There's nothing like spending Christmas Eve in the emergency room!

[thewayne]

My dad has had a terrible cough for a few weeks now. His GP said it was a cold, and thus a virus, and he couldn't do anything about it. He went to an ENT who did zilch.

Tonight we drove out to my sister's for dinner, and after dinner, he has a 20 minute coughing jag.

We decide to cut the evening short, and on the way back we convince him to go to the ER.

White blood cells: half of what they should be. Neutrophils: pretty much zero. His vitals are good, including SpO2.

And he has pneumonia!

His cough sounds like whooping cough, AKA pertussis. They've tested him for that, but it has to be sent out. Blood cultures will also take time to grow. But he's getting IV antibiotics and he's going to be in the hospital at least overnight, which sucks in one big way:

December the 25th is his birthday.

But we got one good laugh out of it: we asked the PA: "Will he live to see his 86th birthday?" She asked when that was, we told her "About five hours." She laughed and said yes, I think he'll see his 86th birthday.

I'm about to head back up there to take him his Samsung tablet and chargers for it and his phone, a book, etc.

So we'll be going to a hospital for Christmas Day!

Comments

[moonhare]

Boy, does this bring back dark memories.

However, glad you caught this when you did! Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas (and birthday)!

[thewayne]

This is the 5th anniversary of a friend of mine losing his wife to breast cancer, and we had dinner with a friend Monday night and found out that he lost his brother two years ago on Christmas to cancer.

Aside from the obvious CANCER SUCKS, losing a friend/relative on Christmas is pretty bad. Fortunately my dad’s vitals are good, so he’ll probably come home from this. My mom and wife are up there right now.

[moxie_man]

So we'll be going to a hospital for Christmas Day!

So hasn't my wife. She has the day shift at Maine Medical Center as she is a hospital chaplain.

[thewayne]

Boy, she’s got to put on a face for a bunch of sad people!

[moxie_man]

It's a tough job, but she actually loves what she does, providing spiritual care to both patients and staff.

[thewayne]

Definitely a noble profession if you can do it.

[moxie_man]

Yes, and, apparently, she's one of those rare folks who can do it. She has said to me it's easier/more varied than trying to come-up with a church sermon every week.

[thewayne]

Heh. I can believe that!

[bibliofile]

Geez, that's the kind of job where everyone else is having a worse day than you, and some very awful days. At least she knew about the schedule ahead of time, I hope.

[moxie_man]

Yes, she was aware in advance and had offered to take the day shift so that other staff with family could be home with them. It's just the two of us. We had the family gathering last Sunday. I spent part of yesterday delivering meals from the community dinner to the home bound. If you want a humbling experience, do a stint of that.

[dewline]

My own memories of this day have gone dark over the decades, for reasons that make me very glad that this story is going as it has!

[thewayne]

With what he went through with cancer a few years back, the chemo will wreck your system. And I don’t think his GP and that idiot of an ENT are the people he should be seeing, he needs to be using his oncologist as his primary care coordinator. Like me and my immune system problem, he’s now in a special category, above and beyond being 86.

I’m not a person for big celebrating holidays, though I enjoy exchanging presents with my wife. It’s sad that he’s not home for his birthday, but it would be a lot worse if this went on untreated.

[elayna]

I hope it’s diagnosed quickly and he’s better and home soon!

[thewayne]

He’s at least getting treated, and I expect we’ll know what’s up soon enough.

Thanks! We have to head home Saturday, that’s kind of a hard deadline, I just hope he’s released by then!

[conuly]

Oh, the ER, fun fun fun.

I'm glad that he's going to recover, though - or so it sounds like, at least.

[thewayne]

He’s feeling better, but he’s bored! I think that’s promising.

[silveradept]

Strength, health, and useful medications to your father.

[thewayne]

Thank you, sir. He’s finished another antibiotic/saline IV bag since I’ve been here.

[bibliofile]

YIKES!

Oh, and the lock thing, oy.

[thewayne]

If It’s not one thing, it’s another. As my Nana, Nana Roseanadana used to say…. ;-)

[kellan_the_tabby]

Someone on Twitter did a long thread of 'this is how you tell it's pneumonia, if your body is doing this GO TO THE ER' & I'm even gladder now than I was before I read this.

May he get better quick & be home soon!