I suppose you could say a better day for both of us. Lee looked so good when I saw him this morning. He was also ready for a shave and the toothbrush! Someone had washed and combed his hair earlier and it was so fluffy it almost looked like a wig or an Einstein look......I said perhaps some of the medicine was causing new hair growth! Anyway, after I combed it, he looked more like himself and seemed to be doing better in general.
He continues to have blood pressure problems and it appears to be orthostatic in that it drops whenever he changes from sitting to standing. While he is sitting his blood pressure may be 130/70 and as soon as he stands it drops to 50 or 60/?......so low that he can lose consciousness. The good thing is that today he was able to sit and stand and did not lose consiousness. His BP still drops, but not as low.
He had to have a unit of blood today because his Hematocrit was 43 (normal =48). I asked if they thought he had some bleeding and the answer was no, just all the surgery he has had. During and immediately after surgery he had been given 4 units of blood, 4 units of plasma and 1 unit of packed cells. Today was the first time for another transfusion since then. So far he has not had atrial fib. in the past 48 hours. That is good! I need to tell you that atrial fib happens in about 30 to 40 % of CABG (coronary artery bypass grafts), especially past 65. We are hoping that the atrial fib is finally under control.
Found out today where his grafts are in his heart. One graft taken from the mammary artery is connected to the left carotid and bypasses the blockage on the left descending artery. The other graft is from the left femoral vein and bypasses the right coronary artery. I don't know how I will ever be able to keep up with him once we get home............he now has new knees, a new shoulder, a new lung and now a rebuilt heart. He will be a hard man to keep down! Truly the Bionic man!
Seriously, he has had a better day and when he has a better day, I have a better day. Please feel free to leave comments to Lee. He loves to hear from you. More Later...........................Brenda
well Superman, sounds as if you are plugging right along doing great, as we all knew you would. lol.Wish you guys was around. we seem to have a run on green beans and I am sick to death of stringing and breaking beans! If you get board, let me know. I know what you can do to past the time!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBrenda, keep it up. what you are doing is working for the both of you guys.
I look forward to this blog every evening after driving all over 5 counties for work. This is the highlight of my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Mr. Lee! So glad that you had a better day. You sure are lucky to have that personal nurse of yours by your side. And you thought you weren't nursing anymore Brenda! Once a nurse, always a nurse! Hope tomorrow brings more strength and healing! If fireworks were illegal in NC, I'd set up a fireworks show outside your window. Happy 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteHey guys! I just finished reading the blog to Bonnie over the phone and she sends her love. I have started calling her each evening to share, so you can count this comment for two people instead of one. I'm so glad you had a wonderful day. Love you!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat looking picture of you guys. Lee your color looks better, well it should with that new lung and oxygen getting through your body. We're praying for you both each day many times. Take care and before long Brenda, Lee will be chasing you down the beach. Praying for both of you and loking forward to the day you come home. Bill & Debbie Canipe (the other Canipes)
ReplyDeleteWell....you two posting your bedroom photos!!!! If the recovery is going as good as the two of you look it will not be long you can get rid of those cumberson cords. Great to see you having another good day...Wes, Jason and their families are reading the blog also and send their best! Emma has been real concerned since we first mentioned to her about "uncle Lee's" lung difficulty...and on every phone call she asks about him! (she still remembers that first halloween on the farm where the hand came out of the candy bowl--4 years ago)
ReplyDeleteSee you next week end! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!
Judy and Jim
So glad to hear that you are doing better. Everything sounds great! It will be hard to keep remembering that this will be a slow process. Patience! Brenda, you are a great nurse for Lee. Carolyn and I are praying for you more than once daily . . . actually, each time the Lord brings you to mind . . . which is often. We are also praying that Bill will get a new lung. This has to be a hard time for them. Love you guys. Dixon and Carolyn
ReplyDeleteHey Uncle Lee! Looking good! I'm thankful you're doing better. You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. I can't wait until they will let me come see you. Love you!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Mr. and Mrs. Kanipe--
ReplyDeleteWe are so happy to see you've had a better day. We are praying for both of you and want you to know that there are so many that love you and lift you up on a daily basis. Lee...my husband worked with you on a roofing project; I think it was a year or two ago with "In as Much". His name is Norm Ashley. I cannot tell you how much he talked about you after the work you two did together. You made an impact on him!!!
love to you both,
Sheri and Norm Ashley