So Michael is still in the hospital and they’re thinking he will be until Monday. There’s a lot of fluid backed up around his heart that they’re trying to flush out.
They’re saying his is a mild case. They think chances are he caught some kind of virus last winter and it lay in wait for a few months and then decided to start kicking his butt. If the congestive heart failure was caused by a viral infection — which is usually the case with younger patients like Michael — he can make a full recovery.
My own father developed severe congestive heart failure out of nowhere six or seven years ago, and they were predicting he’d die or at least need a transplant, but then he inexplicably got better just as quickly and mysteriously as he’d gotten sick, and his cardiologist called him a medical miracle. They think Dad’s CHF was also caused by a virus.
I saw Michael today and he looks and feels a lot better, though he’s tired and spends most of his time sleeping. He was chronically sleep deprived anyway, and this whole “sleep sitting up” thing the last several weeks hasn’t helped. While at the hospital I signed papers to be his medical proxy if necessary.
Our friends have been awesome, helping both of us out a lot. They were worried about me but I’m doing fine actually. He’s in the hospital, he’s where he needs to be, and he’s getting better. There’s nothing more I can do for him at this point, besides visit, and I’m doing that.
I think our pets are confused by Michael’s absence. Our one cat, Carmen, keeps wandering around looking in all the rooms and I swear she’s looking for him.
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Meaghan, that sounds like good news. I was admitted to the VA hospital, a few years ago just before New Years Eve. I had pneumonia. They wondered how I got it. It was simple, I found laying around. Well, they had to drain fluid out my right lung. Then It seems some fluid decided to move and not leave a change of address. So it meant draining the remaining fluid a second time. It was simple to stick a needle in my back, at least I didn’t get to see it.
The other nice thing was I needed to change things one night. I needed to move things around. , which involved unlocking and then moving the bed, the IV police, telephone line, television remote control, call button, and oxygen line. The nurse almost fell out when she saw what I did. Well, I knew how to do it, and did it.
Nice picture. 🙂 Yes, your cat probably is looking for him, I’ll bet. It sounds like Michael is recovering nicely, and I’m glad he is getting some sleep. He looks pretty well considering all he’s been through. You’re right, he’s right where he needs to be, so he can get better. 🙂
Cool, thanks for the update, glad he seems to be on the mend. Cute color shirt too. xo
I sure hope Michael makes a full recovery. And I also hope the nurses are letting him rest. I swear they come into your room, to say their shift is ending, and XXX will be your new nurse – they have to introduce them. Then, the new nurse makes their rounds, waking the patient again. The lab work people come in around 4;30am to draw blood – again waking up the patient.
I hope Michael is better soon!
What a harrowing experience! Best wishes for Michael’s full recovery.
I’m glad he’s doing better. If your intuition is telling you something, then by all means follow it.
I am glad that Michael is getting better!!!Regarding the cat, I sometimes do cat sitting for my mother when she is on vacation, (lives alone with 3 cats), and in first day or 2 cats are looking for her and meowing infront of herr office/study and bathroom doors