Irv Update - February 2011 #3

Dear F&F;

Irv was discharged late this afternoon. As per usual, NOT ONE doctor had a clue why Irv just had this dramatic episode of sickness. Dr. Kowalski said that Irv needs to be seen by the NW expert GI docs at Virginia Mason in Seattle ASAP. Plus, now, the cardiac docs, too. We will get in touch with the Bend GI doc Dr. Koteen to start the ball rolling. He has already been in touch with the VM docs so we hope this will happen quickly. Before yesterday we were going to wait until after Feb. 23, when Irv has his regular appt. with Dr. Koteen. That time frame would have allowed most of the healing to take place after the surgery. BUT, with this latest nonsense it is felt the entire power of The Mason Clinic and its many, many tertiary care doctors need to figure out what is wrong with Irv. Since we do not know how long it will take to get the referral appts. made it is a good idea to start NOW. We agree.

A CT scan was not done, just an X-ray series of the abdomen. An "air bubble" was found in the stomach, but no other abnormalities. Today, Irv was able to eat clear liquids, then some mac and cheese and a smoothie without trouble so he got to come home. A hypertension drug called Atenolol was added to his medicines to help with the a-fib. The initial dose of the drug has lowered his already low blood pressure to about 90/60, so the dose was halved. Irv has to be very careful when he stands up to be sure he doesn't get too lightheaded. He also is to take an enteric coated 325 mg aspirin every day. Irv's white count went down to 18,000, which is still high, but lower than before. Since Irv didn't show any signs of infection it was decided it was okay to send him home.

At least now if Irv has another a-fib attack, and he knows about it, he can call Dr. Noble, his new cardiologist to see what we should do. Irv does see him on Feb. 25 unless we are in Seattle.

That's the news.

Penny