That trip went better than expected.
@kaylachan (84699)
Daytona Beach, Florida
June 5, 2024 1:48pm CST
George and I are back from the VA. Things went well. He struggled a little bit, but was able to ask his questions. The deitition can't remove his peg tube and, just as I had thought, the doctor won't consider removing it until he gains more weight. He's back to his weight before his hospitalization, but he still needs to gain another ten or so to reach a healthy BMI. Being under weight as he was, was not doing his heart rate or blood preasure any favors and contributed to the stroke.
We talked about him seeing a speach pathologist and having another swollow study done to ensure he's on the right track. He's getting there, but is still struggling with orel intake. Until his orel intake is where they want it, and his weight is where they want it, the tube stays.
I have one more clog zapper and more supplies coming.
9 people like this
8 responses
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
5 Jun 24
I can imagine how frustrated George must be; but I'm glad the appointment went well.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 24
I can't say I blame him, either. It can't be comfortable having a tube sticking out of you. I'll see about getting him a low-profile button, but that'd require extension tubing. The plus side to low profile button tubes, is you remove the extension tubing when you're not using the tube. And, it closes. doesn't really stick out. You still have a little something, but it's easy to cover.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 24
He has low blood preasure, which is common. It used to be high, but since the stroke it's been more consistantly low. How under are you?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
6 Jun 24
Bob tried and tried to gain weight, with a dietician, and was not able. I think he has gained more now that he is not thinking about it. He did not have a peg tube, though.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jun 24
When you activly try to do something, you can over think the situation. When you stop trying sometimes it works. George is struggling to swollow, and he finds it hard to eat food.
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jun 24
No. He never did have a large appatie. He tended to eat one meal a day. And, a person can live just fine on that, but he was underweight. He'd been trying to gain before the stroke, but all progress went out the window when he went without for weeks.
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@popciclecold (40215)
• United States
5 Jun 24
I hope he doesn't have to use the tube long.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jun 24
So does he, He hates it, which is understandable but.... what are you going to do? It's better he has it now, then not have it and crash.
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@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 24
Both over and under. George doesn't have a lot of fat, and normally that'd be a good thing. However, the human body needs a certian ammount of fat stores to use as fuel and to help keep us warm. Under weight people can put strein on their heart, too and it's not uncommon for under weight people to go into afib. Which is what George did, and that's when he had his stroke.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jun 24
So far he is doing quite well.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 24
Poor George but at least things are progressing, I hope he can make the goal by July, I hope you all have a good evening,
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jun 24
Well, it doesn't matter if he does or not. There's a process of weeding that has to happen, first.
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