My Dad turned 79 last year. This is remarkable, as he has had juvenile onset (Type 1) diabetes since the age of 9. That was not long after the discovery of insulin. They've learned quite a bit about the disease since then, but at the time, he was given 15 years to live. All of his (Type 1) diabetic friends were gone decades ago.
He lived a healthy life, adhered to a strict diet, and was very conscientious about exercise.
Of course, even with those measures, diabetes takes its toll. But my superhuman dad has survived quintuple bypass surgery, the need for a pacemaker, rheumatoid arthritis, and he's been having problems with cataracts and glaucoma. He's always had to be very careful about wounds, and has always worn "hard sided" slippers to avoid problems with his feet.
He hasn't been able to walk well because of the RA for several years. Two weeks ago, something changed. He couldn't go forward. He was walking in place. His short term memory has been deteriorating, and this same day he seemed extremely confused and since then often speaks nonsense. It was determined he has not had a stroke.
My mom was convinced he (for him) was running a low-grade fever, and as his primary doc was out of town, they took him to what they called a "Doc-in-the-box." I guess it's a general clinic? Anyway, he's had a bad cough so they took X-rays and found nothing. They sent him home.
When we talked to them, he sounded terrible, and his cough was painful to hear. They wrote it off as "a seasonal thing," though the only thing we know he's allergic to is pineapple. He doesn't have seasonal allergies.
His fever spiked to 104 yesterday, and off they went to the emergency room. He has pneumonia. I don't have much information other than from my sister, who said "it's serious," and his blood sugar is completely out of control in her message. I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone, and she didn't tell me what hospital he's in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But if you could send a few of those wonderful TCS vibes to my Dad, I'd really appreciate it. I'm very worried!
He lived a healthy life, adhered to a strict diet, and was very conscientious about exercise.
Of course, even with those measures, diabetes takes its toll. But my superhuman dad has survived quintuple bypass surgery, the need for a pacemaker, rheumatoid arthritis, and he's been having problems with cataracts and glaucoma. He's always had to be very careful about wounds, and has always worn "hard sided" slippers to avoid problems with his feet.
He hasn't been able to walk well because of the RA for several years. Two weeks ago, something changed. He couldn't go forward. He was walking in place. His short term memory has been deteriorating, and this same day he seemed extremely confused and since then often speaks nonsense. It was determined he has not had a stroke.
My mom was convinced he (for him) was running a low-grade fever, and as his primary doc was out of town, they took him to what they called a "Doc-in-the-box." I guess it's a general clinic? Anyway, he's had a bad cough so they took X-rays and found nothing. They sent him home.
When we talked to them, he sounded terrible, and his cough was painful to hear. They wrote it off as "a seasonal thing," though the only thing we know he's allergic to is pineapple. He doesn't have seasonal allergies.
His fever spiked to 104 yesterday, and off they went to the emergency room. He has pneumonia. I don't have much information other than from my sister, who said "it's serious," and his blood sugar is completely out of control in her message. I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone, and she didn't tell me what hospital he's in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But if you could send a few of those wonderful TCS vibes to my Dad, I'd really appreciate it. I'm very worried!
