It's about 1 a.m., well almost 2 a.m., Thursday here. I just got home from the hospital.
Our odyssey began about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. I'd arrived home from my regular day-long shopping trip into "town." The car was unloaded and Buck and I sat down to do our usual porch settin' and talk about how our day went.
Things were going along pretty well until Buck's answers to my questions didn't match ANYTHING I was talking about. He then said that it seemed terribly bright outside and that he couldn't make out any detail on the house across the street.
I talked to him for a couple of seconds and he seemed to get back on track. However, I'd commented to him, just before the weekend and several times during the weekend that he looked awfully "yellow," especially his eyes.
"No, no. I'm fine. It's just your imagination," he said. I wasn't convinced.
Then, again, he zoned out. That's when I called 911 and the ambulance the the paramedics came. THEY asked him if he noticed he was jaundiced. All three of them said it almost in unison.
They did some cursory examinations and when the took his blood pressure it was 96/64!! He has been treated for high blood pressure for years and had taken his meds today.
His forearms were also terribly bruised. They weren't that way when I left this morning.
They loaded him into the ambulance and we made the 30 mile trip to the hospital.
Lots happened, exam-wise, and here's what's up so far. He's anemic, down two pints. Was given a transfusion immediately.
Also given huge transfusion of saline. Both kidney and liver functions are way off. Blood pressure still weird, way low.
He had several more "episodes" in the ER where his comments didn't match what was being talked about. Lights in the room too bright.
He is now in CCU. I left there a while ago. I can't drive at night so my brother who lives about half a mile from me came to the hospital with his wife. Kevin drove me back in my car while Pat followed.
Tomorrow the doc has ordered a CAT scan of Buck's abdomen to see how the liver and kidneys look and to see if there are any masses. Oh, God forbid. Then the doc will go from there.
Visiting hours begin at 6 a.m. and are every two hours. Visits can only be 15 minutes long. I don't know what I'm going to do. It's so far, and with gas at $4/gallon, our funds don't allow for a lot of driving. I'm going to have to choose very carefully.
I'm drained and a wreck. Buck is scared out of his drawers and here I sit in this big old house...alone.
Please, everyone, Buck needs your collective prayers and positive thoughts.
Our odyssey began about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. I'd arrived home from my regular day-long shopping trip into "town." The car was unloaded and Buck and I sat down to do our usual porch settin' and talk about how our day went.
Things were going along pretty well until Buck's answers to my questions didn't match ANYTHING I was talking about. He then said that it seemed terribly bright outside and that he couldn't make out any detail on the house across the street.
I talked to him for a couple of seconds and he seemed to get back on track. However, I'd commented to him, just before the weekend and several times during the weekend that he looked awfully "yellow," especially his eyes.
"No, no. I'm fine. It's just your imagination," he said. I wasn't convinced.
Then, again, he zoned out. That's when I called 911 and the ambulance the the paramedics came. THEY asked him if he noticed he was jaundiced. All three of them said it almost in unison.
They did some cursory examinations and when the took his blood pressure it was 96/64!! He has been treated for high blood pressure for years and had taken his meds today.
His forearms were also terribly bruised. They weren't that way when I left this morning.
They loaded him into the ambulance and we made the 30 mile trip to the hospital.
Lots happened, exam-wise, and here's what's up so far. He's anemic, down two pints. Was given a transfusion immediately.
Also given huge transfusion of saline. Both kidney and liver functions are way off. Blood pressure still weird, way low.
He had several more "episodes" in the ER where his comments didn't match what was being talked about. Lights in the room too bright.
He is now in CCU. I left there a while ago. I can't drive at night so my brother who lives about half a mile from me came to the hospital with his wife. Kevin drove me back in my car while Pat followed.
Tomorrow the doc has ordered a CAT scan of Buck's abdomen to see how the liver and kidneys look and to see if there are any masses. Oh, God forbid. Then the doc will go from there.
Visiting hours begin at 6 a.m. and are every two hours. Visits can only be 15 minutes long. I don't know what I'm going to do. It's so far, and with gas at $4/gallon, our funds don't allow for a lot of driving. I'm going to have to choose very carefully.
I'm drained and a wreck. Buck is scared out of his drawers and here I sit in this big old house...alone.
Please, everyone, Buck needs your collective prayers and positive thoughts.