We saw Dr. Khan today about having Ma's chest tube removed. Unfortunately, he wanted Pa to try to drain her lung one more time before removing the tube. He sent us home, and we'll return in a week. Pa drained Ma's lung this afternoon, and no fluid came out, so it looks like next Wednesday will be the day the tube comes out.
In the meantime, Pa also spoke to Dr. Khan about needing a bypass. Either Dr. Khan or his partner Dr. Stanten (both of whom had operated on Ma) will do the surgery, if needed. Anyway, Dr. Khan feels that 95% blockage on a main artery is too high. He wants to see Pa after his next stress test. The stress test is on 4/3, and Pa's appointment with Dr. Khan is on 4/15.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Follow-ups Appointments for Ma & Pa
Two appointments today. First, Ma. Dr. Irwin is amazed at how good she looks and how well she handled radiation. He will see her again in a month. The PET scan and blood test for tumor markers will be done at that time.
Pa ordered a chest x-ray for Ma yesterday. Her lung is pretty much clear. There is a pocket of fluid in the lung, but it's trapped in an area that's inaccessible to the catheter. Ma has an appointment with Dr. Khan in two weeks to see about removing the catheter.
Second, Pa. The blockage is 95% on the right coronary artery, 80% LAD and 80% circumflex artery. Despite that, Dr. Weiland recommends waiting. He said even though the blockage sounds bad, he doesn't think Pa automatically needs a bypass because he's pretty much asymptomatic. I asked him what waiting means -- wait till when? He said till he gets a heart attack or chest pains. I did mention Pa's family history of sudden death, but Dr. Weiland didn't seem too concerned. If Pa has surgery, it'll take him 2-3 months to recover. So the plan is to have another stress test in two months.
Pa ordered a chest x-ray for Ma yesterday. Her lung is pretty much clear. There is a pocket of fluid in the lung, but it's trapped in an area that's inaccessible to the catheter. Ma has an appointment with Dr. Khan in two weeks to see about removing the catheter.
Second, Pa. The blockage is 95% on the right coronary artery, 80% LAD and 80% circumflex artery. Despite that, Dr. Weiland recommends waiting. He said even though the blockage sounds bad, he doesn't think Pa automatically needs a bypass because he's pretty much asymptomatic. I asked him what waiting means -- wait till when? He said till he gets a heart attack or chest pains. I did mention Pa's family history of sudden death, but Dr. Weiland didn't seem too concerned. If Pa has surgery, it'll take him 2-3 months to recover. So the plan is to have another stress test in two months.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Pleural Effusion Drying Up
Ma's pleural effusion is finally drying up. The oncologists had hoped that the radiation would have this effect on her lung, and it seems to have worked. When Ma first went home from the hospital back in July, her lung would produce 800-1000 ml of fluid every day. More recently, it was down to 300-500 ml per day. Last Wednesday, Pa drained only 30 ml out of her lung. That was two days' worth of accumulation. Last Saturday, he got only a few drops, probably not even a teaspoon. Pa said he will talk to the pulmonologist. Maybe they'll be able to remove Ma's catheter. I'm sure she'll feel a lot better without that tube sticking out of her lung.
Ma has a follow-up visit with her oncologist on Wednesday afternoon. Pa's appointment with his cardiologist is in the morning. We'll see what's in store for both of them.
Ma has a follow-up visit with her oncologist on Wednesday afternoon. Pa's appointment with his cardiologist is in the morning. We'll see what's in store for both of them.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Triple Bypass
Pa was sent home after his angiogram. He did not undergo an angioplasty or stent. His doctor said his arteries are "severely clogged." He's going to need a triple bypass.
It's not clear to me how much of this he has told Ma, Isa & Tito Lum. At first he thought he was free and clear even though the doctor told him to take an aspirin daily and carry nitroglycerin with him at all times. For some reason, the doctor didn't tell him about needing a bypass although he did tell me. When Pa started telling all his friends he was fine, I had to tell him the news. He then called his doctor yesterday and was told that three arteries were clogged.
He has a follow-up appointment on Wednesday. The doctor thought he might want to hold off on the bypass because Ma was still undergoing treatment for cancer, but her treatments are over. This is actually a good time for him to have surgery.
It's not clear to me how much of this he has told Ma, Isa & Tito Lum. At first he thought he was free and clear even though the doctor told him to take an aspirin daily and carry nitroglycerin with him at all times. For some reason, the doctor didn't tell him about needing a bypass although he did tell me. When Pa started telling all his friends he was fine, I had to tell him the news. He then called his doctor yesterday and was told that three arteries were clogged.
He has a follow-up appointment on Wednesday. The doctor thought he might want to hold off on the bypass because Ma was still undergoing treatment for cancer, but her treatments are over. This is actually a good time for him to have surgery.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Radiation Done
Ma got done with her radiation last Friday. They gave her a certificate of completion, and she was happy about that. We'll see her regular oncologist next week about follow-up tests. Her breast area has first-degree burns, but she hasn't complained of pain. She also hasn't complained of fatigue, the most common side effect of radiation treatment.
Pa is having an angiogram tomorrow. He says it's likely he'll need an angioplasty at the same time and will have to stay overnight at the hospital. Isa will drop him off at the hospital at 7am. His procedure doesn't start till 9am. I'll probably show up around 10am.
Pa is having an angiogram tomorrow. He says it's likely he'll need an angioplasty at the same time and will have to stay overnight at the hospital. Isa will drop him off at the hospital at 7am. His procedure doesn't start till 9am. I'll probably show up around 10am.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
One More Week
Ma's almost done with her radiation therapy. If the machine stays up, her last day is on Friday. She has tomorrow off due to the Martin Luther King holiday.
The skin on her breast has turned really dark and is peeling off. She hasn't complained of pain though, so at least it doesn't feel like a sunburn or a 1st degree burn.
Pa went for his stress test last Wednesday. They found an irregular heartbeat. He has an angiogram scheduled for the 29th.
The skin on her breast has turned really dark and is peeling off. She hasn't complained of pain though, so at least it doesn't feel like a sunburn or a 1st degree burn.
Pa went for his stress test last Wednesday. They found an irregular heartbeat. He has an angiogram scheduled for the 29th.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Upstairs
Ma had been sleeping downstairs in a hospital bed since she was released from the hospital last July. She hadn't been going upstairs at all. The downstairs bathroom has no shower, so she's been taking daily sponge baths all this time.
While Kit was here, Ma started going upstairs to sleep in her own bed. She also has taken a shower a couple of times. Pa has to help her, and she uses a shower bench. I suppose I could help her myself, but I don't want to.
A week ago, Pa said he had some chest pains. He went for a blood test today. He's also going for a stress test on Wednesday next week. He doesn't want to move up the date, saying there's no rush since he hasn't had additional pain. Is it really okay to wait?
While Kit was here, Ma started going upstairs to sleep in her own bed. She also has taken a shower a couple of times. Pa has to help her, and she uses a shower bench. I suppose I could help her myself, but I don't want to.
A week ago, Pa said he had some chest pains. He went for a blood test today. He's also going for a stress test on Wednesday next week. He doesn't want to move up the date, saying there's no rush since he hasn't had additional pain. Is it really okay to wait?
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