Monday morning update; MRI Today

Some days it just feels like a Monday, doesn't it?

Dad was evaluated this morning by the "normal" crew of his doctors (not always on the weekend staff).  They're not happy with how he's doing, and don't feel that his being tired from being up in the chair is all that is contributing to his tiredness.  They're worried about how Dad is doing, so they are changing a few things:

• On Friday when Dad was doing better, they had taken him off of the IV Steroids and gone back to the pills.  They are restarting the IV steroids today to get the maximum benefit out of the steroids.  There's a small chance that going from IV back to pills on Friday was part of the decline we saw over the weekend.
• They are asking anyone in the room to help push fluids - Dad needs to drink more.  Iced tea, Diet Coke, water, shakes. . .Need to increase his fluid intake.
• He's having an MRI done today (as previously discussed), but now they are looking to see if there is further increased swelling causing significantly more confusion and weakness.  We will be overnighting the MRI CD up to our doctor at the Mayo Clinic, and hopefully get a report from them on Tuesday or Wednesday.
• His labs drawn this morning look "okay" - but not great.  Not sure of the details on that statement, but will find out more this afternoon.
• They are putting a pressurized stocking (a TED hose) on Dad's left leg and keep it elevated for the swelling.  They think this is due to the large clot in his leg impeding the blood flow, sitting up in the chair for the first time in a while, and inactivity.  

The oncologist is definitely worried about him.  He has lost so much muscle mass, and was concerned about his cognitive state.  We all are.  We're not sure when the move out of ICU is yet, but chances are that when he goes down for his MRI, they will move him to the new room when he comes back up.  I'll post an update when we get the results of the MRI.