I spoke today to my mother-in-law, and she has discovered that my daughter -- out of touch with us all week -- required psychiatric placement in a Lynn hospital. Of course, my mother is at MGH. And today, Vic had a colonoscopy procedure at Beverly Hospital, and it was not as "clean" as I had hoped.
I nearly fell asleep in the middle of the afternoon. I feel like all is madness.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Gun Control
I have been a huge proponent of gun control for nearly all of my life. I grew up in a city (Flint, MI) in which violence was rampant and the number of deaths by gun outstripped those per capita in NYC. It is only through the lens of a family member's illness that, for the first time, I see a potential equal-rights violation in limiting access to guns: Do we say, without fear of being way wrong, that those who have been treated for mental illness cannot obtain a gun?
I supported that policy without reflecting on it. I've been at the "wrong" end of a knife brandished by a bipolar client, so I've seen what mania can produce. But I've also been at the "wrong" end of a gun brandished by a mugger, who never revealed any mental illness to me.
Are we not revealing our ignorance and fear in a ban on the rights of one non-institutionalized segment of our society? One solution is, of course, that we ban all gun ownership, at least until we sort this out (though I would love to see a lasting ban; my experiences with guns have been universally bad). The solution I heard offered on the news recently -- that all citizens should bear arms and be trained in their use -- is more than impractical; it's a bit loony. So...what do we do?
I supported that policy without reflecting on it. I've been at the "wrong" end of a knife brandished by a bipolar client, so I've seen what mania can produce. But I've also been at the "wrong" end of a gun brandished by a mugger, who never revealed any mental illness to me.
Are we not revealing our ignorance and fear in a ban on the rights of one non-institutionalized segment of our society? One solution is, of course, that we ban all gun ownership, at least until we sort this out (though I would love to see a lasting ban; my experiences with guns have been universally bad). The solution I heard offered on the news recently -- that all citizens should bear arms and be trained in their use -- is more than impractical; it's a bit loony. So...what do we do?
MGH
Mom was transferred over the weekend to MGH, and I've been staying at my sister's house in Malden so as to be close enough to "take the morning shift," re: visitation. The dialysis literally makes my mother psychotic, and we have to be around as proxies to grant permissions and the like.
Today, however, I return to Glosta. The predictions of snow and the shortage of packed underwear make it time to go home. That, plus: Mom is supposed to be transferred to a regular room!
Of course, she was transferred to a regular room at Beverly Hospital just before they discovered the aortic aneurysm, which prompted transfer back to Critical Care. The aneurysm was indeed leaking into the outer aortic wall (a.k.a., dissected) and so potential for it bursting must be high (and would be fatal). But at MGH, they seem less worried about the aneurysms (yup, more than one) and more worried about the diverticulitis, renal failure, and re-discovered blood clot in Mom's leg. Her 6-month Coumadin treatment was supposed to address that -- and didn't. Urgh, I worry about all of it.
Today, however, I return to Glosta. The predictions of snow and the shortage of packed underwear make it time to go home. That, plus: Mom is supposed to be transferred to a regular room!
Of course, she was transferred to a regular room at Beverly Hospital just before they discovered the aortic aneurysm, which prompted transfer back to Critical Care. The aneurysm was indeed leaking into the outer aortic wall (a.k.a., dissected) and so potential for it bursting must be high (and would be fatal). But at MGH, they seem less worried about the aneurysms (yup, more than one) and more worried about the diverticulitis, renal failure, and re-discovered blood clot in Mom's leg. Her 6-month Coumadin treatment was supposed to address that -- and didn't. Urgh, I worry about all of it.
Friday, January 21, 2011
CCU
Mom is back in the Critical Care Unit, for observation.
Yesterday they announced a mass on her lung and a possible ruptured appendix instead of the infected diverticulitis. They did a CAT scan and drained either the appendix or the abscess (infection).
The results of the CAT scan were that, instead of a mass, she has a 'bubble' on an artery, a.k.a. an aneurysm. They said that the aneurysm may be dissected, which would be very bad: It would be releasing blood into the thoracic cavity. And, of course, it could burst. Hence, they are observing.
Yesterday they announced a mass on her lung and a possible ruptured appendix instead of the infected diverticulitis. They did a CAT scan and drained either the appendix or the abscess (infection).
The results of the CAT scan were that, instead of a mass, she has a 'bubble' on an artery, a.k.a. an aneurysm. They said that the aneurysm may be dissected, which would be very bad: It would be releasing blood into the thoracic cavity. And, of course, it could burst. Hence, they are observing.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Lucid
Today Mom was coherent and lucid. Her memory of the past five days is variable. She stated that it was "a miracle" when my sister and I got there, although we've been there every day since Thursday, between 6 and 12 hours each day.
Her kidneys may be on the mend, although they are not producing enough volume. Her next dialysis treatment is supposed to be tomorrow; they will evaluate her kidney function then and perhaps cancel the treatment. She's on IV antibiotics, which have fought off the pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and (perhaps) abscess in her gut -- we'll see, after a CAT scan later this week.
The hospital social worker wants to talk about a plan for discharge, though that wouldn't happen until next week, at the earliest. I honestly don't believe that we can take care of her at home, considering that multiple systems seem to be compromised. What is amazing -- truly -- is that I'm able to "believe in" a future in which she has been discharged.
Her kidneys may be on the mend, although they are not producing enough volume. Her next dialysis treatment is supposed to be tomorrow; they will evaluate her kidney function then and perhaps cancel the treatment. She's on IV antibiotics, which have fought off the pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and (perhaps) abscess in her gut -- we'll see, after a CAT scan later this week.
The hospital social worker wants to talk about a plan for discharge, though that wouldn't happen until next week, at the earliest. I honestly don't believe that we can take care of her at home, considering that multiple systems seem to be compromised. What is amazing -- truly -- is that I'm able to "believe in" a future in which she has been discharged.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
No Conclusions
Mom is still critical but now stable. Two hours of dialysis yesterday did not 'kick-start' her kidneys (still in renal failure) but did improve her creatinine(?), etc. Today she had three hours of dialysis. Unfortunately, she is not lucid, and the hospital has had to prevent her, with restraints, from pulling out the dialysis catheter that is in her neck.
Tomorrow the medical team hopes to drain an abscess near or in her sigmoid, which is the site of her infected diverticulitis. One step at a time.
Tomorrow the medical team hopes to drain an abscess near or in her sigmoid, which is the site of her infected diverticulitis. One step at a time.
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