Scarry week, but answers finally!!

We thought that we would post about Chad's latest bout with his medical problems, but first here are a couple of pictures from his first visit at the hospital in April. The one of Chris is when he came to visit Uncle Chad in the hospital and Uncle Chad feed him some Oreo's while I was in a mtg with the hospital advocate.


Now onto the present...

Chad has still been having problems since the hospital visit in April, but we thought we knew what the problem was and we were working with the Dr. hoping that we were on the right track. Well we weren't, but now we ARE.

So Chad has been taking lasix since March, and still suffering with the swelling. Little by little it getting more and more out of control, till finally it was out of control as it had been in March/April. After being in and out of the Dr. office for a week and trying everything that we could to get the liquid off of him, including Oxygen at home. I took Chad to the Hospital on Tuesday August 12, 2008. I was able to bring him home on Saturday night the 16th. This time was so much better than the last visit. We had his Internalist the whole time, so we didn't have to continually repeat ourselves to a new Dr. He knew his whole past and what had been happening up to this point. He had an idea of what was going on and being in the hospital confirmed what his belief was.

Chad has sleep apnea and has had a C-Pap for the last 8 years. However his apnea has progressed to the point that he is not getting enough oxygen when he is sleeping (even just laying down to relax), and he is breathing VERY shallow. This has caused a sever chain of reactions. Due to his lack of oxygen the right side of his heart is contracting and not allowing his blood flow to get were it needed to be. His lungs aren't getting oxygen so they are holding onto the fluid so that they can stay saturated. His CO2 levels are DANGEROUSLY high. The normal should be in the low 30's and he was at 70, which causes anxiousness (hummm), confusion (mmm), acidic in his blood (so the blood that was getting pushed around was poisoned), and exhaustion, just to name a few...all of which he is suffering with greatly. His Potassium was dangerously low as well do to all the lasiks, from before and during the hospital visit.

On Wednesday night I watched my love nearly die. It is something that I hope to never have to experience again. There were "some" that had said I didn't need to stay there with Chad (I only left to go home and get things that he needed and a Dr apt I had), but I am so glad that I listened to myself and the promptings of the Holly Ghost. I was able to be there when he really needed me, and made sure that he got what he needed. The out-come of what happened was, we had the House Nurse and the respiratory nurse amongest others there to help him. As you will see in the pictures they had him wear what they called the "jason mask" (you'll see why). It was a REAL struggle to get him to put it on, but finally we were able to get him to wear it. He didn't know till today that I was able to get pictures.

They were able to get 7 gallons of fluid off of him, 35 lbs., and got his CO2 levels better, not as far down as they wanted, we couldn't get him to wear the Bi-Pap enough, but they were at least low enough that they felt ok with releasing him. His Potassium was still really low too, but we are continuing to work on that out of the hospital.

Getting his CO2 levels more normal brought back my husband that has been "lost" for quite some time. I keep asking him if he's "ok", because the only time that he's been this CALM or quiet is....well I don't remember it must have been ages ago. He said today that he can feel the edgy feeling coming back a little, he's struggling a little since he started back to work with changing habits that have to be changed. At least now we know what it is and how to "fix" it. All in all they helped him 100% more than his visit in April (different hospital this time too). They did more for him and actually figured out the prob and are working with him to resolve it. He felt much better this time coming home.

The short (LOL yea right) of it is... he has oxygen that he wears at night with his C-Pap, adjusted meds, habits that have to be changed, and quiting "chew". (The nicotine is also constricting his blood vessels adding to the problem) Not much at all...LOL

We would both like to thank ALL of our family and friends for their concern and prayers on Chad's behalf. We know that these prayers saved Chad's life and helped the Dr. to find what the problem was and the way to help Chad heal and feel better. We wanted you all to know that and to let you know that he is doing better and on the road to better and stronger health!!

The three of the helicopter are from the window in his room. It was a great view, and we enjoyed watching the helicopter land and take off. Got a video of it too.