Instead of blasting emails every so often, I have decided to upgrade to a blog. Please bear with me -- it is my first blog. You may email me at dymonduga@gmail.com if you have any questions. If you would like to share your comments, please click on "Comment" below.
My dad was transferred to the Northridge Hospital's rehab facility on Tuesday, November 4. He has a private room and he has reported that the food is better at Northridge.
Each day is filled with a lot of hard work for my dad. It is difficult for him to perform various normal daily functions that the average person does without much effort (blowing your nose, going to the bathroom, sitting up in bed, etc.). The key is to be patient with the recovery process. If he chases after the recovery date, it will drift further away.
He becomes very tired from the workouts. This may be a sign that he is pushing himself too hard. He said that his PT personnel are consistent from one day to the next. So at least there is continuity among the healthcare professionals. Two separate members of the PT staff at Tarzana told us that a sign of pushing too hard will result in a dramatic reduction of energy for the next day.
My dad likes the new facility. He was able to enjoy Pool Therapy today. They have a slightly heated pool that is 4.5 feet deep and has parallel bars for support. My dad said he felt exhausted after that.
He and the doctors thought that perhaps some of the symptoms had begun to come back. The doctors have restarted him on the IVIG treatment and he'll have it for a total of 5 days. If they do not start noticing definite improvements after the second round of treatment, they will begin plasmapheresis, where they run his blood through a cleansing machine.
He is in good spirits, all things considered. I think he understands that this will be a complicated recovery process in the beginning. He is learning his body limits, but is still working on the discipline to prevent overworking.
He said he has more weakness and numbness in his hands and arms, so simple tasks are becoming very difficult. I try to call him for updates everyday, but usually he can only stay on the phone with me for a few minutes before he gets tired. I wish I could talk to him more.
Please keep to emails only at this point. Either he or I will let you know when it's okay to call his cell phone again. He is able to check his email every couple of days or so using the computers at the hospital for patients.
Thank you all for your support,
The Dymond Family
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