btw. :hi:

[Aristus]

6. That would be amlodipine.

Often confused with amiloride, amiodarone, amitriptyline, felodipine and memantine.

Thank you, ePocrates for iTouch. B-)

That took 45 seconds...

[Haole Girl]

7. WHAT, exactly, is the other med?

:scared:

[Aristus]

9. I don't know what they mistook the amlodipine for.

But it could be amiloride, which is dispensed in 5-10mg doses for hypertension. Unmonitored, it could lead to hyperkalemia (too much potassium) and renal impairment, both of which you really want to avoid in a post-op patient.

On edit: It could have been amiodarone, which comes in a minimum 200mg dose, but is not used to treat hypertension, but ventricular arrhythmias.

[Haole Girl]

10. amiloride

I think! ugh. It's been a stressful 48 hrs.

Oh, I guess it wasn't that one...just read your post. Well...so much for me being organized. :-(

[kayakjohnny]

2. Good to hear, Haole Girl.

Hopefully it gets better from here.

All the best.:)

[Haole Girl]

4. Thanks

:hi:

[trof]

5. I take 2 BP meds.

How the hell could that get that wrong?
jeez
What's he in surgery for?

[Haole Girl]

8. Double knee replacement

Thanks :hi:

[jobycom]

13. Ohh....

My dad has a knee replaced while on stroke and BP meds. They almost refused to do it, and tried talking him out of it as they were wheeling him to the anesthesia. He was in so much pain I think he didn't care if the worst happened.

I'm glad he's okay, HG. I hope his surgery turns out as life-improving as my father's has been. :)

[Haole Girl]

17. Thanks, jobycom

I hope so, too :hi:

[trof]

14. Senior moment. Now I remember.

Hope he's progressing well.
:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. My dear Haole Girl!

Glad to hear he's doing well!

Mistakes sure as hell do happen, no matter how hard nurses try to avoid them...

I made my share, and it was always upsetting to me...

Hugs to you, and your dad!

:hug: :hug:

[Haole Girl]

12. We were just joking with the p.m. nurse...

she accused me of being a worrier & I told her I'm psychic ;-)

It will be ok now. I don't think they'll make the same mistake again.

Thank you, Peggy :hug:

[applegrove]

15. Vibes

[Haole Girl]

16. Thanks, appreciate that

:hi: