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Allifunn

FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
Jan 11, 2006
13,635
289
St Petersburg
Have not heard a word...hope that is a good thing...
 

InletBchDweller

SoWal Insider
Feb 14, 2006
6,802
263
56
Prairieville, La
I am on the phone with her now....she said she was going to try to post soon.

Her dad is stable but he has had extensive damage to the left side of his heart and he is in the hospital as we speak.

I will let her post all the crazy BS that she is dealing with...
 

Cork On the Ocean

directionally challenged
Hi guys,

THANK YOU to EVERYONE for your prayers and concern.

My dad is currently in the hospital. He has had 2 episodes of congestive heart failure (CHF) since Sunday with no prior history of cardiovascular or heart disease. As a pharmacist, it's my concern that it was either caused or precipitated by a dangerous combination of drugs that he was given at the VA - Theophylline, Cipro and Prednisone.

He was discharged Tuesday against our wishes from the VA while his heart was still in Fibrillation but they had used diuretics to remove the existing fluid from his lungs. We had planned on getting an ambulance to take him to another hospital immediately upon discharge but one of my sisters (not OOB) got an immediate appointment with a cardiologist that she knew and the decision to take him there instead of another hospital was made. This new doctor confirmed that he was in fibrillation but not active CHF at that time and since he wasn't his doctor, he questioned why the VA didn't put him on coumadin to prevent stroke but did not put him back in the hospital at that time.

That night at 5AM, he suffered a second episode of CHF and we had an ambulance bring him to a nearby hospital. He is being stablized but there's been extensive damage to his left ventricle (heart). As a result, We are still not sure of what the quality of his life will be once everything has been assessed.

I've been in contact with poison control and was told that every hour that goes by, the suspect drugs are being eliminated from his body and it will be harder to determine absolutely if the drug combination was the definitive cause.

I'm working with some tricky family dynamics and a father who has always believed wholeheartly in the care that he's gotten from the VA This is complicated by the fact that while they have other medical insurance, it won't cover the many drugs that he will need to be on. He gets very upset when I question the quality of his care at the VA and the last thing we can do at this point is upset him.

I do believe that he understands that he needs to find alternate physicians and he has tentatively agreed to do so. I'm leaving it up to my mom to make the call of whether she wants me to pursue finding the real cause of his heart failure.

Last night at 3AM was the first bit of sleep I've gotten since Sunday night so I know you will understand if I haven't answered phones or returned the calls of all of my wonderful friends that have called.

I thank you all and will post more when I'm able and when we have more.
I love all of you because you are the people that you are and thank you for your continuing prayers and thoughts.

I'm printing off this thread and bringing it to my dad so that he knows how many people are praying for him and how wonderful the people are in the community where his one daughter and soon to be second daughter are living.

Love, Cork
 
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30A Skunkape

Skunky
Jan 18, 2006
10,315
2,349
55
Backatown Seagrove
Cork...theophyline? You know that is a dinosaur of a medication and not used much anymore for good reason!

I think most of the VA patient's can see private physicians but still enjoy the use of the VA formulary...but the VA works in mysterious ways and this might not be true for all vets.:dunno:

Hope all goes well...
 

supermom262

Beach Fanatic
Nov 5, 2006
1,843
88
Grayton Beach
I haven't been on for a few days and just saw this. I hope things are improving for your father. Prayers for you and your family.
 

Cork On the Ocean

directionally challenged
Cork...theophyline? You know that is a dinosaur of a medication and not used much anymore for good reason!

I think most of the VA patient's can see private physicians but still enjoy the use of the VA formulary...but the VA works in mysterious ways and this might not be true for all vets.:dunno:

Hope all goes well...

Hi Skunky, yep, I realize that it's antiquated. when we had him at mayo clinic, we begged him to not go back to the VA anymore but my dad is very stuborn sometimes. So, I could only do so much and felt my hands were tied because he wasn't open to hearing it and my input would only upset him. His first words when I got here was "why do you have this vendetta against the VA?".

My mom just called and apparently they have explained the situation to him and he now says "why didn't anybody tell me?" We tried! But anyway he is now apparently open to knowing what's going on and says he wants to know what's going on and won't get upset. We'll see :dunno:

On my way to the hospital. Love you guys :love:
 

kathydwells

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Dec 20, 2004
13,303
420
64
Lacey's Spring, Alabama
Cork, I will continue to keep your father and family in my prayers.
 

Paula

Beach Fanatic
Jan 25, 2005
3,747
442
Michigan but someday in SoWal as well
Thanks for letting us know what's going on. You are doing all you can for your father and mother right now - and definitely get more sleep if you can. More prayers coming your and your father's way (mother's, too)
 

iwishiwasthere

Beach Fanatic
Jul 12, 2005
2,875
36
Tennessee
Thinking of you and your family. Take care of yourself.
 

audie

fartblossom
May 15, 2005
10,946
27
Cork...theophyline? You know that is a dinosaur of a medication and not used much anymore for good reason!

I think most of the VA patient's can see private physicians but still enjoy the use of the VA formulary...but the VA works in mysterious ways and this might not be true for all vets.:dunno:

Hope all goes well...

that was pretty much what i told her too skunky....i haven't dispensed theophylline in probably 5 or more years
 
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