3:00 pm Update on 7 October 2009

Dale's vitals:  9:00 am,   Heart rate: 90 -100    BP  119/69      Blood O2  89 (with oxygen in the nose)

 

At 12 noon,  Heart rate:  115     BP   150/75       Blood O2  91  using a BiPap machine

 

At 3:00 pm,  Heart rate:  129     BP  138/74       Blood O2   88  still using BiPpap machine.

 

Today, Dale's blood oxygen levels were the item that required the most attention.  Following the morning visit, the BiPAP machine was used to try to raise the O2 levels -  this is a breathing apparatus that covers the mouth and nose and pumps air / O2 into the lungs although Dale still has to breathe in and out with a bit of effort.

 

The pulmonary doctor, Dr. Adams, saw Dale a little after 12:30 (the BiPap was put in place around 11:00 am) and called Jackie and Melissa with his recommendations going forward.  He recommended taking off the BiPAP and installing an intubation tube in order to relieve Dale of the struggle his heart seems to be having breathing with the BiPap machine.  The heart and blood pressure reading both went up after starting the BiPap, the thought is to take away the labor of the breathing and let his body try to heal from the multiple problems:  possible pneumonia, pulmonary edema, kidney response to dehydration.  Dr. Adams did state that the pain medicine Dale has been taking can cause some respiratory depression; however, the CO2 levels in Dale's blood were around 30 (some unit) and a opiod drug overdose blood level would be in the 60 - 90 (some unit) range, so Dr. Adams does not believe the pain drugs are at too high a level for Dale. 

 

Even though the pain meds are not too high, at this point, Dale is still sleeping a lot and not able to speak with the BiPap covering his mouth.

 

This evening (after getting agreement of Jackie and all daughters), Dr. Adams is going to insert the intubation tube and we will monitor Dale for the next 2 days to see if there is some improvement in his other body issues.  Prayers are always welcome from all.  We are trying to think of ways Dale can communicate during this, if anyone has ideas, we welcome them.