Just as the Dr. said...

Called over to the hospital this morning, and I guess he got no better after we left last night. He is very agitated, and when I say agitated, I mean angry and paranoid and insistent. This is not my father right now. Please, I know everyone wants to see him, but I would rather not have most people see him this way right now. I don't want him to get anymore stimulation than he has to. I know he would not want people to see him this way, he has so much pride in himself. I will keep everyone posted, and hopefully within a couple days, he will be more back to himself.

I have all hopes that this is caused by the post op swelling that Dr. Hardy warned us of, but I never could have imagined he would be this altered. He is desperate for a cigar, and wants a "whole liter of wine, and a margarita..." He also feels like he is being held hostage. The hospital called my Mom to talk to him around Midnight, to see if that would calm him down, but I guess it didn't. He didn't sleep at all last night and most of yesterday. We asked if they could give him something to calm him down or make him sleep, and from what I understand, they want to be able to tell if symptoms are from the results of the surgery and not a medication. They don't think they will be able to to the post op MRI today because there is no way my Dad will remain still for the test. So they may try a CT Scan, but it certainly does not give the detailed picture an MRI would, but it will be something.

All the nurses say that this is to be expected. So in all hopes, even if it gets worse over the next couple of days, it should start getting better around day 5 post op.

I haven't really talked about the Dr.'s and care we are receiving at Grossmont Hospital. They have been amazing. The nurses have all been patient and kind, and from what I can tell the Dr.'s are amazing. Dr. Cheng is the neurologist, and Dr. Tyrone Hardy is the neurosurgeon who did the surgery. We all really like Dr. Hardy. He is very calm, very straightforward and just a very sweet man. When we first met him in the ER, he told me to Google him to see what he is all about...So, when I got home that night, I did. Here are some of the links about him:
http://sdnds.com/Consultants/hardy.htm
http://www.spineuniverse.com/mdpage.php?doctorID=2896

They still plan on having him moved out of the ICU, but they will have a person in the room to watch him at all times.

I will send another update when I get home tonight. Thank you for all your calls and kind words and emails. If we don't get right back to you, it is only because we are with him. I will do my best to keep everyone informed.

Love to all.