update on Rick

[Guest guest]

thank you so much for keeping us informed, thank god he has melissa and they have eachother, my heart goes out to them, and damm this dieaseredjaxjm wrote: Hi everyone,I just got off the phone with , wow, she has been through a lotin making sure that Rick is doing good.. He ended up back in the ICUbecause they were not giving him lactulose, so they had to do that viaenema because he was unconscious.. then he started swelling and found out that they were not giving him his regular

doses ofLasix and Spironalactone so he was swelling.. but he is now out of ICU and isdoing better and if all goes well, his doc feels that he will be ableto be released either tomorrow or thurs and then is taking himto Tampa immediately and not taking him home.. She says that home istoo toxic for him right now because he gets overwrought trying tofinish up all the things HE THINKS he has to do before transplant.. Soshe is taking him to Tampa, putting them in a hotel for a couple ofdays. she has found a fully rented apt that she will be looking at andrenting if it is what she wants so they can be close to the tp hosp. I tell ya, everyone would be so lucky to have such a support personsuch as . Rick is very lucky. She is HIS ROCK! She said totell everyone how much they both care about everyone of us and howmuch they truely appreciate our love, support and prayers. She willnot let Rick hang out on the

computer for awhile because he gets toowound up on it, lol,, but after they get settled in the apt that theywill be living in until he gets his transplant, only then will she lethim use one of their friends computers.. after he is more rested. What a great woman she is!!!Anyway, this is the update for now, Ill be calling her again in a dayor so.. She asked us to wait until they get settled in the apartmentbefore we send cards because he will probably get out of the hosp heis in tomorrow or the next day and any cards wouldnt get there beforehe leaves. So as soon as she has an address, she will let me know andwe will flood them with cards!Love to you all from both Rick and and from me too.. thisgroup is just the best! hugsjax

[Guest guest]

Many Thanks to Creator, Almighty God..

All is moving along in a positive direction, we can't ask for more

except a donor for Rick now and strength to see them both

through this. Prayers remain, let us know when and where we

can send cards. Ask next time you talk to her if either

of them like to read, and what, I do, and have a ton of paperback

books I'd be happy to send some, something might interest them..

Tell them to hang in, they're going to make it!

Sheena

Subject: update on RickTo: Hepatitis_C_Central Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 4:34 PM

Hi everyone,I just got off the phone with , wow, she has been through a lotin making sure that Rick is doing good.. He ended up back in the ICUbecause they were not giving him lactulose, so they had to do that viaenema because he was unconscious. . then he started swelling and found out that they were not giving him his regular doses ofLasix and Spironalactone so he was swelling.. but he is now out of ICU and isdoing better and if all goes well, his doc feels that he will be ableto be released either tomorrow or thurs and then is taking himto Tampa immediately and not taking him home.. She says that home istoo toxic for him right now because he gets overwrought trying tofinish up all the things HE THINKS he has to do before transplant.. Soshe is taking him to Tampa, putting them in a hotel for a couple ofdays. she has found a fully rented apt that she will be looking at

andrenting if it is what she wants so they can be close to the tp hosp. I tell ya, everyone would be so lucky to have such a support personsuch as . Rick is very lucky. She is HIS ROCK! She said totell everyone how much they both care about everyone of us and howmuch they truely appreciate our love, support and prayers. She willnot let Rick hang out on the computer for awhile because he gets toowound up on it, lol,, but after they get settled in the apt that theywill be living in until he gets his transplant, only then will she lethim use one of their friends computers.. after he is more rested. What a great woman she is!!!Anyway, this is the update for now, Ill be calling her again in a dayor so.. She asked us to wait until they get settled in the apartmentbefore we send cards because he will probably get out of the hosp heis in tomorrow or the next day and any cards wouldnt get there

beforehe leaves. So as soon as she has an address, she will let me know andwe will flood them with cards!Love to you all from both Rick and and from me too.. thisgroup is just the best! hugsjax

[Guest guest]

Will do Sheena,, Ill be talking with in another day or two and she will of course call me if something comes up sooner.. what a great idea,, the paperbacks,, Ill be sure to ask her and let you knowJackie

From: redjaxjm <redjaxjmyahoo (DOT) com>Subject: [Hepatitis_C_ Central] update on RickTo: Hepatitis_C_ Central@yahoogro ups.comDate: Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 4:34 PM

Hi everyone,I just got off the phone with , wow, she has been through a lotin making sure that Rick is doing good.. He ended up back in the ICUbecause they were not giving him lactulose, so they had to do that viaenema because he was unconscious. . then he started swelling and found out that they were not giving him his regular doses ofLasix and Spironalactone so he was swelling.. but he is now out of ICU and isdoing better and if all goes well, his doc feels that he will be ableto be released either tomorrow or thurs and then is taking himto Tampa immediately and not taking him home.. She says that home istoo toxic for him right now because he gets overwrought trying tofinish up all the things HE THINKS he has to do before transplant.. Soshe is taking him to Tampa, putting them in a hotel for a couple ofdays. she has found a fully rented apt that she will be looking at

andrenting if it is what she wants so they can be close to the tp hosp. I tell ya, everyone would be so lucky to have such a support personsuch as . Rick is very lucky. She is HIS ROCK! She said totell everyone how much they both care about everyone of us and howmuch they truely appreciate our love, support and prayers. She willnot let Rick hang out on the computer for awhile because he gets toowound up on it, lol,, but after they get settled in the apt that theywill be living in until he gets his transplant, only then will she lethim use one of their friends computers.. after he is more rested. What a great woman she is!!!Anyway, this is the update for now, Ill be calling her again in a dayor so.. She asked us to wait until they get settled in the apartmentbefore we send cards because he will probably get out of the hosp heis in tomorrow or the next day and any cards wouldnt get there

beforehe leaves. So as soon as she has an address, she will let me know andwe will flood them with cards!Love to you all from both Rick and and from me too.. thisgroup is just the best! hugsjax

[Guest guest]

you got that right,, damn this disease... but ya know,, if we hadnt all gotten this virus, we would not be here loveing and supporting one another and I dont know about you, but nothing is more important than this!Jackie Hi everyone,I just got off the phone with , wow, she has been through a lotin making sure that Rick is doing good.. He ended up back in the ICUbecause they were not giving him lactulose, so they had to do that viaenema because he was unconscious. . then he started swelling and found out that they were not giving him his regular

doses ofLasix and Spironalactone so he was swelling.. but he is now out of ICU and isdoing better and if all goes well, his doc feels that he will be ableto be released either tomorrow or thurs and then is taking himto Tampa immediately and not taking him home.. She says that home istoo toxic for him right now because he gets overwrought trying tofinish up all the things HE THINKS he has to do before transplant.. Soshe is taking him to Tampa, putting them in a hotel for a couple ofdays. she has found a fully rented apt that she will be looking at andrenting if it is what she wants so they can be close to the tp hosp. I tell ya, everyone would be so lucky to have such a support personsuch as . Rick is very lucky. She is HIS ROCK! She said totell everyone how much they both care about everyone of us and howmuch they truely appreciate our love, support and prayers. She willnot let

Rick hang out on the

computer for awhile because he gets toowound up on it, lol,, but after they get settled in the apt that theywill be living in until he gets his transplant, only then will she lethim use one of their friends computers.. after he is more rested. What a great woman she is!!!Anyway, this is the update for now, Ill be calling her again in a dayor so.. She asked us to wait until they get settled in the apartmentbefore we send cards because he will probably get out of the hosp heis in tomorrow or the next day and any cards wouldnt get there beforehe leaves. So as soon as she has an address, she will let me know andwe will flood them with cards!Love to you all from both Rick and and from me too.. thisgroup is just the best! hugsjax

[Guest guest]

The TP hospital should have some place they could stay at a reasonable rate.

Know OHSU had some and knew of some right around the hospital.

I'm Pullin for him hope they don't play around with getting him on the list,

up here if you sneeze wrong your off the list. Don't know what other tests he

needs to do to get on the list but in his condition now hope he gets them passed

or signed off with no problems. Know when I went through it they said one more

test then always came up with one more took almost 5 months and I was pushing to

get them done.

Got my fingers crossed for him and he's in our prayers and as Steve said tell

him to tie a big knot and hang on.

just don't ever give up.

rich

[Guest guest]

HI everyone

just got off the phone again with and Rick is about

the 'same'.. his sodium is still low,, todays low is the newest one of

115 and he's having trouble with his mentation.. very confused. All

the rest of his numbers and tests are fine,, so I just hope they can

get it figured out soon..

is just exhausted.. She and I talked about her staying home

tomorrow and just resting and letting Rick rest too. They have someone

with him at all times because he, in his confused state is trying to

get out of bed and is too weak,, guess yesterday he fell while trying

to get out of bed.. So now he has someone with him around the clock.

Lets all hold them both in our thoughts and prayers as he is not well

and she is exhausted..

I hope she'll call me tomorrow but I told her to rest and take care of

herself,, thats the important thing.. so until I hear more,, this is

all that I know at this point..

[Guest guest]

Many Prayers. Many Hugs. Wish there were more that we could do,

I know they know we all do care, just praying they are past all of

this soon and that Rick can get back on the road to recovery.

Love,

Sheena..

HI everyonejust got off the phone again with and Rick is about the 'same'.. his sodium is still low,, todays low is the newest one of 115 and he's having trouble with his mentation.. very confused. All the rest of his numbers and tests are fine,, so I just hope they can get it figured out soon.. is just exhausted.. She and I talked about her staying home tomorrow and just resting and letting Rick rest too. They have someone with him at all times because he, in his confused state is trying to get out of bed and is too weak,, guess yesterday he fell while trying to get out of bed.. So now he has someone with him around the clock. Lets all hold them both in our thoughts and prayers as he is not well and she is exhausted.. I hope she'll call me tomorrow but I told her to rest and take care of herself,, thats the important thing.. so until I hear more,, this is all that I know at

this point..

[Guest guest]

thanks for reminding me maryanne,, yes, we will hae to give him some teasing about grey hairs when he is better,, I know I've gottan a few new ones myselfJackie

Subject: Re: update on RickTo: Hepatitis_C_Central Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 12:38 PM

Jackie, it's hard not to worry, I know. Try to remember that Rick is in the best possible place and it seems as though the doctors are working hard to figure out what's up with Rick. Remember the human body is a remarkable thing. This could just be another one of those things that 'could' happen whilst his body gets used to his new liver.Heck, with all the love, prayers and positive energy that's going to Rick, he wouldn't dare do anything than improve in his own good time. Then we can tease him about all the extra grey hairs he's given all of us! HeheeLuvanneYou don't have to be handicapped to be different.Everybody's different!Kim Peek [Hepatitis_C_ Central] update on Rick> Hi guys,> I just got off the phone a little bit ago with and thing are> continuing in the same manner and nothing is getting resolved.. On> Monday his sodium was at 119, then dropped down a little, then went> back up a bit, but now is down to 115. They dont know why and as> said,, the docs are all "flummoxed". I guess they have been> calling other transplant teams trying to figure this out. > sounded so down today and IM quite worried about her. She hasnt eaten> much today so I suggested that she eat something and then go to bed and> sleep. She said she would after she talks with the night nurses. Rick> is in pain and is delusional and that is scaring her. He keeps> thinking that he is at the

apartment and is trying to get out of bed> when she is there so she finally went back to the apartment to rest.> She will call me tomorrow and Ill let you all know then.> I just hope they get it figured out.. Im quite worried now, after all> of this time, you'd think they would have figured out what is causing> this.. if anyone has any ideas,,, please bring them forward.. and keep> rick and melissa in our thoughts and prayers.. sigh....> Im sad!> jax

[Guest guest]

I know,, it doesnt,, but from what I read in the articles that posted, it said that hyponatremia is more important in assessing outcomes is more important in pre-transplant than post-transplant,, or at least that is how I read it ,, I sure hope it will be alright,, she says that the docs are really confused because all of his other labs and tests are sooo good,,Jackie

Subject: Re: update on RickTo: Hepatitis_C_Central Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 10:50 PM

It does not sound good at all , when you talk to her tell her Rick is in my prayers and I will keep digging into the research . Maybe the European stuff holds some answers .

[Hepatitis_C_ Central] update on Rick

HI everyonejust got off the phone again with and Rick is about the 'same'.. his sodium is still low,, todays low is the newest one of 115 and he's having trouble with his mentation.. very confused. All the rest of his numbers and tests are fine,, so I just hope they can get it figured out soon.. is just exhausted.. She and I talked about her staying home tomorrow and just resting and letting Rick rest too. They have someone with him at all times because he, in his confused state is trying to get out of bed and is too weak,, guess yesterday he fell while trying to get out of bed.. So now he has someone with him around the clock. Lets all hold them both in our thoughts and prayers as he is not well and she is exhausted.. I hope she'll call me tomorrow but I told her to rest and take care of herself,, thats the important thing.. so until I hear more,, this is all that I know at

this point..

[Guest guest]

I am gonna do some digging and see if I can access some medical journals that haven't been released to the internet yet ,

[Hepatitis_C_ Central] update on Rick

HI everyonejust got off the phone again with and Rick is about the 'same'.. his sodium is still low,, todays low is the newest one of 115 and he's having trouble with his mentation.. very confused. All the rest of his numbers and tests are fine,, so I just hope they can get it figured out soon.. is just exhausted.. She and I talked about her staying home tomorrow and just resting and letting Rick rest too. They have someone with him at all times because he, in his confused state is trying to get out of bed and is too weak,, guess yesterday he fell while trying to get out of bed.. So now he has someone with him around the clock. Lets all hold them both in our thoughts and prayers as he is not well and she is exhausted.. I hope she'll call me tomorrow but I told her to rest and take care of herself,, thats the important thing.. so until I hear more,, this is all that I know at this point..

[Guest guest]

Man be gone a few days and look what happens. Hope they get the Sodium problem

worked out soon. As for the confused problem hows his blood oxygen level know I

was all mixed up after mine. Oxygen level was in the 80's and had me on oxygen.

I could not leave till I could walk around the floor and still have a level

above 94. Also with low oxygen he will be weak and unbalanced, know I was.

The Diabetes is normal from all I have heard , was told I would be also but

got lucky and am not. Out of the ten I know that have had a transplant 8 are

diabetic now. It's caused by the anti rejection drugs one of the many sides.

Reading the insert in my Prograf found out one of it's sides is Tremors DAH

nice to know after my trip to the hospital with the shakes and tremors, another

one they don't tell you about.

Tell Rick we are pulling for him and it will get better just takes time to get

all the drugs worked out as we are all different.

rich

2 days shy of 10 months

[Guest guest]

Always good to see you Rich, know your input is more than welcome.

Can also not imagine what is going through about now.

The not knowing or understanding all must be horrific.

Sheena

Man be gone a few days and look what happens. Hope they get the Sodium problem worked out soon. As for the confused problem hows his blood oxygen level know I was all mixed up after mine. Oxygen level was in the 80's and had me on oxygen. I could not leave till I could walk around the floor and still have a level above 94. Also with low oxygen he will be weak and unbalanced, know I was.The Diabetes is normal from all I have heard , was told I would be also but got lucky and am not. Out of the ten I know that have had a transplant 8 are diabetic now. It's caused by the anti rejection drugs one of the many sides. Reading the insert in my Prograf found out one of it's sides is Tremors DAH nice to know after my trip to the hospital with the shakes and tremors, another one they don't tell you about.Tell Rick we are pulling for him and it will get better just takes time to get all the drugs worked out as we are all different.rich2 days shy

of 10 months

[Guest guest]

Man, hope they better find the problem fast, This is not good, has to be

something thety are over looking .You are in our prayers and this will be over

soon.

rich

10 months 2 days

[Guest guest]

Jackie please tell that we have her in our thoughts and prayers and that we are so thankful for her taking the time to update us.

Love

Janet

"There are souls in this world that have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go"

Frederick Faber

Subject: update on RickTo: Hepatitis_C_Central Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008, 6:25 PM

Hi all, I just received this from melissa and so am posting what she emailed to me.. Dear friends and family, I last wrote you when Rick entered the hospital on Monday, October 6th. In typical Rick fashion, he has stumped literally all the experts in the hospital and from Lifelink. As they have said, "he is an enigma." The base problem has been, and continues to be, extremely low sodium readings. The past week and a half have been filled with more CT scans of his brain, chest and abdomen plus myriad other tests. Yesterday, he had surgery to drain his right lung which had partially collapsed and also to drain fluid below the lung. However, this has nothing to do with his sodium level. He is currently in the Surgical ICU, with the hope that he will be moved back to the transplant unit tomorrow. This period has been a nightmare. Nightmare is really not a strong enough word. Rick has been

delusional, hallucinatory and disoriented. There have been days that he did not recognize me, or was frustrated by his inability to put words together. After falling last Friday, he has had "sitters" with him, when I have not been there, so that he does not fall again. In his non-lucid state, he thinks he can do things that he can't and it's very dangerous. The doctors still do not know the cause of the low sodium readings, but Rick is so weak and drained that he can't walk or leave his bed. His sodium level today was at 122. He entered the hospital at 118, has gone as low as 115, and the 122 is the highest. The doctors are still working on finding the cause of the problem because it's clear he can't leave the hospital until he is stabilized. However, he was a bit more lucid today. I'm sorry to have been out of touch, but all of this takes a terrible toll on both of us. Love to you all,