ed's in icu at porter hospital

Ed was running a low-grade fever for a couple days, and early this morning his fever started climbing. Tylenol and ice packs didn't help, so when he hit 104 degrees, they sent him to the emergency room. He was in sepsis - his blood pressure dropped to 90/49 and heart rate went over 130 bpm. They admitted him to the ICU and have gotten his blood pressure stabilized, but his breathing was very labored, so they have him temporarily sedated and on a vent. They say that this started with a urinary tract infection. Prayers are much appreciated!

ed is now at a different nursing home: orchard park

Ed was released from the hospital yesterday. They did a CT scan last Friday and it did not show any kidney stones, so let's pray that he doesn't develop any more! He is still spiking occasional temperatures of 102 degrees, so he will still be on an IV antibiotic this week.

We got a recommendation to try a different nursing home, and we went over to visit and were quite pleased. When Ed was released from the hospital yesterday, we took him to Orchard Park Health Care Center on the southwest corner of Holly and Orchard (just south of the driveway into Koelbel Library). It very recently split off and became an independent facility instead of part of a chain, and we are very pleased so far. Here's their contact information:

Orchard Park Health Care Center
6005 South Holly Street
Littleton, CO 80121-3460
(303) 773-1000

As always, visitors are very welcome!

ed went back to the hospital last sunday

Last Sunday Ed ran a fever of 103.4 degrees, so he went into the hospital. While in the emergency room, I thought he looked like he was in a great deal of pain and his blood pressure went up to 235, so the doctor gave him morphine and muscle relaxant. They eventually did a CT scan of his abdomen and it turns out that he has passed three kidney stones!

Ed has never had kidney stones, so this was certainly not anything we would have suspected. Unfortunately, he appears to have several "very small" kidney stones still in the kidney.

The urologist didn't have any specific suggestions about what could be done to decrease the odds of his getting more kidney stones. He thought that perhaps the frequent urinary tract infections might be a factor, and has suggested an antibiotic flush of the catheter once a week to help reduce the occurrence of infections.

Anyway, Ed's temperature has been normal for the last two days, so today they released him to Select Hospital, a longer-term acute care facility which is co-located with Porter Hospital. Ed has been at the Select Hospital facility at Presbyterian / St. Luke's Hospital, but they were full, that's why they sent us to their Porter Hospital facility. So we get to check out a whole new hospital!

Before Ed went into the hospital, we were able to have him in his wheelchair for up to two hours a day for almost a week. It is good to see him more upright, and it's really good for his lungs, so we're pleased with the wheelchair.

...and back to Monaco Parkway

They're tranferring Dad back to Monaco Parkway this evening - Mom & I sent him off with lots of hugs and kisses.

He'll be in room 106 (we think). Visitors welcome any time, but do be sure to wash your hands before and after - we'd like to keep him infection-free this time!!

In the next couple of days we'll be gettin Dad set up in a wheelchair, so we're looking forward to seeing how he responds to that.

-- Kristy

ed has moved to select hospital

Ed has moved to Select Hospital, which is co-located with Presbyterian / St. Luke's. Select is a long-term acute care hospital (LTAC), so it is oriented to patients who do not need such intense care. Ed is stable and his terperature is normal, based on the multiple antibiotics he is receiving, but the doctor is trying to avoid the ping-pong between hospital and nursing home by having Ed taken care of in the LTAC to make sure he's not developing some other infection.

ed's back at rose hospital

Not a very good sign that Ed went back to the hospital three days after finishing his last round of IV antibiotics. Sigh.

Marian

ed's back at monaco parkway

Ed went back to Monaco Parkway last Sunday - guess I forgot to update the blog.

He'll be on IV antibiotics for another five days, then we'll see how he does. He occasionally runs a low-grade fever, but at least not a high fever. Other than that, there's no change.