Shelley's dad, 2nd update via email

[NJO]

More dad stuff... the docs cannot agree on what is best for my dad. The neurologist says he strongly believes that whatever this mass is it is causing enough trouble that it needs to come out ASAP and the neurosurgeon is saying that we need to do a wait and see deal. I don't feel comfortable leaving as my mom is not quite handling all this medical stuff and his meds etc.... and yet she is driving me crazy constantly nagging me about my weight and how (I) need to do something about it. My dad has lost quite a bit of his mental acquity and my mom is forgetful so this whole thing is stressing me out. I don't know what to do. I can't really talk to the docs about the situation because of the HIPPA laws so I'm running out of ideas of how to handle this. I guess I'll be hanging around for a few more days to see if he gets better or worse....
Thanks for the hugs and prayers and good thoughts...I appreciate all of it...
Shelley

[Wanda]

Thinking of you Shelley. Remember to do what is best for you too!

[Maureen]

Prayers coming towards you Shelley.

[NJO]

The physical therapist came by this a.m. and said that he is doing fairly well as far as steadiness etc... but that his hips and upper legs are quite weak and he will need to have PT later this week and again next week. He is looking stronger in general but he is saying that the dizziness is worse today than yesterday and that he had head pain last night but not this a.m. His mental acquity seems to be better today also. That is the biggest relief as he can make himself known as to what he needs etc... He is still onery as an old goat but that should get better if/when they take him off the steroids (he is on 16 mgs. of dexamethasone a day!!) . He is seeing his g.p. on Wed. and I will see what he has to say and if he takes dad off the steroids. I am inlcined to wait until he gets his next cat scan before I head back home, although my mom is getting antsy having me here....although she's pretty much antsy all the time I am glad to see dad feeling better but I really don't feel good about going home until the docs really know what's in his head and what they are going to do about it. But I will see how things go.....
Reporting to you from the last midcentury where technology is frowned upon and where grumpy poeple abound....signing off until next time,
Shelley

[NJO]

That is a lot of Dexamethasone! But they use high doses in cases like this , treating the brain. Hope your dad continues to feel better.

Take care of you, Shelley.

[Gwen]

It's a very good thing that you are there, Shelley.

You may want to speak with your parents about a medical & financial power of attorney. A hard thing to talk about but necessary. With my MIL it has made the process so much easier.

[NJO]

It would really help, Shelley. A durable power of attorney for health care and also financial matters certainly makes the going easier. If your parents would go for it, it would be very good when they are ill and you need to help out or hard decisions must be made.