WS, you definitely sound sick. I'm glad you're going to the doctors, but you might also want to try mucinex when your allergy symptoms get that bad.

Andi, that sounds like more than allergies. Definitely call the doctor tomorrow.

The shower was very nice. My families (yes, Tim's family is my family now) are fantastic. I got a Justice League balloon, Avengers goodies, and superhero socks for me and Tim. (Along with other traditional awesome pots, pans, and other stuff for the home.) Pictures to come later.

Dad has what looks like an electrolyte imbalance -- high sodium levels (which have NOTHING to do with heart disease or blood pressure). It's not an issue of consuming too much sodium in food, but more of being severely dehydrated for god knows how long. In the same breath, he said that he has bad acid reflux that makes it hard for him to physically swallow liquids, but then said he drinks at least 5 bottles of water a day. Without seeing his daily routine (and considering that right now he's also dealing with forgetfulness and confusion), I don't know how much liquid he really takes in (and keeps down).

His symptoms are fairly scary -- at work yesterday he was so disoriented he didn't remember how to use the time clock to clock in, and he thought maybe it was low blood sugar so he went to buy a soda and couldn't remember how to use the self-checkout. So his manager drove him home.

He often sounds confused/disoriented/out of it on the phone, and my brother and I have been attributing that to percocet. But maybe not. He may have been dealing with whacked-out electrolytes for some time now, which makes me feel like a dick for assuming he was hopped up on goofballs.

A lot of his physical symptoms might be attributable to the high sodium, but they are also symptoms of high doses of the antiseizure meds he takes for his diabetic nerve pain. So this one is hard to puzzle out. And the doctor also said his kidney function is somewhat impaired; I'm not sure if that's because of the messed-up sodium levels, or independent of them.

The doctor said the CT scan showed absolutely no sign of a stroke, which is a damn relief.

By the time we left the hospital, he was basically lucid, and didn't show any confusion or disorientation when we were talking. He seemed okay, or, at least, like he *will be* okay once his sodium levels get straightened out. We think.

I am so fucking tired.

Aw, Teppy, I'm glad he is ok for now, but it sure sounds like a heck of a complex situation for anyone to manage, let alone someone feeling doped up for whatever reason. ~ma and warm thoughts for untangling this knot.

From what I've read (briefly, just tonight), if sodium levels get too high and stay that way, the patient can have seizures and end up in a coma. So I definitely am glad he's in the hospital where he can be monitored. I hope that they not only sort all this out, but are able to come up with a plan to prevent it from happening again that is a plan my dad can understand and stick to. He worries me.

Steph, I hope your dad will be all right and they can come up with a good plan. Glad you enjoyed your shower!

Welcome back, Board. Good to see you.

Tep, I just caught up. So glad you had a wonderful shower and that your families get you so well. So sorry about the stress with your dad, though. I am sending healthy planful vibes his way.

I'm glad you're going to the doctor, Andi. You might also go old school and try Vicks vapor rub or Save the Baby on your chest in the short term.

I hope that they not only sort all this out, but are able to come up with a plan to prevent it from happening again that is a plan my dad can understand and stick to. He worries me.

I'm glad that they, at least, have something they know is wrong and are trying to solve. Very scary.

And your shower sounds really nice. I'm glad you had that even with the rest of the stress of life right now.

I'm glad you're going to the doctor, Andi.

eta: Yes, this. Sometimes you don't realize how bad you feel until you are given a way to feel better.

She is also brilliant and the last few months her level of malnutrition has caused memory lapses and the inability to focus. Enough that she couldn't deny it.

This rings so true to me. I support people truly being in charge of themselves and that includes choosing not treat but, damn, things like malnutrition and dehydration and electrolyte imbalances really affect the ability to do so. We thought something was wrong with Dad for a month or two and he was just stubborn. In his case, it was brain cancer. And even with the best hindsight, it was terminal and no treatment was going to give him any enhanced quality of life. But the fact is that if we'd been able to get him to a doctor and checked out sooner, he at least might have had a chance to truly comprehend his situation and choose for himself what he wanted. It's so complicated. And heart wrenching as well.

Bunches of ~ma for fixing your dad, Teppy.

Bodies = complicated.

Appointment made for 10:45.

Quick and easy fix~ma, Andi.