May 17th

Dad was admitted about 8:00pm, but so far (10:00 pm) we are still waiting for them to do anything. I talked with the nurse who has put in I'V, but nothing is hooked to it. She is waiting for the dr who should be in about 10:30pm. I asked the RN what anti-biotic dad will be on and she did not know. She also did not have any idea how long he will be here. The only thing she was able to confirm is that dad will have a scan in the morning. Dad is at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, room 586, which is a single bed room. To contact him, call 661-327-4647 then extension 1586. If you want to just call and get information on how he is doing you will need the code word "rabbit". Dad pain level started out as a 1 this morning and went up to a 4 around noon and a 6 around 5:00, before he ate soup for dinner. So eating doesn't seem to be making it worse. He is resting right now as we wait for the dr. He is also leary of taking more pain medicine because he has had the runs this afternoon and evening. Well that is about all we know right now, he is in good spirits and we were doing quizzes I have on my phone. He did very well on the Chicago quiz! Love to all, Bill

This is all the info I have right now.  Dad had his CT scan at noon today.  His ear doctor was going to take tomorrow off and so she rushed to get the results.  From what I can discern, Dad’s ear infection is deeper than we thought and they want to immediately admit him into the hospital for IV antibiotics.  I understand a new doctor will be brought in to assist Dr. Rose and oversee the treatment.  Dad and Bill were here in the store when we got the news.  While Dad was disappointed and sad to get the news, he recovered quickly and said let’s get this done.  Bill took Dad home to get some personal items and perhaps take a nap before going to the hospital.  I believe he will be at Memorial and we’ll keep you up-to-date on any more information we get.

According to Dr Rose's patient notes canal is very edematous, cannot see eardrum, there is scant yellow discharge.  Wants Dad on IV antibiotics. 

May 16th

To bring everyone up-to-date, Dad has been struggling with an ear infection in his left ear.  The drops they were giving him had no effect on the bacteria and so the Dr. changed to oral administration.  According to Mary, the Dr. is considering iv administration as the next step but first she wants to do a CT scan of the ear.  Dad says the earache can be quite painful at times, especially in the evening after dinner.  The ear canal is completely closed up and he cannot get new hearing aids until this is cleared up.  Thankfully the folks at the hearing aid company he goes to had a “demo” amplifier they could put into his right ear and that has improved things.

I played tennis with him this am and he’s tired of these inconveniences but he still keeps plugging along.  He walked up the slope to the tennis courts slowly but without stopping as far as I could tell.  He can’t see the ball for $%$#, but he still managed some good shots.  He had courtside conversations with the other players telling them about Nedra who has sprained her ankle.  He had a fall, I think out of bed, and bumped his head.  There is a half dollar size bruise and it looks like it’s healing okay.

Mary is taking him to the ear Dr. on Thursday, I’m not sure when the CT scan is (it was just scheduled), he gets blood tested today, and another EPO shot on Tuesday.  Bill is considering coming down for a visit next week.

According to Dr Rose's patient notes Dad was seen today, his canal is slightly less edematous (filled with blood) but she still cannot see the ear drum.  Dr Rose added a prescription for tylenol with Codeine.

May 14, 2012 Update

According to Dr Rose's notes, dad saw Dr Rose today.  There is still yellow discharge in dad's left ear which was suctioned, the canal is less edematous, but still cannot see the ear drum.  Dad reports that the ear is less painful.  Dr Rose will schedule a CT temporal bones to eval for malignant OE.  Continue augmentin and rifampin.

May 11, 2012 Update

According to Dr Rose's office notes, Dad was seen today.  The wick in his left ear was removed, there was discharge present, medial half of canal still very edematous.  Dr Rose added rifampin 300 mg Cap to augmentin.  Staph is resistent to cipro and gent, no ear drops at this time.

May 8, 2012 Update

According to Dr Rose's notes dad was seen today and his wick had fallen out, purulent material suctioned and the wick was replaced.  Dad continues on Augmentin.

May 7, 2012 Update

According to Dr Rose's patient notes, Dad's left ear is feeling worse and his right ear feels a bit plugged.  Canal is swollen shut again and the wick replaced.  The wick was replaced and the ear was cultured. 

Dad is on Augmentin 875 mg tabs, 1 tablet by mouth BID, qty 20.

May 1, 2012 Update

Dad saw Dr Rose today according to Dr Rose's notes.  Dr Rose could see dad's ear drum, I believe, there was scant discharge suctioned, the ear canal was opened.