My dad almost died.
 

Sitting here in Utah at my dads bedside in ICU. He went in for knee surgery last week and picked up what I call hospital induced pnuemonia and H1N1.
They had to intubate because his lungs we failing, he was tubed and on a vent for about seven days, the hospital took the tube out and placed in a trach so they didn't have to keep him so heavily sedated.
He is still on a vent for assistance but doing a lot on his own. He is a tough old bastasd, but it's going to be a long haul.
We are lucky his health was good all ready otherwise Im pretty sure he would have died.

Yikes... Sounds like he is on the upswing though... Glad you can be by his side... That helps more than you know...

Something strange is going on in Utah hospitals...
My 84 year old Dad went into Utah Valley Hospital last month for an emergency appendectomy which went smoothly but within 24 hours after surgery had pneumonia and spent the next two weeks sedated and on a ventilator.
He is on his way to a full recovery but lost most of his strength from being bedridden for 22 days.
Hope your Dad makes a complete recovery. It was a close call for us and not what you expect to happen after surgery.

Best of luck to your dad and family.

Well..if want to get really sick...visit a hospital. Neighbor went in for a heart bypass and caught a staf infection in the zipper cut. The doctors were telling him if it didn't clear up soon, after about 9 days of having it, he would have to have his arm amputated at the shoulder as the infection had moved across his chest and into his shoulder.
Hope your Dad makes a speedy recovery.

Scary stuff. I hope he pulls out 100%.

Best wishes and good thoughts to you and your family, Glen.

Hang tough - be there for you dad - you being there is like medicine to him.

-Z-man.

Hospitals are just big germ factories, schools, planes, busses etc, at least your there, that is the best for him now, its tough for you and the family - hang in there and gods speed to your paw for a full recouvery

That is where we are at exactally. Been on a ventilator for over a week now, I'm in the same hospital hes been moves out of ICU to intermediate care so he moving forward.
QUOTE]Something strange is going on in Utah hospitals...<br>
My 84 year old Dad went into Utah Valley Hospital last month for an emergency appendectomy which went smoothly but within 24 hours after surgery had pneumonia and spent the next two weeks sedated and on a ventilator. <br>
He is on his way to a full recovery but lost most of his strength from being bedridden for 22 days. <br>
Hope your Dad makes a complete recovery. It was a close call for us and not what you expect to happen after surgery.[/QUOTE]

Best of luck to your family.

I'm so sorry. I hope your dad comes out of this OK! And I hope you have folks around you that you can lean on. It's very hard on the family, so take good care of yourselves.

We inquired how one gets pneumonia after recovering from surgery and a nursing supervisor came in to tell us that "he must have choked on the apple juice that they gave him":eek: What a pathetic attempt at a$$ covering.
His doctor had a good laugh about that one.
I took a few drives up Provo canyon for sanity breaks. The mountains are beautiful there.
Hope your Dad is doing better.

Newest H1N1 Statistics show that the instances of death are high in people who are both over 50 and are hospitalized with the flu.
I'd be getting him out as soon as he's able.
Best wishes to all.

Steve,
They tried that on us too" oh he must have aspirated on his own saliva" Ya right, I was born at night bit not last night. I wanted them to just fess up and say we caused it or admit to the possibility of it.
But all our efforts are going to him getting better. I took a drive up American Fork Cyn today,up to Tibble Fork Res. I spent many summer days there fishing with my dad, it was great therapy
Thanks to everyone for all your words of support.

Dad is out of ICU but still on the vent for assistance, doctor talked with sister today he feels dad has turned a corner he is needing vent assistance less each day and his lungs are clearing up nice.
If all goes well trach should come out in 10-14 days, crossing our fingers.

i hope your dad has a full and quick recovery.

i have had surgery before. a few times. i thought one of the reasons to force a patient to get up and moving soon after surgery was to help prevent pnuemonia? it has been a long time, i cannot remember.

you dad sounds like a true fighter. hope he kicks this thing's arse.

they are going to give him one of those toys..
blow and make the balls rise...
that's enough..
I can hear you down here...

MAKE SURE he does this..
the higher the balls..
quicker he goes home..

Rika