My dad is being admitted to the hospital...

[Krista]

He's only 55, but he's retaining a lot of fluid, cannot hardly breathe and it appears that there may be a mass in his abdomen.  Nothing abnormal with his heart or lungs showed up on the x-rays.  They are going to do more tests.

Rays and prayers would be appreciated.

[April]

Oh MY!  Please keep us updated about things.  I'll keep you all in my thoughts/prayers!  Hopefully it won't be anything to worry about. 

[Jen]

Sending Mega HUGE prayers for your dad!! 

If you need anything don't hesitate to call!

HUGS
Jen & The Crew

[Marcia from MI]

Rays and prayers coming your dad's way from MI.

[Kari]

RAYS coming your way - we are thinking of you!

[Mike]

Rays coming from IL

[Barb]

Rays on the way - sure hope it is nothing serious...let us know -

[Ruth in MT]

Prayers for a speedy recovery from Montana

[BridgetLouise]

More rays from Montana.

[Krista]

The docs have issued a diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure.  More tests will be run today to determine how advanced the disease is and what the best course of treatment might be.  He'll be seeing some specialists today as well.

Thank you for the rays and prayers.  Please keep them coming.

[Barb]

Definatly will keep your dad in my prayers - rays on the way that they caught things early.  Hugs to you Krista -

[Sandishooligans]

So sorry to hear this, Krista.  You are in our thoughts and we send our prayers your way to you and your dad.

[Krista]

The news from later today is not good.  The congestive heart failure is being caused by dilated cardiomyopathy.  We don't yet know whether the cardiomyopathy is caused by a virus (infecting his heart muscle) or not.  There is a chance that there might be a blockage.  If there is a blockage, that will be more treatable than the viral form of the disease.  If it is the viral form, there is nothing they can do to get rid of the virus.  A heart transplant might be necessary within the year if that is the case.

More tests will be run.

Thanks for the rays.  we are okay, just exhausted and overwhelmed.

[Roberta]

Big hugs to you both, your Dad is in our thoughts and prayers. MEGA rays on the way.
Roberta Nick and monsters

[Brekkesmom]

Hoping it is a blockage that can be dealt with!  Sending rays your way...

[Barb]

Keeping you in my thoughts - rays and prayers on the way in full force.  Sure hope they can take care of this the easy way - please keep us updated.  Tell your dad there are people all over the world pulling for him.

[Leslie]

crud.

Sending prayers from Pennsylvania.  Hang in there.

[KathyP]

Krista, keeping your dad and the rest of your family in my prayers.   

[Krista]

My dad will be having a heart catheterization done sometime today to check for blockages, and also to take pictures of the inside of his heart - which may show if the likely cause of the cardiomyopathy is viral.  --Lets hope its not viral. -- If they find a blockage, they will immediately do an angioplasty to see if that can remove the blockage.

Dad's heart is only functioning at about 15 - 20% of capacity, and the medication has not yet been able to control the arrythmia.  If they can resolve the arrythmia (tachycardia - abnormal, fast rhythm) then his heart function may improve some.  They would like to see it over 30% and they want his heart rate to stay below 120.  When I was there last night, his rate was closer to 140.

Thank you for all the good thoughts.  Please keep them coming.

[Jen]

Sending lots and lots of prayers hopefully they can find the cause and correct it!  :xfinger:

Hugs
Jen & the Crew

[MindyKay]

Rays and prayers on the way from Iowa.

[Barb]

Rays and prayers in full force -please let us know how he does during the procedure......Hang in there -

[KathyP]

Keeping Dad and the rest of you in my prayers today........

[TerriL]

Oh Krista, I am so sorry!  I hadn't read your original post until today.  Your dad will be in my prayers!  Keep us informed!

[Krista]

They did a heart catheterization this morning. 

Good news: He came through that just fine and even said it was not painful or bothersome at all.  They found no blockages - and in fact his arteries look pretty good.

Bad news: There is an infection in his heart.  This is what is causing the muscle to be so weak, thus leading to congestive heart failure.  This is called viral cardiomyopathy.  There is nothing they can do to cure the virus, but hopefully they can help him to have a better heart function and thus have somewhat of a life.  There is no way to know how well or how long treatment will help him.  Some people live many, many years with this disease.

Most concerning:  Heartrate and rhythm.  His heart is still beating too fast and is not in the proper rhythm.  (They have said this is an arrythmia and that he has an atrial flutter.)  This arrythmia puts him at great risk for sudden cardiac arrest or sudden heart failure. The main goal right now is to get the rate and rhythm under control.  They will try medication first.  If medication does not work, they have other things in their arsenal like cardiac ablation procedures and pacemakers.  They just want to get his heart to a baseline that the Doctors feel is stable enough.

Once they get this arrythmia under control, his heart function may improve, so that it is working better and the meds for congestive heart failure may work better then too.  Down the road 6-9 months they could look at installing an ICD (something that would shock the heart if it got out of rhythm and help prevent sudden cardiac arrest).


Thanks again.  Will keep you posted.