last Wednesday and he's had all sorts of problems since, starting with a chronic case of the hiccups that he's had for 7 days now and nothing helps, except for sleep. He's also been running a fever, and the drs can't figure out *why.* (uh, even people *not* in the medical industry know that a fever means infection, duh!!...and they're dealing with a person who doesn't have a normal immune system (He was a bone marrow transplant cancer patient several years ago) They did X-rays yesterday to see if he had pneumonia, and they spotted something suspicious around his heart, so they took him for a CAT scan and an MRI..they determined it was nothing. Today we went to visit him and they told us they had taken him to Nuclear Med to run some tests..nobody could give us any details or tell us how long he was going to be gone, so we left a note and left. We no sooner got to the hospital exit (he's at VA, so is it really any wonder why these people have *no clue?* *L*) my mom calls me on my cellphone and wanted to know where we were and if we were there. So I turned around and we went back. While he was at Nuclear Med they banged his leg all around, so he was in pain when he came back, along with having another low-grade fever when we left.

Now, as for the drs not being able to figure out what's causing the fever, well, my mom saw his leg earlier today below the bandage, and it's kind of yellow with red streaks and when you touch it, it is very hot...I'm no dr or nurse, but it looks/sounds to me like *that* is what's causing the fever. Oh, and they didn't start giving him antibiotics until yesterday...the dr. said 'they only give it as a last resort'...but yet they gave him 6 pints of blood because they considered his blood count low, even though, when my father heard the numbers, he said that the drs at the hospital he used to work at wouldn't give blood until the count was below 8, and some drs wouldn't give it unless it was below 7...my stepfather's was at least 9.

So if everyone would keep him in your prayers, it would definately help! The drs are saying he'll be in the hospital for at least 2 more weeks. When we left, my mom was hoping to hear something about the test they did earlier, but no clue as if they'll actually tell her what's going on...they don't seem to want or care to share info as to what's wrong...

I will keep him in my thoughts & prayers...

Hopefully they will figure out something soon....Let us know....

Valerie, I hope you hear some better news soon. I'll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

Val, just finished sending up a prayer for your StepFather. Hope they figure out what's causing the fever and tend to it quickly.

Val, so sorry to hear that your stepfather is having such a rough time. You know my experience through the years with hospitals and doctors and sometimes I think NOTHING can be more frustrating. It's always hard on the patient and hard on the family and a whole lot of waiting and praying. I pray that soon he will be feeling better and not having so much pain, too. I know you are probably worried about your mom right now, so you just keep on being the good daughter you are and you are all in my prayers.

Trish

Val, am so sorry this has happened to your stepfather...my sincere prayers and wishes for a full recover and soon...sounds like the drs need to 'get a clue' about things...keep pushing the drs to do something about his condition...it's sad, but it appears the only way that something will be done to try to find the problem and to make sure your stepfather has a full recovery...keep us up to date...we'll continue to pray for him...

Thanks everyone!! The brother of the preacher at my mom's Church stopped by while we were there today...they had met him before, but we never have...the only problem my stepfather has with him is that he was in the Army, not the Marines. *L*

Anyways, yesterday the dr. came in and was VERY rude to my mom...my sister was there, and she even said he was rude...he said something like 'well I have 5 kids that I need to get home to...I can't be sitting here waiting for the family to show up.' My mom told her Preacher what he said, and he said that if he would have been there, he would have lost his preacher's license...and asked if it would hurt my stepfather's care if he were to report it to the Supervisor...my mom said 'yes, his care would suffer'...he's not getting enough of it as it is...takes them forever to come back with something in there. He called down the other night for some Tylenol because his fever was back...the nurse said "you can't have a fever because I just took your temp and it was normal." He said "I have a fever, and I need some Tylenol." 15 minutes later they come in and check his temp and bring him some Tylenol. See, when he was at Methodist Hospital in Houston, they spoiled him, because any time he called, they'd be there right away...not this 15+ minutes stuff like he's getting now.

My mom's Preacher called before we left this afternoon and yelled at my mom for not calling him to tell him that they had taken him down for another test...she told him that she was waiting for the test results, which I don't know if she ever got before she left, because she never called...and I'm sure she would have called if she would have had some news.

Valerie, I'm so sorry you are experiencing so much trouble - your stepfather that is. I had total knee replacement almost 3 years ago now and I had some pretty horrible things happen to me - I had 2 infections and the hospital and surgeon couldn't have been less interested - i had to go to my primary care physician the day I was discharged to get antibiotics - my knee was red, hot to touch and red streaks coming out both sides of the incision. I was also assaulted by a hispanic aide with a green card while in the hospital so I will never stay alone a night at a hospital again. We will remember your family in our prayers. Take care.

Freida

Val,
I will certainly remember him in my prayers, and I hope you get some answers soon.

Thought I'd give everyone an update...I talked to my mom a little earlier, and she said he's not running a fever this morning, so that's some improvement. He still has the hiccups, and he'll be in there for at least 12 more days, since they want to give him 14 days of antibiotics, unless there's some drastic improvement to where they can start giving him antibiotic pills. They're going to take him down for a CAT scan and an Ultrasound on his leg later this afternoon. The Physical Therapist was in there with him when I called, and she had him standing up some, but not for long.

Val, that's fantastic news. I'm so glad to hear he's doing better. Prayer changes things!

Talked to my mom just a minute ago, and she said is fever is back...running 100.4, but he's feeling better. They had him standing up twice today and they excercised his leg. No news from the CAT scan or Ultrasound yet.

Sounds like you still have a lot of waiting to do and I will keep praying for some faster relief and turns in the right diretion. Hang in there, Val. Trish

Thanks, Trish. My mom is hanging in there, but it sure is tiresome for her, especially with having to take care of a 3 1/2 year old at the same time. My mom is going to see if Taylor will stay here with us tomorrow while she goes to the hospital...

Val, that is good news - prayer does change things. Standing is good news. He has certainly had some bad breaks. We will remember him in prayers.
Freida

Valerie, Wishing a speedy recovery for your step-father. The standing up could be good . I have a friend who's brother-in-law has a big clot and his body is filled with infection. He is in real bad shape . He is quite heavy and has never taken care of himself. I hope your step-dad gets better very soon. Hugs to you and your family.

We went with my mom to see him today, and while we were there, the Dr. stopped by. They said the hiccups could be from acid-reflux, but the GI guys are going to have to really determine that. My mom brought her own thermometer and took his temp...it was 99.2, which isn't that bad at all. And the thing the dr. is concerned about is whether the infection is in the skin, which is what they're hoping, or if his body is rejecting the knee. The second would *not* be good.

Valerie, there are drugs they can give if he is rejecting the knee - I had such extreme pain about a month after the surgery they said my body didn't like the replacement knee and gave me cortisone shot in the knee - once the replacement is in they don't have to be careful about cortisone shots because the joint is already replaced. I had several shots of cortisone before all the pain was gone and also had to have antibiotics for about 6 weeks because of recurring infection. But the surgeon wasn't one giving me antibiotics - it was my primary care physician and then I switched orthopedic surgeons and he got me over the infections that kept coming back and is really the one who did several things that finally gave me back my mobility. The first orthopedic physician wasn't as good at follow-up care. We are praying for him.
Freida

Thanks, Freida...this is the VA Hospital we're talking about, though, and they do things their *own* way. There seems to be no communication between anybody in that hospital. It was a lucky thing the Dr. came in because when they took him down to wherever he was, they unhooked his IV, and when they brought him back up, nobody bothered to hook it back up. My mom asked someone to get the nurse who could hook it up, apparently they never told her because nobody ever came in to hook it up. Before the dr. left, my mom told him to have someone come in and hook it up...sure enough a few minutes later the nurse was in to hook it up, but he must have been without it for an hour before it got hooked back up. Patient care definately isn't a priority for them...all they seem to do is sit at the desk and talk.


My mom said she was talking to a man yesterday who went in to have his ankle joint fused together...he's been there 2 months now because he came down with a staph infection! My mom was like "oh great..."

Val, Infections seems to be rampant in the hospitals now. Well, think about it - everybody that's in the hospital is there because they're SICK - they have germs. DUH!!!! Hope your Step Dad can get out before anything catches him. As far as hospitals go, none of them take care of you like they used too. When my Mama was in there last year - I asked them when they were going to send me my check because I did more for her than they did. It's kind of frustrating - the money you pay and the lack of service you get.

Val,
Somehow I missed this thread earlier, but wanted to let you know that I am thinking of your step father and hoping things will turn around and a speedy recovery will start soon. I work in the medical field, I am a registered nurse. I know in many places you have to "let" them know you are on top of things and ask lots and lots of questions every day. Someone should take notice and start giving some answers, if not keep asking until you get a person that CAN answer your questions. Your mom/stepfather are entitled to know everything about the care and what is being done!!!
Laura

Thanks, Laura! My mom even has Medical Power of Attorney and she's had a hard time getting any info. Yesterday when we were there, she did go down to the desk and ask about the results of one of the tests, and they didn't want to give it to her, but they did. Wasn't long after that the dr. came in and gave us an update.

Didn't hear anything much today...my mom said they were supposed to do the scope on him today. She probably didn't get there until sometime after dinner, because she had workers at the house putting in new windows and she couldn't leave with them there.

Hospitals are a place to be avoided, if possible! My older sis is an RN and taught at a couple of colleges after working in hospitals and doctor's offices and she was horrified when she would discover poor care and really worked hard at teaching the new ones how to really care for patients. I do so hope your step dad is better soon and can leave the VA hospital! We are all praying for him. The patients who have no family members to look out for them are really neglected.

Take care, Freida

I guess I forgot to tell you guys this, but yesterday when we were there visiting, his good knee was hurting him! My mom said it looked bruised and from where I was sitting it looked swollen. Apparently they must have hit his good knee on something during surgery or turned it wrong or something, because my mom said it's been bothering him ever since. It hurts so much laying down that he's even afraid to put weight on it when the PT stands him up. That's not very good when they go to do surgery on your bad knee and injure your good one in the process!!

Sorry Val, I have not been keeping up with the threads and am just now reading all of this news. My thoughts are with you and your family

Val,
I'm sure it is frustrating for you and your family. Also, not at all what your stepfather would like to be doing right now. I hope they can get some answers to you soon, and help him start to feel better. I'm thinking of you all, and remembering him in prayer. Keep us informed.

We are so sorry your family is going through all this - our prayers are with you. Hope your stepfather is soon able to go home where the healing really begins! Your mom must be worn out.

Freida

Yes, my mom is worn out. We saw him today and he's doing much better. It seems like his hiccups finally went away, but he's still not able to keep any solid food down (but people say antibiotics can cause that). Yesterday he walked down almost to the nurses station and when we left today, my mom got him a wheelchair and they walked downstairs and outside with us. My mom had him outside yesterday, too. His foot looks better and it's not nearly as hot as it was.

Freida, as for the anti-rejection drugs, I told my mom about them, and she said that he probably can't take them. He is supposed to be on I think 4 things of antibiotics a day, but he only had 1 today...and when my father looked at the IV, he said that it wasn't antibiotics, it was a sodium solution Oh, they also put in a pick-line today, and the nurses said that they can't take the IV out until the Dr 'blesses' it...so he's probably stuck with the IV line until tomorrow since there aren't any Drs on duty today to give their 'blessing.'

Val,
Well, thank goodness his hiccups are gone. That is something good for him. It sounds like things are better today. Hope they continue to improve for him. I hope you know we are continuing to pray for him, and remembering you and your family.

The word 'hiccup' is now a bad word to say, because one day last week I asked about them, and no sooner did I ask, he started hiccuping! So now the word is off-limits. *L* Thanks again, everyone...the prayers and antibiotics are definately working. His good knee is even feeling better now. If they had just started him on the antibiotics right after surgery, this all could have been avoided, but apparently these drs at the VA Hospital think they know everything and won't even *think* about consulting with an outside Dr. When my mom suggested consulting with his Dr in Houston they said "oh no, we'll figure this thing out ourselves." Well, in the process they managed to set his recovery back 2 weeks.

Valerie, what wonderful news and I hope things keep continuing in this positive direction. That's cute about not even saying the word hiccup *L*. Wishing you ALL a good night's sleep.

Trish

Valerie, so glad to hear your stepfather is doing better. I bet he is thrilled the hiccups are gone Geez, his stomach probably was killing him after all those hiccups, makes you feel like you've been doing sit ups, at least me anyways!

Well, thank goodness he is doing better! Bet he and your Mom are really thankful. Hopefully, soon he can be back home and just go to rehab therapy as an outpatient. I went 3 times a week till I could do what they wanted but after I changed to a better ortho doc he sent me to a much better therapist and I was able to bend the knee a lot more. They can also take you back to surgery and force the replaced knee back to closer to about 136 degrees so that the adhesions are broken - I had that done twice and the last time was the one that finally made me able to really bend knee. We will all remember you all in prayers.
Freida

Val - I'm so sorry to hear all the problems your stepfather is having. I hope they can get him off the IV and send him home to take oral antibotics. Hospitals don't provide the care they should anymore and like Debbie said, people seem to get more infections from hospitals when they stay for longer periods. I'll keep your stepfather and family in my daily prayers.

Valerie, Hope you step dad gets home soon. So sorry to hear his problems are getting somewhat better.

Here's the latest update...his hiccups are gone, but now they want to keep him in the hospital until the end of the month to make sure the infection doesn't come back after they take him off the antibiotics, which the drs are now arguing over how long to actually keep him on them. At first it was supposed to be 14 days, but now they want to take him off them on Friday, which isn't 14 days worth. He is getting better, though.

Val, what's the latest on your stepfather? Hope he is doing better and your mom isn't so worn out! Take care.
Freida

Here's the latest...I told you guys that the drs want to keep him in the hospital until the beginning of July...well, he's doing much better, but now the rude surgeon is going on vacation and doesn't want to sign his release until the middle of July when *he* gets back from vacation!!! There is no reason to keep him in there all that time *just* because the dr is going on vacation!! This was the dr. who told my mom that he has 5 kids and doesn't have time to wait around for the patient's family to show up, but yet *he* doesn't mind inconveniencing a patient's family so *he* can go on vacation without discharging the patient first. My stepfather is goin gto go stircrazy if he has to stay in there all that time...

Val, that seems rather extreme - can't some other doctor discharge him while the rude surgeon is out of town?? Sometimes you really wonder what caused some of these arrogant surgeons to go into medicine! Did they think they could be rude and still get patients to come to them? I certainly wouldn't go back to one like him. I hope someone else will take charge and be more understanding and kind while the rude one is out of town.

Freida

I would think that someone else could discharge him, because he's going to go stircrazy in there...but apparently they want him walking with a cane before they discharge him. So don't really know *what's* going to happen. But remember, we're not dealing with a regular hospital and Health Insurance...we're dealing with the VA and they do things their *own* way. Heck, if they had given him the antibiotics right after surgery, he wouldn't have gotten an infection and he would have been out of there by now. The drs set things back two weeks for him because they went a week without giving him antibiotics, although they *were* giving him blood that most drs wouldn't give a patient whos numbers were what his were.

Oh, and the dr. also did an ultrasound to check for gallstones, even though he doesn't have any sign of gallstones....I have to wonder if these drs actually know what they're doing!

For Pete's sake what do gallstones have to do with a knee replacement?! We will still pray for him - he really needs all our prayers to survive that VA Hospital! Your poor mom must be beside herself.




Forgot to sign my name! This is Freida

That's what my mom was wondering, Freida!! Maybe they thought his hiccups and being sick to the stomach was caused by gallstones??? Who knows with those doctors!! And yes, she is beside herself, because she has to put up with a very tempermental 3 1/2 yr old while at the hospital.

Maybe your mom should ask them to explain in detail every test or new thing they launch at your stepfather! Bet they will stop making him go thru all strange tests! Tell her to say she wants to read his chart and have someone with her to interpret it - like a nurse friend! Hope all is better soon and he gets to go home soon.

Freida

Val, no matter what hospital you are in, you have the right to know/understand why certain tests are being ordered and performed. And you also have the right to say 'no, I don't want that test done'. Sounds like it might be time to take a stand about all of this...alot of it sounds like nonsense on the part of the dr's to me and they may be ordering tests that don't really need to be done just to justify keeping him in the hospital...I've had that said to me before...government hospitals or regular hospitals are no different in that respect..they are all cracking down and in my case, my dr had to order a few tests to keep me in the hospital and on IV antibiotics for a few more days..just to keep the insurance company happy and paying the bill...now does that make any sense at all??? That they don't mind paying for needless tests, but the dr cannot justify to them that I needed to be there 3 more days just so I could get the IV antibiotics and breathing treatments and so that he could watch me and make sure I was actually getting better??? The last time I was in the hospital, my dr ordered a breathing/lung test and a blood oxygen test...I was ok with the breathing test to make sure my lung capacity was ok, but blood oxygen, when I wasn't even on oxygen the whole time I was in the hospital??? If anyone else has had one of these tests done, well, it's not pleasant, to say the least...they take blood from your artery in your wrist...the artery is very deep into your wrist and you just hope they don't miss on their first try...the tech who did mine told me to scream, cry or do anything else I wanted, but 'DO NOT MOVE'...and here I am, I usually faint at the sight of blood and have always had a fear of needles...and I was asking him where he was going to let me lie down for the test...he said, 'nowhere, your wheelchair will do just fine'...so I just had to grin and bear it...and I still feel like it was all just to appease the insurance company so I could stay in the hospital a few more days....uuugggghhhhh...I told myself then that I'd have to be dying before I went back into the hospital...so far, I've been able to dodge the hospital since then...and I'll continue to do so for as long as I possibly can...

Well, I got pretty good at "demanding" rights for my son and his wife after that horrible motorcycle accident 10 or more years ago where our son lost a leg and both had such terrible head injuries and we were responsible to sign for surgeries but I had expert help - my cousin who was a surgeon in town then and my sis who is a nurse so I knew what to ask and refuse because I had coaching but our family doc who was/is a good friend also got our son out in only 30 days over their dead bodies because they wanted so badly to keep him in hospital another month in order to collect on his very good insurance because it is a county hospital and so many of the patients don't pay at all. That's where all accident patients are taken in a 4-state area - Harborview but none of us ever want to be sent there again. Before it was over one smart-alect resident who kept pumping my son full of a drug every night that he wasn't supposed to be getting got shipped back to the U Hospital because I complained to the head of the neurology dept. So, as you can imagine I wasn't loved but our son benefitted.
Freida

Well, they took him off the antibiotics yesterday, and they want to keep him there for a few more days to make sure the fever/infection doesn't come back. He's hoping to go home by Friday. He scared the living daylights out of my grandmother today...he got up and walked to just outside the door without a walker or anything!! Tomorrow he's going to ask them to give him a cane. They still have a bag hanging on the IV machine, but it's not hooked up to him or the machine...it's just there for 'show' in case someone who's associated with his surgeon comes in and expects to see an IV in the room. Two of the three drs agreed to take him off the antibiotics yesterday, so that's why they took him off...the surgeon (who's on vacation) didn't want him off, so that's why the IV is still hanging there. *L*

Just thought I'd let you guys know that my stepfather went home today. My mom called around 11:30 this morning and said that he wanted to take us out for luch at McDonalds, and that she'd call when they were leaving. Well, just after noon she called saying that they were still processing the paperwork and didn't know how much longer it would take, so to just meet them over at the hospital for a hotdog. They had already taken the stitches/staples out before we got there, so they were just waiting for the paperwork. I went and got the car and picked my grandmother up, and we left...I called my mom when we got home later this afternoon (we had some other things to do), and she said that no sooner did she get from the cafeteria up to the Administration office (or whereever it is that they process them to leave), he was ready to go. She said that he got home and plopped down on the sofa. *L*

I'm glad that he is at home now. Hope he keeps doing well.

I'm sure your stepfather will do much better now that he is in his own surroundings and away from those crazies! Wow what a nightmare.
Hope he is up and around very soon and feeling his old self.

Wonderful news, Valerie. I bet that couch felt REALLY good to him. Hope things continue to improve for him and that he can "stay out" of the hospital.

Trish