Urgent Prayer Request

[MomTimesFive]

For those who are so inclined, I would like to ask for prayers for my mom today. She has to have surgery for an abscessed appendix that is causing a bowel obstruction. We were hoping that the abscess could be drained through a catheter or needle aspiration, but there are actually several abscesses, and the doctor says that open surgery is the only way to go. She has high blood pressure and kidney dysfunction, so anesthesia and surgery are very risky. She *is* 81 years old, but we would like to have her around for a while longer. She's the most special, loving, unselfish person I know. Her surgery will start between 2:00-3:00 today Pacific time.

[cgwoolf]

You and your mom will be in my prayers. What is her name?

[1973VW]

My dad has an infected appendix out at age 82 in spite of heart valve problems and did well but recuperation supposedly took a little while. He was back tilling the garden in less time than the dr. would have liked!

[Wilson]

Your mom is in my thoughts and prayers. I hope everything goes well and she bounces back quickly!

[momoftwo]

You will be in our prayers. I hope her surgery goes well.

[schnauzermom]

Sending good thoughts to your mom and whole family.

[LarkinJoanna]

Praying for your mom and your family. Please let us know how the surgery went.

[baby duck]

Just saw this. Praying for your mom.

[mdonn76405]

I'm in. We will be thinking of her, keep us updated.

[Storm]

You can count on my prayers, too. Please let us know how your mom is doing when you get a chance.

[MomTimesFive]

Thank you EVERYONE! CG, my mom's name is Gloria. Well, all I can say is that prayer (and/or good thoughts) is a powerful thing. I was unbelievably calm at one point as my brother and I were waiting with her in preop. A feeling of absolute peace came over me as we were sitting in the waiting room, and I *knew* that she was going to come through the surgery okay. The infection was much more widespread than the doctor had expected, and her appendix had pretty much disintegrated, but he was confident that he got all of the infection. Of course, she's not out of the woods yet, but when the doctor first told us that she needed an open operation instead of a percutaneous drainage, I was absolutely sure that she would not survive surgery so for her to have come through it is a blessing. I am truly thankful for all the good thoughts and prayers.

[mdonn76405]

I'm happy for you. God speed on her recovery.

[cgwoolf]

That is just wonderful, hope she has a non-eventful recovery.

[Wilson]

She looks like a lovely grandma :). My prayers are with you both as she heals.

[howdyall18]

Thinking of her-hope she has a speedy recovery

[terces]

Prayers for a quick recovery.

[LarkinJoanna]

Thank you Mom for the update. Prayers for her continued recovery.

[Trace]

May the Lord heal your mother and help her overcome this illness. Amen

[MomTimesFive]

Thanks again, everyone :) My mom was actually moved out of the ICU yesterday because she was doing too well to *need* to be in the ICU.

[msmichellemiller]

My mom was actually moved out of the ICU yesterday because she was doing too well to *need* to be in the ICU.

Yay, Grandma!!!! :bliss:

[MomTimesFive]

She was so cute yesterday when the nurse asked her what her pain level was. She said it was 7 out of 10. When my brother asked why she said "7" when she seemed to be in more pain than that, she said, "Well, if I said 6 they wouldn't take it seriously enough, but if I said 8 or above they would think I was just being a crybaby"!

[FamilyGal]

Glad to hear the good news. I hope she continues down the path of healing.

[LarkinJoanna]

She was so cute yesterday when the nurse asked her what her pain level was. She said it was 7 out of 10. When my brother asked why she said "7" when she seemed to be in more pain than that, she said, "Well, if I said 6 they wouldn't take it seriously enough, but if I said 8 or above they would think I was just being a crybaby"!

Mom, that is cute. That's a good sign that she can have a sense of humor even when she's in pain.

[MomTimesFive]

We just found out that she has an MRSA infection in her wound :(

[momoftwo]

Darn. I am sorry to hear that. I will keep her in my prayers. Keep us posted.

[baby duck]

Ugh. I'm sorry to hear this. Continuing to pray.

[cgwoolf]

Oh my, that is awful. Praying they can stop it.

[MomTimesFive]

My mom's doctor FINALLY came in to talk to my brother who has been at my mom's side since 7:00 this morning, and it is GOOD NEWS!! Her infection is getting better. He put her on a powerful antibiotic that has had the most success at treating MRSA, and he thinks that she is going to be fine. I feel a whole lot better, but I'm not going to completely worry free until she is considered well enough to come home.

[Zbrat]

Once again, I am a little behind the times...but I sure hope your Mom is turning the corner and is better VERY soon!

Best,
Brat

[msmichellemiller]

How's Grandma doing, MX5??? Hoping she is feeling much better!

[MomTimesFive]

She's home-Yay! Thank you for asking :) She's feeling pretty good for what she's been through. She's just happy to be in her own bed again. I fixed her favorite meal: meatloaf, green beans and a baked potato. She has to take one more week's worth of a strong antibiotic to treat the MRSA infection (that the hospital gave her :mad:), and we have to pay for it because it's not covered by her insurance unless it is administered in the hospital :confused: It's going to set us back $1000 :eeek:

[Storm]

Glad to hear she's home and enjoying her favorite meal. We've got similar tastebuds 'cause that's one of my favorite, too! Isn't the cost of some medicines ridiculous? And all the insurance rules......

[Wilson]

I'm happy to hear she's home and doing better! That's great! Grrrrrr on the $ antibiotic...

[baby duck]

Yay! I'm glad she's home!

[Bubba]

Praise the Lord!

[FamilyGal]

Great news! That really stinks about the antibiotic. There isn't any assistance program that can help with that? I'm not necessarily talking about low income assistance, but I have had several prescriptions that they offered rebates or there was a program to assist with the cost. Fortunately, I just have a $25 copay and haven't had anything that wasn't covered.

[MomTimesFive]

I was looking into getting assistance, but they needed to talk to my Mom who was in no condition to give them the information they needed. Plus, they said it would take up to TWO WEEKS to implement any type of assistance program. Then I decided to try calling her health insurance company even though they have never been very helpful in the past, and they said the medication *is* covered and they just had to do an override!! We only had to pay a $20.00 copay!!!!

[Wilson]

That's a relief! Yay!

[baby duck]

Oh, that is good news. How is she feeling now that she is at home?

[MomTimesFive]

She's happy to be home and happy to have the kids around her again, but she's really weak and doesn't think she's *ever* going to feel better. She won't eat much, and I'm sure that's one of the reasons she's feeling weak. I'm running out of ideas of what to fix for her that will give her energy since she says everything tastes the same to her, and she's just not interested in food.

[Wilson]

Protein shakes?

[baby duck]

Will keep praying for her, mx5.

My grandfather regressed to where he would only eat things he remembered from childhood. Simple things like grits and eggs, and a cup of coffee. Of course, grits are probably not something your mom would like.:D

[1973VW]

A friend whose mother wouldn't eat much at all during post-op recovery got a prescription drug she put in her mom's coffee every morning and she started cleaning her plate and even asking for seconds. I'll find out what it is. I know reglan is sometimes used for this chemo patients, but don't think that's it.

MEGACE! (megestrol)
About Megace: Medicine Overview and Common Uses
Megestrol Is A Progesterone Derivative With Antineoplastic Properties Used In The Treatment Of Advanced Carcinoma Of The Breast And Endometrium. When Given In Relatively High Doses, Megestrol Can Substantially Increase Appetite In Most Individuals, Even Those With Advanced Cancer. megestrol Acetate ...


Its an appetite enhancer! Ask her doc about prescribing this.

[msmichellemiller]

"A friend whose mother wouldn't eat much at all during post-op recovery got a prescription drug she put in her mom's coffee every morning and she started cleaning her plate and even asking for seconds. I'll find out what it is. I know reglan is sometimes used for this chemo patients, but don't think that's it."

almost sounds like some type of medicinal marijuana, or a derivative of the plant. Does Grandma like brownies? LOL.
Okay kidding aside, if she likes drinking milk you might get her to try a Carnation Instant Breakfast drink to see if she cares for it. I like the chocolate...when I get shaky and feeling like my blood sugar is low I drink one of those and feel better instantly.

[momoftwo]

Try Ensure shakes maybe.

[MomTimesFive]

They kept pushing Glucerna shakes (protein shakes for diabetics since she is diabetic) on her in the hospital. She *hates* them. I'll ask the doctor about Megace or "brownies" ;) Carnation Instant Breakfast definitely tastes better than the protein shakes, but unless they have a sugar-free variety, those would probably be too high in sugar for her.

Baby Duck, my mom was born in Arkansas, so she grew up on grits (but she never did like them!)

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone :)

[baby duck]

Check the carnation instant breakfast at the store. This is one of the things suggested to add to Little Bit's milk to increase her calorie intake, and the blue box says no sugar added. I know that doesn't mean that it would be okay for a diabetic, but maybe you could check the nutrition label to see if it is something that would be okay.

[MomTimesFive]

....the blue box says no sugar added.

I didn't know they made a sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast! That's good to know, and I'll check it out :)

[msmichellemiller]

I didn't know they made a sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast! That's good to know, and I'll check it out :)
Yep..that's what I get. I buy everything that I can in sugar-free, no sugar added, as well as anything with reduced or no fat and salt. No one ever knows the difference. Unfortunately, like BD was saying, that doesn't necessarily mean it won't have other unhealthy things in it.
I think your mom would definitely prefer the Carnation over those nasty Ensure and other meal-replacement drinks. Bleh! They taste like baby formula! :p

[theopinionator]

Yep..that's what I get. I buy everything that I can in sugar-free, no sugar added, as well as anything with reduced or no fat and salt. No one ever knows the difference. Unfortunately, like BD was saying, that doesn't necessarily mean it won't have other unhealthy things in it.
I think your mom would definitely prefer the Carnation over those nasty Ensure and other meal-replacement drinks. Bleh! They taste like baby formula! :p

"Poking dead things with a stick....." O.K. here's something to poke.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D92LHCK80&show_article=1

[msmichellemiller]

Oh wow, that's really cool! I've always teased my family that I would like to be kept in the house...ya know like taxidermy. I think it's funny.

Probably inappropriate posts considering the thread and category but I still enjoyed it. :devil:

[theopinionator]

Oh wow, that's really cool! I've always teased my family that I would like to be kept in the house...ya know like taxidermy. I think it's funny.

Probably inappropriate posts considering the thread and category but I still enjoyed it. :devil:

Yeah, I know, black humor and all, but let's face it, although Carnation drinks are important to our diet, I guess, I thought that by now it was far enough away from the original thread subject that I could do it. I did have second thoughts but I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope no one was offended.:)