Hi,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
Sorry to hear about what your dad went through
Looks like a case of chronic infection with certain organisms such as Staphylococcus bacteria.
(But did they do a culture test to confirm the same bacteria or they suggested that it could be)
Osteomyelitis is a very serious condition and requires aggressive radiation and chemotherapy..
Also its better if you don't refer to dr.google for everything as sometimes, it can give wrong diagnosis.
The bacteria such as Staphylococcus are always there in the mouth, but when the body's immunity is down, it can cause the bacteria to multiply and cause a serious infection.
Better to get his culture and sensitivity tests and blood investigation done thoroughly before assuming anything.
Feel free to discuss further.
Patient replied :
I went and saw Dad today and he is able to walk using a walker frame. However, after having done so, he was exhausted and I noticed he had purple lips and he was very pale.He is still seeing people that are not there but not as badly as it was. He had an MRI and I believe that 2 specialists are seeing him tomorrow so perhaps the results of that are back and maybe the blood tests/cultures are in as well. He has a catheter and his urine is very very rust coloured, tending to brown. I know that potassium issues can cause hallucinations and dark urine. As a kidney cancer survivor, I know the colour of urine is important.... anyhow, I still felt that he did not know who I was - he never used my name and seemed to treat me politely as an unknown visitor. The pain in his back is still very bad from the osteomyelitis - that I have found out has lodged between his 3rd and 4th vertebrae. My problem is that Mum won't tell me - or, indeed, cannot tell me, what the Doctors are saying. She is elderly so it is frustrating when I cannot speak with the Doctors and can only rely on what I am told - which is very sketchy.... hence the Dr Google and hence this conversation. Could it be anything to do with potassium? His congestive heart failure worries me. I realise that he is 89 and I apreciate that he is not going to be around for a long time, but I find it frustrating that I am not able to speak with the Doctors.
I Hope and pray for his speedy recovery.
However there is nothing much you can do right now than wait for the specialists to determine the cause and cure of his present illness.
Potassium excess or decrease in blood can cause major side effects and needs to be controlled.
Regards
Patient replied :
I went and saw Dad today and he is able to walk using a walker frame. However, after having done so, he was exhausted and I noticed he had purple lips and he was very pale.He is still seeing people that are not there but not as badly as it was. He had an MRI and I believe that 2 specialists are seeing him tomorrow so perhaps the results of that are back and maybe the blood tests/cultures are in as well. He has a catheter and his urine is very very rust coloured, tending to brown. I know that potassium issues can cause hallucinations and dark urine. As a kidney cancer survivor, I know the colour of urine is important.... anyhow, I still felt that he did not know who I was - he never used my name and seemed to treat me politely as an unknown visitor. The pain in his back is still very bad from the osteomyelitis - that I have found out has lodged between his 3rd and 4th vertebrae. My problem is that Mum won't tell me - or, indeed, cannot tell me, what the Doctors are saying. She is elderly so it is frustrating when I cannot speak with the Doctors and can only rely on what I am told - which is very sketchy.... hence the Dr Google and hence this conversation. Could it be anything to do with potassium? His congestive heart failure worries me. I realise that he is 89 and I apreciate that he is not going to be around for a long time, but I find it frustrating that I am not able to speak with the Doctors.