oh the fun of family at christmas

Unknown

So my dad is dealing with yet another cancer and was scheduled for surgery this morning

In the middle of the anesthesia his heart rate tanked dropping below 20 bpm so they immediately stopped recovered him

I picked him up at 4:45 am this morning and still here running on just a single cup of coffee

Juliet

My best to you and your dad.

Scott Butner

yeah, I'm with greenman. that sucks -- hope things turn for the best.

FishTX

My thoughts are with you and your dad.

Juliet

Hoping things turn around for you and that your Dad has a speedy recovery.

yatahey

Hope everything works out for the best.

ricinus

Take care and wish both of you all the best..

Mike

fishingcomic

Medical stuff at Christmas is especially scary. I had a little scare myself earlier this week. Nothing worse than not knowing what to do.

I hope everything comes out for you both and you have a great new year.

Goldenladle

Emily and I wish the best for you and your Dad.

nimrod

I'll be thinking of you both, Kevin. Hang in there...

Buffco

Prayers for your family.

creekguy

What everyone said! Prayers.

MikeA

Sorry to read this Kevin. Your father sounds like an interesting man from what you've shared with us over the years. I wish you both peace.

Wetdog

hoping everything goes well.

Juliet

MikeA wrote: »

Sorry to read this Kevin. Your father sounds like an interesting man from what you've shared with us over the years. I wish you both peace.

What he said.

Juliet

thanks all

dad now has a new pacemaker and is doing fine ... his cancer surgery was postponed for several weeks

this is yet another object lesson of how and why you and only you are your only health advocate

when we arrived for his surgery intake I pulled his charts and started scanning his documents, while technically accurate there were some things I felt were remarkable in his medical history that were only vague in his charts (and this was at Barnes-Jewish which is a very good medical institution) when the anethesia team came in I had what became a detailed discussion about dad's medical history and experiences with drugs in the past ... he has one kidney and diabetes both significant issues with drug metabolism and has had a history of dealing poorly with morphine based drugs

bottomline the anesthesiologist later said in the ICU that he was grateful he had the extensive background because they had proceeded slowly and kept and extra careful eye on him and even then were very close to having to give him CPR

interestingly enough he had gone in for a stress test the week before (at home) and was cleared for surgery even with an abnormally low median heartrate so the Southern Illinois medicos like the ones who glossed over his cancer for over a year strike again

point being ... always make sure someone knows your medical history extensively and never think that something which seems mundane need not be shared with your medical team

Juliet

monkeydoes wrote: »

point being ... always make sure someone knows your medical history extensively and never think that something which seems mundane need not be shared with your medical team

A+ advice. Glad to here your pop is doing better.

Juliet

when I pulled his charts there was a sudden look from a couple staff members who wanted to know if I were a physician

I smiled and said no but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express the night before ... they laughed and then I told them that while I wasn't a doctor I was trying to prevent them additional work since the previous two drug issues my dad had in the past both resulted in one to two weeks additional time in the hospital

Juliet

Well these days you never can be too careful. When I got my brothers kidney they wrote on his right hand side one with a sharpie... "NO"

I think anything extra you can do is a good idea.