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My dad would appreciate prayer. He has just come down with a painful case of shingles on his head. I'm going to visit him for the weekend and see what we can do to help out. He lives on his own. I'm also thinking of taking Monday off work so I can go to his Dr. Appt with him. I won't have access to Internet, but would appreciate your prayers for him. He's 81 and knows the Lord.

Oh, dear Betty...

I'm so sorry.  Shingles are very, very painful.  I've not heard of them on the head.  Mostly around the waist and abdomen.  That must be truly awful.

Please know that I will be praying for him.  Please keep us posted.

Thanks Betty.

Pat

Did he get to the Doctor for a shot?  Apparently if a person gets it soon enough it really relives the symptone!

I will be praying for him and you.

I've had shingles and can testify that they can be very uncomfortable, to say the least.  My prayers, Betty, for your father's fast relief.

Thanks for your prayers. Dad is still very uncomfortable but appears to be able to rest a bit easier. We saw the Dr. this morning, and his biggest concern is that he can't give him more medication because of Dad's kidney disease. Dad is enduring - I think that's the best way to describe how he is.
I'm gack home to go to work for the rest of the week. My sister is with him - I will probably be going back up there this weekend.

Betty, you mention "kidney disease".   Is your Dad on dialysis? 

Not at this point. I'm going with him on Dec 19th to the Kidney Clinic in North Bay. He has to decide what type of dialysis he wants to go on. They're putting it off as long as they can for him ... but dialysis is probably in his future.

Betty, just want you to know I've been that whole route during the years 1996 to 2001 when my late husband was promoted to glory.  I will be praying for your family as you reach this point.  Jack didn't have a choice as to what mode of dialysis he could use as his blood pressure and heart were so weakened, that only hemodialysis would work for him and he was not a candidate for kidney transplant.

Thanks for keeping us informed, Betty and I will remember your father often in my prayers.

Betty I too am praying for your father.

Thank you.
My sister says he had a pretty bad day yesterday, but seemed somewhat better today. He was sleeping a lot, which is probably good because he has had a lot of difficulty sleeping.

Betty, I'll be praying with you for your Dad's full recovery. Our Pastor had shingles in his head about 6 years ago, so I am somewhat familiar with what he's enduring.

Ruth Ann

Thanks for praying. The Dr has told him that the pain will probably be there for another 3 weeks or so. Christmas was hard for him as he is used to going to each of our homes and seeing grandchildren and great grandchildren. There are 3 of us children in Ontario so this usually keeps him busy at Christmas. Instead he had a very quiet Christmas. He didn't feel very well at all. My husband and I spent Christmas weekend with him as our family is meeting today for our Christmas time.
On another note, our son-in-law is very sick so that family wan't able to come. We do have their kids with us though. Our son-in-law is waiting for a CTscan. At this point they really don't know what's wrong with him. It hasn't been an easy Christmas for them either.
Once again thanks for your prayers

Thanks, Betty, for the update.

Ruth Ann

Betty, Continuing to pray.

We've been visiting our daughter and son-in-law. The Dr.s have diagnosed him with Still's Disease, a form of arthritis. It has hit him pretty hard. He had Juvenile Arthritis when he was young, but Still's Disease has so many different symptoms, that it took some time for them to rule out other possibilities. They are still doing tests to make sure they've ruled other things out. He is pretty sick with this. They have started him on prednisone to see if it will help. The hardest thing for him to deal with besides the pain is fevers, chills, sweats, and throwing up - all part of the Still's disease.
I'm not sure how my Dad is the last couple of days as we've been so busy with our family. My sister is with him for the weekend. The last time we talked with him he thought he was feeling a bit better.
Thanks for praying. Christmas has been different but good. God is good in the best and worst of times. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Quote from: Betty on December 30, 2011, 08:38:28 AM
God is good in the best and worst of times. We have a lot to be thankful for.

You're so right, Betty. I'm so thankful He is in control!!

Oh Betty your family seems to be being zapped.  I am glad you have a strong faith in the God who created you and your family.   I will continue to pray.

I'm so sad to learn of additional worries. As a lifelong arthritis "survivor", I can empathize with him. Be alert to the possibilities of diabetes, since Prednisone can cause a rise in blood sugar. It certainly is an essential medication in treament of so many conditions, but just a heads up.

A long term friend from a defunct seniors conversation website was speaking with me not long ago and related some of her symptoms. As a diabetic myself, I suggested she call her physician, and now she's checking blood sugars and diligently working to keep them in control. As a result, she's feeling much better.

It's encouraging to hear that your dad may be seeing beginnings of improvement.

What a comfort it is to KNOW that God, our Maker and Saviour, cares, comforts during bad times, and rejoices with us as the recovery comes.

Ruth Ann

Thanks For the Heads up with blood sugars.  I need to make sure I don't let mine rise up.

Thanks for the prayers. My Dad seems to be starting to mend. He is on his own for a few days ... has lots of food from family and friends, and feels he can do it on his own. We'll be checking up on him each day. Since I'm off work this week (am a teacher), I may slip up there sometime before I go back to work.
Our son-in-law is still in much pain. He has been put on prednisone and this seems to be helping some of the symptoms. Thanks for the heads up about diabetes. That is not a nice disease/condition to have. My Mom had diabetes, went legally blind, and had all kinds of other consequences from it. We are glad she is rejoicing in her Lord, and does not have to concern herself with this in heaven.
I feel like I keep adding to the prayer requests, but thought I should add this. Our other daughter has bronchitis, has been put on prednisone. Her Bells Palsy is acting up because she is sick ... so this doesn't add to her well-being. She has been under a lot of stress because of a marriage break-up.
Hmmm ... maybe it's best to have you pray for my whole family:) I could probably keep on going with requests - but God knows them:) We are all so glad that the Lord is with us through everything.

Betty: God answers prayer! I have experienced His working when things seem to be unresolvable!
Will keep you and your family before Him in prayer.

Praying for entire family here Betty

I'm here for you, as well, Betty.

Ruth Ann

Thanks for the prayer support and encouragement. It's so good to have other Christians to share prayer requests with. I do have some updates:
Dad - still feeling pain, has lost 15 pounds, but only takes pain killers before bedtime. He is on his own now - although we are going to go and visit him for Friday night and Saturday. When we talked with him, he reminded us that he didn't need anyone to look after him. We reassured him that we were coming up for a visit. We don't want him to feel he's losing his independence if he doesn't have to. We'll know better how he's doing after our visit I think.
My son-in-law -  fevers have eased up, not throwing up now, still having pain, still weak, still on prednisone - and wondering when he can go back to work. He has been reading my Dad's memoirs (we just completed a book of his memoirs and Dad gave them to family at Christmas) and says that it's been very encouraging.
Daughter - prednisone and antibiotics is helping the bronchitis. She is sounding better.
They all appreciate your prayers.

I hope the visit lifts your dad's spirits while it reassures you as to his true condition.

Thanks for the family update.

Ruth Ann