Abigail here with my interpretation from Betsy's reporting over the phone . Cardiologist says Dad's heart has improved. Dad came into the hospital with 20% heart function (congestive heart failure) and is now at 60% function. i guess 60% is closer to normal heart function.
the kidney doctor reports Dad's kidney function number is at 3.3 down from 4. normal function is 2 and 4 might be almost not functioning. he is confused according to visitors and doctors. his mental state may be due to the toxins in his body that the kidney normally extracts and expels. the indicators are in the blood, creatin and ureaium (excuse me if i have spelled this wrong). the kidney dialysis tries to clear the toxins for the body. another explanation for his confusion may be something common for people stuck in the hospital: 'ICU psychosis'
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7769
seems to me this is what's happening to him. i think he'll be mentally back when he gets out of the CCU (coronary care unit, similar to ICU). he's at day 18, and it's known (according to the above website) that 1 in 3 patients experience ICU psychosis in just a few day (3 to 5 days). the team family physicians are hoping to get him to another less intense facility in 2 weeks, give or take. !!! its nice to have a time frame, even if it will probably fluctuate.
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