Post by lonelyheroine on Jun 23, 2010 6:29:48 GMT -5
While driving to pick me up two weeks ago, he went into respiratory arrest (stopped breathing) and his car went up on a curb. A police officer noticed the car was obviously out of control and followed my dad.
He was in the hospital for a week and now has to wear this special mask so he doesn't pass out while sleeping. It seems that, even though he quit smoking a quarter of a century ago, the damage had been done.
I'm not sure whether or not you got my last email, telling you that Dad was in dire straits, as I sent it to my Roger's address. I had to switch from Sympatico because it had gotten ridiculous and the modem kept konking out. I guess I hadn't told you, so you may not have realized it was me. Sorry about that, girl.
Here's the new addy: enigmacat@rogers.com
It was really scary for awhile. After a week in the hospital, my brother, who had come here for a few days to help out, got him out of the hospital and home.
It turns out that Dad has a kind of pulminary problem, whereby he gets too much carbon dioxide in his lungs and not enough oxygen. Years of smoking have taken their toll, even though he hasn't had a cigarette in almost a quarter of a century. I had always thought that once you quit smoking, your lungs go back to where they were beforehand, but apparently, that isn't the case.
While Jim was here, I had a meltdown. After keeping it together the entire time since this nightmare started, I totally lost it when Dad was given a special mask to wear at night so he won't stop breathing. Jim was trying to get Dad to use what is called a b pap, but he was having a difficult time of it. Then he turned to me and told me what I would have to do if Dad stopped breathing. He talked about chest compressions and calling 911 while holding the mask onto Dad's nose and mouth. On the way home, I became quite hysterical and kept saying, "I'm not qualified to do this! I don't know CPR and I'm not a doctor or a paramedic. When I rushed toward my apartment, Jim did his best to calm me down, but it was a daunting task, to say the least.
Fortunately, Dad has gotten used to the mask and manages to keep it on for up to five hours a night.
I'm going to take a CPR course. I haven't taken one since my life guarding days.
Jim and the entire family will be here on July 5th. I am so looking forward to seeing my dear Laura. We have a special bond that began when the little angel was three. I believe that children are gifted with a kind of sixth sense.
I've been going over to Dad's every day to grocery shop, do his laundry, and make sure he's breathing okay. Jim had told me that I am now the primary care giver and let me tell you, it's my total pleasure to do this.
As for me, I have to be on strong pain killers because of my TMJ, a condition where my jaw locks and sends extreme jabs of pain in my temples. My doctor is always rather reluctant to give me narcotics, as he realizes that at times, I take them for the wrong kind of pain.
Anyway, that's where things stand. Dad is feeling better and may still be able to drive, as the reason for his accident was due to him going into respiratory arrest and then stopped breathing. He's never had an accident, even a fender bender, so that goes in his favour.
He was in the hospital for a week and now has to wear this special mask so he doesn't pass out while sleeping. It seems that, even though he quit smoking a quarter of a century ago, the damage had been done.
I'm not sure whether or not you got my last email, telling you that Dad was in dire straits, as I sent it to my Roger's address. I had to switch from Sympatico because it had gotten ridiculous and the modem kept konking out. I guess I hadn't told you, so you may not have realized it was me. Sorry about that, girl.
Here's the new addy: enigmacat@rogers.com
It was really scary for awhile. After a week in the hospital, my brother, who had come here for a few days to help out, got him out of the hospital and home.
It turns out that Dad has a kind of pulminary problem, whereby he gets too much carbon dioxide in his lungs and not enough oxygen. Years of smoking have taken their toll, even though he hasn't had a cigarette in almost a quarter of a century. I had always thought that once you quit smoking, your lungs go back to where they were beforehand, but apparently, that isn't the case.
While Jim was here, I had a meltdown. After keeping it together the entire time since this nightmare started, I totally lost it when Dad was given a special mask to wear at night so he won't stop breathing. Jim was trying to get Dad to use what is called a b pap, but he was having a difficult time of it. Then he turned to me and told me what I would have to do if Dad stopped breathing. He talked about chest compressions and calling 911 while holding the mask onto Dad's nose and mouth. On the way home, I became quite hysterical and kept saying, "I'm not qualified to do this! I don't know CPR and I'm not a doctor or a paramedic. When I rushed toward my apartment, Jim did his best to calm me down, but it was a daunting task, to say the least.
Fortunately, Dad has gotten used to the mask and manages to keep it on for up to five hours a night.
I'm going to take a CPR course. I haven't taken one since my life guarding days.
Jim and the entire family will be here on July 5th. I am so looking forward to seeing my dear Laura. We have a special bond that began when the little angel was three. I believe that children are gifted with a kind of sixth sense.
I've been going over to Dad's every day to grocery shop, do his laundry, and make sure he's breathing okay. Jim had told me that I am now the primary care giver and let me tell you, it's my total pleasure to do this.
As for me, I have to be on strong pain killers because of my TMJ, a condition where my jaw locks and sends extreme jabs of pain in my temples. My doctor is always rather reluctant to give me narcotics, as he realizes that at times, I take them for the wrong kind of pain.
Anyway, that's where things stand. Dad is feeling better and may still be able to drive, as the reason for his accident was due to him going into respiratory arrest and then stopped breathing. He's never had an accident, even a fender bender, so that goes in his favour.
I never heard of a b pap, but I seen c paps before they are nothing really, they just push air constantly threw your nose while you're sleeping, lots of patients at work have them... at first I'd imagine they are uncomfortable, but patient at work request them when they are ready to sleep for the night,so they really must help... it sounds like he has emphysema? my father drove along time with emphysema... CPR is getting easier and easier, last class I took it was like 30 compressions to two breaths, I heard they are taking out the breaths completely! you're a smart lady jane you can do it, just remain calm and break down after the ambulance gets there if need be... thank god he didn't kill himself in the car accident, and I'm here if you need me! I'll start checking my email more often...
