My Dad came up with a sudden onset of swelling and pain in his wrist and hand, so I took him to the ER about 7p.m. last night. Foolishly, I thought since there was no full moon, no big events going on in town, it was not friday or sat. night, that the ER wouldn't be TOO crowded... and was I ever wrong! There were 16 people ahead of him.. lots of them children and very unhappy screaming babies and very sick-looking folks. So, we sat and waited as his pain and swelling increased. He had no fever and for an almost 90-year-old man, is really in pretty good health, so he didn't get on any high priority list (if there is one) Finally, about 10:45 we were taken to an exam room, and the first diagnosis was probably cellulitis and they started iv antibiotics and then gave him some morphine... which did not even touch the pain, about which he was becoming more and more vocal. So, because of this pain they began talking about other possibilities for diagnosis. So, before being admitted at 4a..m., he was seen by the ER resident, Kaiser Internist, surgical resident, xray, CT scan, had blood work. Poor guy... i felt SO sorry for him and couldn't do a thing for him! He kept trying to send me home, but I stuck it out til he was in a room and had morphine PCP going. Today, an orthopod was added to the mix, thought it might be gout and tapped his wrist for fluid... and there was none. so, hmmm... still no definitive diagnosis, but he still has iv antibiotics and morphine going, blood work still to come back and still in pain if anyone touches his hand or wrist.
I'm glad it's still more than 2 weeks before his big 90th birthday celebration, so he'll have time to recover from this whatever it is! He said he wanted a huge blow out birthday party, and that's what we have planned! We've rented a room at a really nice conference center, ordered up lots of yummy sounding food, plenty of wine, Curbhead and David are in charge of entertainment, there will be a slide show of some sort... and we've sent out about 110 invitations (so far!) Sounds like a good party, huh?
Think i better go take some magic vitamin C potion to ward off anything nasty i might have breathed in while waiting in the ER last night.
1 comment:
Sounds like a harrowing night for both of you. I hope he makes a quick recovery. My mom turns 90 next month. She has turned down any plans for a big party, so it will be low key.
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