Dad Update

For those not on Facebook, thought I'd let you know of this weeks going on's...

On Monday, Dad had his "two" week follow-up (that was actually 3 weeks) with the surgeon. We really didn't talk about the heart at all, they were too focused on the incision that they took the vein out of. The plans were originally to head back to Kansas on Thursday, but after looking at the incision the surgeon and wound care nurses thought it would be best for him to hang around another week. We all were bummed, including Theresa and Tammy.

After the dr. appt. dad went down to get his INR checked, which check the clotting factor in his blood. He is on Warfarin because of the blood clot in his lung and they've been working at getting it leveled. Last Friday, his level was 2.8, and the anticoagulant nurse thought it would level out. It's suppose to be between 2.0 and 3.0. At 7:00 pm on Monday evening we got a call that his INR was a 9.0. They wanted him to come to the ER right away so they could give him some vitamin K to counteract the Warfarin. After rushing there, without eating first, we sat in the waiting room over 1 1/2 hours before he was called back. They took blood and it was at 8.5, so they gave him some Vit. K and sent us home.

We are now back to going to the VA hospital on a daily basis. Dad has been scheduled in the lab (which usually it's a "take a #" system) and he's been able to get right in and out. The kids and I drive them up there, mom goes and finds a wheelchair, they go in and the kids and I have found a perfect place to park where they can get out and play in the grass under a shade tree. Mom then calls when they are done and we head back home. This cuts down on mom's stress level BIG time!

Here have been his levels:
Tues. 5.2
Wed. 4.9
Today 6.5

The anticoagulant nurse called and is mystified on why it is going back up. He's not been taking his Warfarin, his diet hasn't changed. So tomorrow they are going to run more extensive blood test and check for things like his liver stuff and other things. He's also going to see an anticoagulant nurse and see a doctor. I'll be able to go along for the dr. appts since it's Jeff's day off.

We'll see if anything new is found out tomorrow.

Ta Ta For Now!