Twice in ONE WEEK!

We learned something new tonight. Dad took a pain pill this morning, home health care nurse and the physical therapist came to visit early afternoon. After the therapy he was a little tired/sore so he laid down for a nap. When he got up from the nap (supper time - I was home) he was in a cold sweat and said he legs felt like they were on fire. He was freezing one minute and roasting the next. Mom called the doctor, left a message and waited for them to call back. In the meantime, I called 9-1-1 (we decided we couldn't wait any longer for the doc to get back with us). As I called for an ambulance, dad start throwing up and got REAL short on breath. We figured he was having an allergic reaction, the EMT's were more than a little worried when they got here - it was that obvious.

1. We know he's allergic to codeine and morphine.
His medical charts state his allergy to these to drugs, this isn't something new - we already know this fact.

2. Immediately after the surgery he was having trouble breathing and asked to nurse what the pain killer drip was......it was morphine. He told them he was allergic and they switched it, problem solved.

3. When he was discharged from the hospital, the doc wrote a scrip for Oxy-Cotton (not sure how to spell it). We get it filled and this is the pain killer that he took this morning.

At the ER tonight we found out that Oxy-Cotton is the man-made version of MORPHINE! The second pain killer they gave him is a derivative of CODEINE, they wrote his pain killer script for not ONE but TWO medicines he's ALLERGIC to. When the ambulance arrived tonight he was going into anaphylactic shock. So twice in one week, the Sesser first responders and ambulance have been at our house - enough already!

The Benton ER was able to reverse the effects of the morphine and after a few tests, several IV bags of different fluids, and 4 hours in the ER things are thankfully back to normal. We learned that any pain killers they offer dad we need to ask if they're related in any way, shape or form to the two he can't take. We can't assume that they'll put two and two together and not give him what he's allergic to.

Unfortunately I didn't make it to SV trivia tonight, which I'm sure is the reason my team didn't win! I mean I answer soooo many of those questions. I really wonder why people know the answers to some of those questions - really why in the world do people know that useless, trivial stuff? Since I also didn't go to the social after trivia, I now have a lot of hot wings to eat myself!! Which reminds me.....I haven't eaten since lunch today and it's almost midnight now. I'm off to find a snack and get to bed, needless to say it's been one long day.

Home from Hospital

Quick Update before I run back out the door......

They released dad early last night from the hospital and he had his first round of in-home therapy today. The doctor and nurses were amazed at how well he was doing. They all said they don't send patients home in 3 days with a bi-lateral knee replacement.

He may have a different view on "how well he's doing" after the in-home therapists came today. I guess they really worked him over. But in all things did/are going well with the surgery.

I'm about to head out the door for a very competitive trivia night at the SV High School (fund raiser for girls b'ball) - wish me luck! After trivia our team is going to 'celebrate' our win at one of the team members house with cocktails & fingerfoods so don't call me until around noon tomorrow.

Doctors.....

Brittany went to see the orthopedic surgeon today and they were told that she didn't damage the ACLU. She'll have to wear a brace for a couple of weeks and then undergo some physical therapy but should make a full recovery. Dad's doctor told mom that a dislocated knee is not an uncommon injury in young girls....something to do with the way they walk and the knees having an inward bow to them.

They finally took dad into surgery around 1pm today. The doc came out around 4:30 and told us that everything went as planned. He said that there was identical damage in his two knees. The cartilage was missing on the inside of both knees and the bones were rubbing when he walked. Neither knee had arthritis or ACLU damage and the doc expects a good recovery. He'll be staying at Carbondale Memorial for a few days and then will start therapy at home.

Until he's back up and going, Johnathon and I have to tend to the outside animals (dogs, cats and the chickens)! I just looooove those chickens!