Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Going home... with oxygen

Ron is being discharged this afternoon and will be using oxygen at home. It will be available during the day if he feels like he needs it and then will have a machine hooked up to his Bi-PAP machine at night to take the oxygen out of the air and concentrate it through the machine. His oxygen saturation level dropped to 82% when walking a short trip without oxygen. It did come back up to 95% after he rested a bit. So, they put it back on him at 2 units (or how ever it's measured). Now, he's resting without and they'll check it again (it did drop to 88% at rest so we'll see after a bit to see if that stabilizes or goes up/down).

His echo doesn't look that bad (doctor's words, but is "not that bad" better than "bad" or bad, but not terrible?) and confirms that he has pulmonary hypertension as well. His left ventricle isn't functioning as it should but not "bad" right now. His heart looks a little stretchy, which is a result of the CHF. She put him at between stage 2 and 3; when I read the descriptions to Ron, he thinks he's closer to 3 than 2. We shall see.

With proper care and monitoring, he should be doing just fine. He'll have a little oxygen backpack to take with him when he's out and about, in the car, or walking around the house.

Long-term prognosis??? No clue. We have an appointment with an internist on Friday so maybe I'll be brave and ask him at that point.

Maybe not.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. I think I know too much sometimes. Nothing's going to really change in my life except more responsibility so maybe I just don't want to know everything. It's not like there's going to be some magic wand or hand reach down and rescue us from this.

I think it's all us.

8 comments:

Kathy's Klothesline said...

You just have to put one foot in front of the other, don't you? I am glad to hear that he is able to go home. I hope he does well at home and I hope you are able to get some rest, my dear friend.

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Teresa. You just have to take it one day at a time really, don't you, with Ron's situation. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. I agree with you, sometimes we can know too much and it only causes us to worry - ignorance is definitely bliss sometimes!

labbie1 said...

Thoughts and prayers are with you. This is what has gotten me through many of these times:
This too shall pass...
I like to add:
like a kidney stone without morphine! ;-D
Don't forget to rest and take care of YOU!!!!

BB said...

I feel what I felt going through things with Rich everytime I read something like this. There's so much I've been through and you are going through and will go through. I wish I could make it all go away for you and naturally for Ron. One day at a time. It's all you can do. Big Hugs! Give Ron our best.

Silver Strands said...

I believe that too - often ignorance is bliss. In fact, sometimes being ignorant leads us to believe things are really, really good - which in turn, causes things to become really, really good. I believe that. The mind is a powerful thing! Best wishes Teresa.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

The good news is that he is able to go home it is good that you are able to have the machine so he can have oxygen at home. I agree that sometimes, ignorance is bliss. As when you know you worry more.....

Anonymous said...

Oh, dear. At least he's home.

colenic said...

Well, not the best news ever...but not the worst either right? I am thinking about you guys and hoping that things at least even out for you guys soon....hugs and lots of love to you...