One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Al was so excited to be discharged from the hospital last Friday. As my last post indicates, he checked into Holgreen for some rehab. He adjusted really well there especially when we got to his new room and he saw the full-sized bed with air mattress. No more twin size for this 6'3" and "large" sized man.

Rehab began really well. The first day he sat up in a wheelchair for about an hour which was more than he had done in the last two weeks. They also took him to their gym where he attempted to stand up. It didn't happen the first day but it did the second day. He was pumped. Also, he began other therapy to strengthen his leg muscles.

Friday after physical therapy he took a nap, but I could tell he was restless. He woke up not feeling very well. He felt that he was struggling for each breath. By early evening his pulse oxygen level was down to 89 and then 84. That is a serious drop. Holgreen called the ambulance and we were back in the ER. We were in the ER for four hours and he was very sick the entire time. He was struggling for each breath, sweating and he had a 101 fever. Diagnosis: fluid in the lungs/pneumonia. This time we were sent to ICU, or as I call it, the "Expensive Care Unit". He got excellent care there and after two days he said he felt the best he had in weeks. After two days, he was moved to a regular room and we are optimistic that he will continue to improve.

Obviously, there is a pattern here. He is on the granddaddy of all antibiotics, and it can only be given through an IV. Within a few days of coming off the antibiotic he gets sick. This time, his doctor will run the usual course of treatment through the IV and then he will keep him in the hospital for another 48 hours to see how he reacts.

Al is disappointed because he feels he was making progress and was anxious to begin extensive physical therapy. On a  positive note, he also feels that he is able to concentrate and focus much better than in the previous weeks. Look out managers...I'm sure he will begin calling each one of you to check on your departments.