July 31 Update

On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 3:36 PM, cate praggastis  wrote:

Okay... I will see if I can fill all that went on today... so far..

First off, when I got here yesterday (Monday), both Tom and John had told me about the droop on Dad's face. John had done some research and suspected Bell's Palsy. Today, specifically this morning, when dad woke up.. he was distraught.. his speech was slurred and his droop was very pronounced. He said.. "I think I have had a stroke". I said okay, called John .. who called Tom.. I got some food in Dad's belly while they were talking.. and then I called Dr. Nichols and took Dad there. We saw Trevor, the PA (smart guy). He suspected Bell's Palsy right away because of the multiple involvement of Dad's eyes and mouth. We have an MRI at 4 pm to rule out stroke.

Trevor had blood drawn to find out if Dad has a virus. Since he has a history of herpes (cold sores), it is suspected that the virus is acute and causing the Bell's. We see Dr. Nichols again tomorrow at 10.30 am for the results. In the meantime, he (Trevor) put dad on Prednesone and Valtrex, which would help with the virus and eventually work on the Bell's Palsy.

In addition, because Dad cannot close his left eye.. Trevor ordered Lacri-Lube Eye Ointment. There is concern that he MUST lubricate the eye regularly, to prevent blindness.. since he cannot blink at all. He has to sleep with his eye taped closed. I worry this might offset his balance a bit.

Dad cannot chew on his left side. He ate eggs and a bit of cottage cheese last night, and some watermelon.. and had 1 egg this morning. He had some Ensure this afternoon.

We then went to see Nguyen as well this afternoon. Dr. Nguyen has a good manner with dad. He was concerned about the Bell's and the virus.. so he has suspended any treatment of CHEMO until the results are confirmed and dad is feeling better. He does NOT want Dad taking the Augmentan that Dr. Rose prescribed. He thinks it is playing havoc on his stomach and not working on the ear infection, which is likely in the mastoid bone.

Which brings me to Dr. Trang (the ear surgeon). Dad has an appointment with Dr. Trang on Tuesday, Aug. 7th at 10:30 in the morning. (The office just called to confirm that time, Tom - so whatever you have from Dr. Rose is not current). Dr. Nguyen will confer with Dr. Trang AND Dr. Nichols office on the best road to travel. (stay to the right of the building, go around the back side and enter through the door that says "Surgery Center")

Dr. Nguyen was in support of the Trevor's plan for treatment for the Virus, also felt like it was Bell's Palsy, has piggy backed on the blood draw from Dr. Nichols office today to check his vitamin levels and anemia. He was kind and gentle with dad and could see that Dad is distraught and depressed. I suggested a mild anti-depressant that got me through the loss of mom... It is called Lexapro. Dad will begin taking it tonight. Dr. Nguyen felt it might help Dad. He wants Dad to feel like he can move around, get around and have a bit of energy. He is a very compassionate doctor.

Dr. Nguyen wants to ensure the Furosemide and Allopurinol are STOPPED. He said to give Dad 500 mg of Tylenol every 6 hours instead of the Tylenol with Codeine, as that is making him too tired and could be exacerbating his depression - plus Dad hates how he feels on it. He said Dad SHOULD not take aspirin or Advil.. which I didn't know.. so that was a good update for me.

Dr. Nguyen said, after he looks over all the tests and confers with the other doctors, he needs to see Dad next week (Tuesday, August 7th at 3pm)- Tom or John.. you can likely change that if you want to set them up back to back with Dr. Trang. He, at that point will discuss how to proceed with the Chemo, and the possibility of putting Dad on and appetite stimulant to enhance his food intake. I had a friend tell me that she is on medical marijuana in pill form.. and that it has helped her mood and her appetite, while also controlling some of her pain from the chemo and infections that she has. She is also undergoing chemo for Cancer, but not lymphoma.

Dad said everything tastes salty, that he always has a salty feeling in his mouth.

Dad is resting now, for about another 15 minutes, then we will go to the Radiology place for the MRI. We will not know the results of that until we meet with Trevor tomorrow morning. Let me know if you have any questions.. or if it seems like I left something out. Love you all...

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