Score for technology / cellphones! So glad the search started immediately, not when he didn’t get home for dinner.
I hope he is able to get some help on the farm, while he heals.
Ugh, story appears to be completely changing. I really wish someone else was in there when they talk to the doctors. But with COVID they are letting in just one visitor. And once you designate that visitor, no changing. So we are getting info from my mom who is well meaning but not super reliable. And due to the holiday we aren’t getting a consistent doctor either, just whatever hospitalist is on duty at the time.
Now they think there was no wreck. The ATV looked beat up, so that seemed to fit his story. But apparently it was like that already, and it was upright when they found it.
His pulse is normally high (not sure the #) and bounces around a lot. It has apparently been a steady 45 the whole time he has been there. He does have a heart rhythm condition, but that has been under control recently.
They now think he passed out and fell off, maybe
related to low BP or pulse or maybe the rhythm issue. He was trying to get some cows back in their pen, and they think the bruising might be from him getting trampled after he passed out and fell off. I guess when the swelling goes down they will be able to see if the bruises look like hoof prints, not that it really matters. I’m unsure if he has a concussion on top of this too. He still has a fairly large period of time that is just gone, so he isn’t helpful figuring out what happened.
So not that any of you know him but thought I would provide the update. Just like with the college stuff, it’s helpful for me to write this out just to process what the heck is going on. Thanks for reading.
Can you get permission to speak to the docs yourself, so you can follow up with questions? If he passed out with no trauma, then there’s an underlying cause that might be correctable.
It sounds like your mother has medical proxy. It would be great if she could authorize docs to talk to you. Can you be added as #2 proxy?
Good heavens, hoof prints! This is a mystery.
There is no way to image concussions so I hope there is an answer on that, or it will become clear quickly.
I guess this is a wake-up call, if your father can hear it.
Hope things improve!
So sorry this happened and hope he is on the mend!
They would, or should have done a CT when he got to the hospital to be sure he doesn’t have an epidural or subdural hematoma and also to rule out a stroke. I hope you get permission to talk to the docs.
They should also rule out a UTI.
I recall I had to give up my ability to talk to my mother’s MDs in order for them to communicate with a cousin, a pulmonologist.
Perhaps by now there can be a FT with you and mom?
The docs will talk to the primary proxy first. But that doesn’t mean they cannot talk to others with the permission of the patient. And if you can get #2 proxy then tell #1 not to answer calls and they legally have to call you !
You can also ask your mom to call you and put you on speaker the next time she talks to the doctor. I did that many times when my mom was hospitalized.
Good ideas thanks. When I got to the hospital yesterday they were doing a CT scan. I’m now remembering that they said stroke was a big risk from his heart rhythm issue, although fortunately that must not be what happened.
Side note that is important to him. They got most of the cows back in yesterday but couldn’t get the last few. My mom went out there at 6 this morning and they were in getting water so she trapped them there and will have a hired man get them to the right place this morning (I’m guessing on 4th of July that’sS18). Not my biggest worry, but maybe his.
@dadof4kids , I am one of your virtual-support-with-your dad people. Sending both of you energy to deal with this scare and the scary times for hospitals.
Reminded me of my dad, also a farmer. At 75 he was still riding and rode a green horse who bucked him off onto a wooden fence which broke a rib. His wife made him stop riding at that point though he kept the horses around for a while longer. Now at 92, he is still mad that he gave it up. He loved the horses. His aunt still rode and did the old fashioned cattle drives when she was 80 so he feels like a whimp he says.
OP , you may want to follow the Parentscaringfortheparents thread here on CC for empathy and information.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1385049-parents-caring-for-the-parent-support-thread.html
I agree with being on speaker phone while the doctor’s are in the room. When my dad was in the hospital, mom and I took turns getting to the hospital very early so we didn’t miss the doctors as they made rounds. Mom would get overwhelmed, so I would leave a list of questions the night before and then have her call me when the doctor entered. Most were happy to wait the one minute for us to connect.
As my husband is a physician, I would have him on speaker phone on the mornings I was there. An extra set of ears are always helpful, even pre Covid.
You might also give the charge nurse a call as they might be able to help you with some information.
@esobay yep that’s the culture for sure.
They had a neighbor a few years back that was probably in his 80’s that had either a heart incident or stroke happen when he was out fixing fence and they didn’t find him for hours. He lived a few days in the hospital but never woke up.
His son said he told his dad numerous times it would end for him that way. Dad said he was right with God and loved working outside so he was fine with that. I’m guessing the last couple hours weren’t pleasant, but he did get to go out on his own terms the way he wanted to.
Hoping I don’t get to say that at a funeral for several years yet.
Grrr. I was very clear to put me on speaker when the dr came in. They didn’t.
What I am able to piece together is he has a 6 hour pill that is supposed to be taken at the same time every day that he has been taking every 12ish hours except days he forgets. (Inset facepalm emoji here)
His heart rate and blood pressure are back to normal (for him). Going home today, trying to get him to see his heart doc Monday, not sure if I will be successful. If he agrees, the next step is trying to get myself in the room with him when he goes.
Still kind of a mystery exactly what happened. My mom said he had been very tired lately (probably due to low heart rate I’m guessing) so maybe between that and the heat he passed out, or he could have been knocked of by a cow too. Lots of possibilities.
I told my sisters we need to plant a listening device on our mom so we can figure out what is really going on. I’m only half joking.
As my sister just pointed out, the issue is still dad being reckless. Just with his pills, not the ATV.
This has been the theme the last 70 years I think. Not sure if I am going to be able to completely fix this issue.
Sounds like he has afib. Is it frequent enough that he is on blood thinners?
Heat sounds like it could have contributed. And heart rate!
So glad the cows are safe. Hoping your Dad is too!
Correct on afib. It is bad enough that a few years ago they stopped his heart and restarted it. Actually that would have been at least 5 years ago, maybe a bit more. He’s probably been dealing with this diagnosis for about 15 years. I don’t think he is on blood thinners, but he isn’t super forthcoming with what he is taking. My guess is that given his lifestyle he would have bled out a long time ago if he was on thinners. He usually looks as beat up as my college wrestler. He sent us kids a picture to show he was ok after he got home a couple hours ago. Big grin and looks like he just got his butt kicked in a bar fight. Again, looks like his grandson. The only difference is about 50 years.
Rather than argue, my parents are just choosing to ignore our requests to have one of us in the room or at least on speakerphone. Again, this is like dealing with a teenager. Except I can’t threaten to take away his phone if he doesn’t cooperate.
I think most likely there is some underlying issue that caused him to pass out. I think the easy answer that my parents want to hear is that he got knocked off and then stepped on. I’m hoping his regular Dr. is a bit more thorough on trying to figure it out.
My sister made up a BS excuse to drive up to their place this afternoon to check on him and see if she can get a bit better info face to face on what is really going on.
“Normal adult pulse rate” is supposed to be in the 60 to 100 range, but very physically fit people can have resting rates in the 50s or 40s or lower (Miguel Indurain, a five-time a Tour de France champion, once had his resting rate measured at 28).
If he has afib, I’d be surprised if he’s not on blood thinners.