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We had to cancel our European River Cruise
We have wanted to do this cruise from Amsterdam to Vienna on the Maine, Rhine and Danube for a couple of years, and we finally booked it last February. But we had to cancel last week due to a series of health problems for Gerry. Yes, we are sad about it, but I would rather have my husband of 55 years than take the trip....and, yes, we did buy trip insurance.
Gerry had a mild heart attack March 9 and came home looking better than ever. He was having kidney problems, but was obeying the doctors orders. After a discussion with our Nephrologist, it was decided that Gerry should have a 'fistula' (joining a vein & artery) made/done on his left arm, in preparation for dialysis IF and when he needed it. He went in for the surgery on Monday, June 18. He really never got better and on Thursday night he told me he was having problems breathing. When the breathing didn't get better, I drove him to our local hospital, arriving about 10 p.m. I called our DD (the RN) and she came to the hospital. The ER doc finally came in and told us he had pulmonary edema and his kidney's had failed and would need immediate dialysis. That all happened the next day.
On Saturday, we talked to the cardiologist after a Echo Cardiogram was done and we were told that Gerry had 'very probably' had a second M.I. while under anesthetic on Monday, killing his kidneys, putting him into congestive heart failure, followed by the pulmonary edema. It was decided that a Cardiac Catherization could be done (the dye would have killed his kidney's before, and no one wanted that done at that time), so he was transported to Punta Gorda and the Charlotte Medical Center (EXCELLENT Medical Center..EXCELLENT care) for the procedure. They found a 95% blockage in one of the main arteries to his heart. He is now a card carrying Stint owner
With the dialysis he had on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, they pulled over 4 1/2 liters of fluid from him. He went from 210 to 180...definately NOT the diet most of us would want to try.
But he is home and feeling better and will be on dialysis 3 days a week, 4 hours each day...his butt gets sore! But he is home and getting stronger and we are both learning a new diet for a diabetic/cardiac/renal patient! His spirits are pretty good, although he still gets discouraged with this sudden change of lifestyle, but I've told him we'll get through this together.
I'm not asking for sympathy...just prayers for Gerry to get through this. That is a lot to go through in 5 days. And to remind people that IF you are a diabetic or have high blood pressure, please, please do what your doctor says, and follow the right diet. Anything to preserve those kidneys!!
Gerry had a mild heart attack March 9 and came home looking better than ever. He was having kidney problems, but was obeying the doctors orders. After a discussion with our Nephrologist, it was decided that Gerry should have a 'fistula' (joining a vein & artery) made/done on his left arm, in preparation for dialysis IF and when he needed it. He went in for the surgery on Monday, June 18. He really never got better and on Thursday night he told me he was having problems breathing. When the breathing didn't get better, I drove him to our local hospital, arriving about 10 p.m. I called our DD (the RN) and she came to the hospital. The ER doc finally came in and told us he had pulmonary edema and his kidney's had failed and would need immediate dialysis. That all happened the next day.
On Saturday, we talked to the cardiologist after a Echo Cardiogram was done and we were told that Gerry had 'very probably' had a second M.I. while under anesthetic on Monday, killing his kidneys, putting him into congestive heart failure, followed by the pulmonary edema. It was decided that a Cardiac Catherization could be done (the dye would have killed his kidney's before, and no one wanted that done at that time), so he was transported to Punta Gorda and the Charlotte Medical Center (EXCELLENT Medical Center..EXCELLENT care) for the procedure. They found a 95% blockage in one of the main arteries to his heart. He is now a card carrying Stint owner
With the dialysis he had on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, they pulled over 4 1/2 liters of fluid from him. He went from 210 to 180...definately NOT the diet most of us would want to try.
But he is home and feeling better and will be on dialysis 3 days a week, 4 hours each day...his butt gets sore! But he is home and getting stronger and we are both learning a new diet for a diabetic/cardiac/renal patient! His spirits are pretty good, although he still gets discouraged with this sudden change of lifestyle, but I've told him we'll get through this together.
I'm not asking for sympathy...just prayers for Gerry to get through this. That is a lot to go through in 5 days. And to remind people that IF you are a diabetic or have high blood pressure, please, please do what your doctor says, and follow the right diet. Anything to preserve those kidneys!!
Our son will be making the trip with his Dad.
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