Blocked Carotid

15 years 1 month ago #24237 by Stephany
Replied by Stephany on topic Blocked Carotid
Wow, what great shape he must be in! Are you the main caregiver? Props to you, my dear.

and who is covering the ID's service while she's gone? You might just introduce yourself by phone before she leaves.....

Stephany in Iowa

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15 years 1 month ago #24236 by harleygirl
Replied by harleygirl on topic Blocked Carotid
Thanks for the info, all. Dad is actually in pretty good shape for his age. Remember, they removed his bladder and prostate when he was 80.

He was under the care of a "hospitalist" this last admission who called in a nephrologist to manage the BP along with Dad's cardiologist. Dad's cardiologist did a nuclear scan of Dad's heart while Dad was in the hospital (results were normal) and I suppose it was this test where the blockage was found. The cardiologist never mentioned anything about the blockage, so maybe, like Patricia says, it is not a big deal. The other carotid artery was fine.

He is administering his anti-fungal meds through his Picc line after mixing the medication and diligently takes all 12 BP meds twice a day. His BP is running in the 140-low 160 range now on the top and the bottom number is always in the 50s or low 60s. He is starting to do a little walking around the neighborhood now which seems to be raising his heart rate a little. Heart rate has been in the low 50s. His output is increasing even though he still is on fluid restriction of 2000cc per day. His adema was severe but now seems to be resolving with the Lasix. He just needs to get rid of that dang yeast infection (Candida Tropicalis). The ID doc (who I want him to fire!) says he will be on the meds for 4 weeks, then she leaves town for 3 of those 4 weeks!

He is going to the nephrologist's office on Monday to have bloodwork done. They want to watch his potassium, sodium and magnesium as all have been low and were replenished by IV during his hospital stay. He is still taking potassium by mouth. I think getting him off the Vancomycin and Zosyn probably helped to make him feel better.

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15 years 1 month ago #24233 by Stephany
Replied by Stephany on topic Blocked Carotid
Also, find out if they have a "hospitalist" on staff. This is a physician who specializes in hospitalized patients, and can be VERY helpful at times like these.

Stephany in Iowa

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15 years 1 month ago #24230 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic Blocked Carotid
Harley...depends on the type of doppler they used. The old scans not as accurate as the duplex doppler......its not very accurate. I've had a blockage of my right carotid for 20 yrs now...and its in the 40 to 70% range....they watch it every year. The surgeon i see is a vascular surgeon. He told me my chances of a stroke are 5% if i don't do anything and 5% if i have surgery.......so it was a kind of no-brainer for me. As long as one carotid is open blood flow is still maintained.
Its usually a cholesterol problem that builds up the plaque. In an older adult there is going to be mild to moderate build-up.
The way his blood pressure is going off the charts thats what i'd focus on now and a good cardiologist might be able to get him on the right drugs and not l2 drugs that are probably taxing the heck out of his kidneys.
Pat

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15 years 1 month ago #24229 by momof4
Replied by momof4 on topic Blocked Carotid
You could contact a cardiologist for an opinion...alot will of course depend on his overall health vs. necessity.

Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

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15 years 1 month ago #24228 by Lady Jane
Replied by Lady Jane on topic Blocked Carotid
Blocked carotids is normal in a man your fathers age. Not unusual at all. He is actually lucky its not worse or thay may not operate on him if necessary. He would not withstand the anethesia. A friends aunt had her leg amputated last week, with a spinal as anethesia. She is elderly and has blocked arteries. She would not have survived being put to sleep.

I don't know the effects of a blocked artery on BP. Why don't you research it?

Ta Grade 1
6 TURBS
15 BCG
dx Jan 07

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