Our health system uses MyChart which allows the patient to see their doctor notes and review the lab tests that are done.
If you haven't studied anything in the field of medicine lab tests can be very confusing, however there are explanations along with the fact that most doctors or a nurse will explain them to you via a phone call. The results are generally also reviewed by your attending physician.
It was helpful to read the ER doctor's notes as well as the daily notes from the doctor who saw him in the hospital.
What happened in the ER was Respiratory Failure. If all of our 'ducks' had been in a row, Rich would have refused further care. As it happened, he did survive with further heart, lung, and kidney damage. His lung capacity is rated at less than 30%. That is all alarming of course, but expected at this stage of his COPD.
It sounds like I am being clinical about the whole thing. I am in a way. We've been in a cycle of life and death brushes since his diagnosis of throat cancer on Friday the 13th, March 2015.
He had an anaphylactic reaction to one of the chemo meds a few weeks after that. I stood by as the PA system identified a Code in our room and as people rushed in to keep him alive.
Next spring he had a severe stroke. The neurosurgeon who met me in the larger hospital grabbed me to come say a goodbye to hubby before they wheeled him into surgery to remove blood clots in the brain. He was not given much of a chance for survival. But he did.
That next winter I followed an ambulance to LaCrosse once more, the doctors in the local ER didn't expect him to make the trip alive from a Pulmonary Emboli. Blood clots in both lungs. In ICU, it was pretty touch and go, and 4 days later he came home.
By then Rich was adamant about NO more. No more brushes with death and ICU's.
Yet we went through it once more because we didn't really understand what was going on. The Bipap was placed on him as he had a respiratory failure. He survived that and asked to be taken off the Bipap and requested not to go to a large hospital and be put on a ventilator. He made his wishes very clear.
Four days in the local hospital was enough for Rich. He did not want to be there.
With Hospice in place we will never have to call 911 again unless it is for a fall and a broken bone. Rich is pleased with this new chapter in his life and is happy to be at home.
The damage to his organs was pretty severe this time around. However, there won't be any more tests for him to endure.
Friends and family can come and visit. He is comfortable with our new routine. He tells me what he fancies for food and I get it for him. His appetite has not recovered at all, but he isn't bothered by it.
A good friend of ours came over last night to visit a bit with Rich and she started to cry. And she felt awkward and apologized. We told her that crying was good and we didn't mind. She cared and that was all that mattered. She was sorry that she wasn't visiting more often. I did explain to her that she had 3 teens to attend with one in college and another ready to graduate and go on to college.
Rich is content, tired, and worn out. But he is enjoying watching the birds, watching the muddy mules, and being with his dog.
doin' what we did best...
