Ruling out heart problems. . .(sigh)

Well, Dad's heart rate decided to jump up to 115 (which, when you're usually 45 beats per minute, that's a pretty significant increase).  He was complaining of his chest hurting when he coughed, so on came the onslaught of labs and EKGs to rule out a heart attack.

EKG was normal, as were the first set of labs that would show a cardiac enzyme that only shows up when there's been heart damage.  We think it's just the blood clots in his lungs hurting when he coughs, but with the increased heart rate, they wanted to be sure.

Still no orders to move out of ICU, but those may come in the morning.  For now, he's resting comfortably in his bed. 

I always miss the visitors, it seems.  I went off to FedEx his MRI scan from today to the Mayo Clinic, and then on to see the little kids and hang out there while Tracy went to the hospital.  Sorry I missed you, Bill!

Tracy said that he's ever-so-slightly more alert -- the steroids at that dose took a few days last time (at St. Mary's in Rochester) to kick in.  Hopefully it doesn't take that long this time, and hope they work!