Need to vent...

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas season, and they are having a good start to the New Year.


On December 17, my grandfather went in for a back surgery. It was successful, but they started noticing other things. 17 days later my grandfather is still in the hospital...
2 days ago he was upbeat and lively. Yesterday, we started noticing he was starting to hallucinate and go in and out. Today he is not responding much at all. His vital signs are fine, but he is completely out of it. My guess would be a really deep sleep as we can here him snoring. He just won't open his eyes...

They took him to get a brain scan and we are waiting for results now. I'm not exactly sure what to think, part of me thinks its the medicine (they gave him a lot), but intuition is telling me something else.

He hasn't had anything to eat in days because the medicine makes him too drowsy to eat.

... I'm not sure what to do but pray. I've pretty much detached myself from the situation at this point... Otherwise I would probably cripple myself with the pain.

So please everyone, keep him in your prayers.

Katurah
He is definitely in my prayers! I work with the elderly, and please don't assume the worst. Medications have a much stronger affect as one ages, and this could be just too many meds.

So sad to hear about your granddad being in hospital, I'll pray for him too.

My prayers go out to him and your family Honey. I hope he improves soon.

Praying. Hard.

Lifting him in prayer!

Sorry to hear this Katurah. Yes, it may very well be the medications, especially since he was hallucinating. My elderly mother used to get like that when she had to go to the hospital for any surgery, etc., then she returned to normal later when she left. I'll send good thoughts your way and hope everything will be fine.

Same thing happened when my mom was admitted when she had her stroke... INSIST on reviewing the meds, INSIST they take him off anything that isn't sustaining life, and make sure HE EATS. Take meals into him of his favourites.

I had to take food to my mom every day for four months, I fought to get her off of a bunch of unnecessary drugs (like, lipitor, percocet and anti-depressants!) Once they stopped those she suddenly was lucid and had an appetite. Hospitals are the worst place for sick people to recover.

Thank you all!!
I'm sure everyone's prayers were heard!!

About an hour ago the nurse came in and touched him and he "jumped" up. Every since then he was responsive and talking... It was an instant difference.

They took him off all pain medicines including something called Dialudid which very well could have been the culprit.

Med review, med review. med review. Sometimes when the elderly have anasthesia it causes a dementia type confusion. This means MDs are more likely to use psych drugs and anti anxiety meds to calm a patient, leading to adverse reactions and confusion. I will be praying for you and your family. Be especially aware of seroquel, haldol, xanax, demerol, and ativan. These along with many others can put a patient in a tail spin

I'm praying for you , him and your family!!

Sending all good thoughts Katurah!!

I'm glad that your grandfather's doing better, Katurah!

Sometimes very deep sleep can signal the transition to healing. We don't see it as often with modern medicine, but a lot of older literature talks about people having "deliriums" when they were very ill, then sleeping heavily, sometimes for days, and waking up obviously better. With all the medical interventions going on, it's hard to know what is a normal process and what is a side effect.

So glad to hear your grandfather's doing better, Katurah! Sounds to me like he was doing some deep healing and recovery, and that now he's returning to his old self. I hope he makes a complete recovery and is back with you all soon. xx

Lots of love and prayers sent your way!

I'm glad to hear your grandfather is doing better. I'll keep praying for his full recovery.

I am so glad to hear he is doing better!

He was just having a long winter's nap....!

Glad to hear the good news, Katurah

Thank you everyone!! Today he is so much better

So happy for you both!

Thank you guys!!

The pain he was originally there for is coming back now that they took away all the pain meds because of the recent episode I posted about. They gave him new meds for that but no one can seem to tell us WHAT HE IS BEING KEPT FOR. There are several things we know, but they are minor and can be dealt with at home....

My uncle is going to talk with a patient advocate tomorrow and see about ordering all of his medical records. We just can't see to find the source of his pain. They are treating the pain itself but not telling us what is causing the pain...

If nothing comes of it by Tuesday, we will see about transferring him to another hospital...

Oh Katurah, I am so sorry to hear about your grandpa! I hope they get this all straightened out!! and SOON!! so that he is back with your family and doing well!

Thank you Valerie!

We almost went home Tuesday, but his pain came back after stripping the meds away. They honestly have no idea where's its coming from. They did two sets on MRIs. One came back clear and one we will have to wait until next week to find out as his doctor "will not let him go home in pain under her watch", which I totally understand.

So just waiting and praying. They are going to put him on prednisone (which I'm personally not a fan of at all from personal experience), but we shall see.

Only read this thread now. Will keep your grandfather in my prayers and for the doc to find what is it soon.

Big hugs