My dad

[maryloufu]

My dad is a big man- morbidly obese in fact. He broke his shoulder the other night at church playing frisbee of all things. He has a history of CHF, HTN, Smoking(quit for 7 years), NIDDM, Asthma. I was VERY mad to hear that he went to the ER and did not call me- he has an appointment to see a surgeon tommorow. Aside from being mad that my stepmom did not call me I am sick with worry that he will have great difficulty with surgery and end up in ICU on a vent. I am not discussing my worry with my family-because there is nothing that can be done at this point(that I can think of anyway) to reduce his risk right at this moment. I have a good relationship with him and my stepmom- but it is sort of like he went on and started a new family with her. Me and my sister from his previous marriage are kind of extra. I am just this big ball of emotion when it comes to this issue- and I am just coming here to talk about it because I think maybe someone here might understand or they can reassure me that they have had many morbidly obese patients come through surgery fine.

[TazziRN, RN]

I have seen morbidly obese pts come through fine.

{{{Marylou}}}

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Yes obese patients can and do make it through surgery just fine. I'm hoping your dad does too.

Remember a lot has to do with himself. Make sure he gets up, uses his IS, blah blah blah.

Good luck.

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

My dad is a big man- morbidly obese in fact. He broke his shoulder the other night at church playing frisbee of all things.

They play frisbee at your church? Sounds fun!

(((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))) to you maryloufu,

I lost my Daddy 3 years ago in August. Still miss him everyday.

He was not obese but he had very bad lungs. He had knee surgery in the 1970's and they failed to anticoagulate him after surgery. He ended up with a massive pulmonary embolism. He had bad lungs after that but lived a long time with very poor air exchange.

Best thing to do is visit him often and talk to the dr if your Dad approves.

[BULLYDAWGRN, RN]

Have him do what the icu staff and rt/pt etc.. tell him to do. I hope things go well. I'm with gr8rnpjt, I to miss my dad everyday. Cancer sucks.

[crissrn27, RN]

I am so sorry that he broke his shoulder....that just sucks! But I have seen obese pts come through fine (most of them in fact). Just make him listen about the TCDB and IS, all that good nursing stuff! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Fiona59]

Our obese patients pull through fine, but the staff are developing bad backs and we have several off with injuries from caring from them.

How old is your father? I take it he's still active and competent. But in the defense of your father and his wife, calling an adult child would not be hight on the list of things to do if I just sustained an injury. My parents waited until the next day before they told me of my Dad's terminal cancer.

Be glad that he's still around to tell you about the injury. Offer your advice if they ask for it. I don't get the feeling that they are deliberately trying to exclude you from his healthcare decisions. Just acting like to adults dealing with their life.

[loricatus]

Have him do what the icu staff and rt/pt etc.. tell him to do. I hope things go well. I'm with gr8rnpjt, I to miss my dad everyday. Cancer sucks.

:yeahthat: Same here

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad and what you are going through right now. Please tell him what you told us-he might need to hear it to realize how much you care for him.

[maryloufu]

Thanks everyone- he had his surgery today. He had a doctor's appointment and they told him to go directly to the hospital. They called me and I was able to be there to talk to the doc. He came through fine and went home about an hour ago. Thanks all of you for your replies.

I am sorry that some of you have lost your dads. I entertained that notion all day long= but I am sure the reality is much worse than the possibility.