Posted by Larry Hoover on March 4, 2005, at 19:30:48 [reposted on March 5, 2005, at 8:56:00 | original URL]
In reply to Pain pumps?? where do I post this??, posted by Spriggy on March 4, 2005, at 17:20:00
> I have no clue which section I should write this so I'm sure Dr. Bob will redirect it if this isn't the place.
>
> I just got a call that my dad is in the ER getting a spinal tap right now.
>
> A few weird stuff:
>
> 1) Hospice came out (they come each day) and couldn't wake him up.
> 2) While on his oxygen (he has COPD), his oxygen was 78%
> 3) He was having seizures (which he's never had before)
> 4) his temp was 104.6
>
> My dad is not an old man (his body might as well be). He actually is only 43 years old (yes, he was 15 when I was born).
>
> He has the following:
>
> 1) Bipolar
> 2) diabetes (type 2)
> 3) Heart disease (pacemaker) - 3 heart attacks
> 4) COPD (emphysema- smoked for 30 years)
> 5) Chronic Hepatitis C
> 6) Degenerative disc disease- which has required a dilaudid pump in his spine
>
> YEs, this is all true and even when I write it all out, almost seems unbelievable that somebody so young could possibly have all the above. But, my dad (mostly because his BP was untreated for so long) had a history of abusing his body through drugs, poor diet, no sleep, and cigarettes.
>
> So... the Hospice nurses seem to be concerned that either could be a problem with this pain pump (it got "refilled two days ago)
>
> Or
>
> they are saying possibly Meningitis??
>
>
> Does anybody have a clue about any of this??
> Exactly what will a spinal tap show them? and would meningitis cause seizures??The pain pump could have led to a blood infection (called septicemia), via the small incision in the skin. Or, he could have developed meningitis by another route. The temperature alone could have led to seizures, but meningitis could cause seizures too (it usually does involve a high fever, though).
I'm sorry, but you're dealing with dangerous infection here, either way. It could be life-threatening.
I'll be praying for you both.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:466875
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20050105/msgs/466879.html