Wednesday, May 18
They are doing all sorts of tests–bloodwork, ECG, ultrasound, chest x-ray, nuclear scan, etc. And many specialists! So far I’ve seen a hematologist, psychiatrist, pharmacist, endocrinologist, and several internal medicine doctors. The first diagnosis was DVT in her “lower right extremity.” Upon questioning, it was discovered that she had not taken XARELTO® for the past week. No reason given. So they immediately started giving her ELIQUIS®.
My challenge for today was figuring out the route from home to Eden Medical Center via surface streets and learning to ignore directions to freeway entrances. Then I had to figure out where to park in the parking garage. I kept going straight down from Level 5 (for patients and visitors), to Level 4 (for physicians), to Levels 3 and 2 (for staff parking), and Level 1 which had no indication of who it was for. The garage elevator wasn’t working so I walked up 5 flights of garage stairs to Level 5 which was street level and where I could go in the hospital entrance. Because the security desk in the E.R. had helped me get my vaccination record online and put it on my phone, I had it available for entry into the hospital. I also had to show a photo ID (driver’s license).
Thursday, May 19
The main concern today was getting the DVT under control and determining if any blood clots had broken off in her lungs. The chest x-ray and the nuclear scan were inconclusive.
The doctors determined that several of her medications that she has been on for 10-15 years were causing problems of low blood sodium and high ammonia levels, so they removed several of the medications and replaced them with other medications. I don’t think anyone contacted Dr. Rosenthal, her primary care, or Dr. Neuwalt, her rheumatologist.
Friday, May 20
When I got to the hospital today, the nurse told me that Linda was scheduled for a CT scan of her lungs. We waited all afternoon and no one came to take her for the CT scan. I had to leave before 8 o’clock.
Saturday, May 21
The good news is that the DVT in her leg did not go up into her lungs (they did a CT scan last night). However, she has pneumonia (left lung) and is on antibiotics, but she still cannot breathe well, even though they keep increasing the oxygen. They are changing almost all her medications as they say the meds are causing her low sodium and high ammonia. Oh, she’s also anemic and is getting iron in the I-V.
