[ocgirl]

I got a call from my dad this evening telling me that my Mom was taken to the hospital by paramedics in severe abdominal pain.

From what my dad says they think she has pancreatitis.
When she was here for my daughter's graduation my family noticed that she was not her usual perky self, and looked like she had aged 15 years.

I called the hospital and apparently she is sleeping.

She has a history of deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism, hyperparathyroidism (high calcium levels-same as me, weird it's not supposed to run in families).

She never had surgery to remove the bad parathyroid gland so her calcium levels are still high and her osteoporosis is getting worse(after what happened to me when my parathyroid adenoma was removed was enough to scare her out of the surgery. I got tos during that surgery)

Having worked on medical floors I know how over worked (and many new grads) those nurses are. I am somewhat fearful for my mother's life, not so much from the pancreatatis but from complications from dehydration (stroke from high calcium levels) or pulmonary embolism from immobility.

Her st*pid pulmonologist refused to put her on low dose blood thinners for the rest of her life contrary to what the AMA currently recommends for someone with a recurrent deep vein thrombosis.

Thanks for letting me vent. It feels good to share.
Martha

[Jomar]

Martha , I hope your mother is in good hands in the hospital and has some of the good nurses that are still around.
They should have her on IV shouldn't they, for fluids etc?

[ocgirl]

Yes, she is on an IV running at 200 ml/hr

She is getting D5 (according to my niece who is starting her 2nd year of nursing school)which concerns me a little as the pancreas secretes insulin. If it is not working well they may be pumping in glucose without much insulin being made.

I hope they are testing her blood sugars. I'll feel better when I see her tomorrow.

Thanks again for your concern Jo.
M

[Sea Pines 50]

wow, martha

this is very alarming news. i feel for you. i know you will feel so much better when you can actually get to her bedside and see for yourself how your mom is doing; check out the care she is receiving (i know you will be peeking at that chart, martha, don't even pretend you won't be, now, it's OK!) and speak to her doctors and the nurses in charge of her care.

pancreatitis is very painful and i know you will want to make sure she is getting proper pain control along with the other things that you've mentioned. this is very serious stuff. you poor thing, you and your family have had so much stress this year (both good and bad), and this just adds fuel to the fire i would think. i know you are strong and my guess is you are the rock of that family, martha. despite the TOS and everything else, everyone's going to feel much better when you are able to get to that hospital. i can feel that.

so go to your mom and be strong for her, in spirit, be the fighter that you are with that great big heart of yours my friend. but please, please don't forget to take care of little martha in the process. remember to ice, to eat, to take breaks and to take your meds, OK? because we need you here and we need you well. oh, and take your inhaler and remember to breathe!

love,

alison

PS bring my phone number, too...

[astern]

I will pray for your Mother, Martha!

and for you

[dawn3063]

Martha,
I will Pray for you and for your Mother...
Many Hugs
Dawn

[DiMarie]

Oh Martha, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. I am saying my prayers for her health and speedy resolution.
I hope when you see Mom today that she is improved and you will feel better about ehr care.
My big hugs,
Di

[johannakat]

Martha- you and your mom and family are in my thoughts.

*hugs*

Johanna

[DM]

Hi Martha! Sending prayers and hugs to you and your Mom....
take care of yourself too....

[phoebe]

So very sorry to hear about your Mom. Good thoughts and hugs coming your way from me.

Do try to take care of yourself. phoebe