Joyce's KP Adventure mikepasini.com headlines
Some Answers, More Questions
19 August 2020
Dr. Tong called today while I was taking the garbage out at my mother's so I missed her call. But she always leaves a voice message. And she answered all three questions.
Doctors, Doctors. Joyce has a long list of care providers. But Dr. Cook isn't on it.
Good thing because my email to her prompted an auto reply that she was out of the office until Monday. Which the list above for emailing your doctor confirms.
SOME ANSWERS
As far as the anesthesia is concerned (which Judy asked about), she said it is always a concern and they do carefully monitor it. They try a local first but that hasn't been enough so they've had to give her a general for the sponge replacements.
That's what is keeping her in the operating room, Dr. Tong said. As she heals and doesn't need the general anesthesia, she can have the sponge replacements done bedside.
Regarding the sleep apnea issue, she said she forwarded my question to Dr. Cook, the hospitalist, who is "the medicine doctor in charge of her care right now." That was news. I don't think Joyce realizes it herself.
And Dr. Cook would be able to follow up on her distress with the oral medications, too. But the IV, Dr. Tong said, was for sedation and pain medication. She is taking medication by mouth for pain, vitamins and the two antibiotics whose course has just about run.
MORE QUESTIONS
I had talked to Joyce this morning before leaving the house and she said she had a long talk earlier today with Dr. Tong.
Joyce thought her next sponge replacement would take place tomorrow instead of Friday. But she isn't sure Dr. Tong will be doing it. Especially after I told her about the auto reply.
More distressing, though, was Dr. Tong's suggestion she think about a nursing home as a next step to getting home.
Given the Covid-19 mortality rate at those places, Joyce was against the idea. But I didn't get a very clear picture of why it was recommended and what it entails. So I left a message for Dr. Tong asking her to fill me in.
So now you know what I know. Which is never quite enough, of course.