Members Emprov Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 I'm out of ideas here. My parents went to Greece on vacation and the first night there, my mom found my dad wandering the halls of the hotel looking for his kids. When she tried to get him to come back to bed, he asked if she was the bellboy. Whoa. He's currently in the hospital over there and he needs a CAT scan but has violently refused to lay down to have it done. And, when I say violently, I mean that he's told the attendants that he'd kill them if they touched him. Sounds like he can't board a plane to leave without being fully evaluated and a CAT scan is part of that. They tried doping him up but he's still acting, as my mom put it, like a caged animal. I'd just love to hop on a plane and get over there to deal with it but that's not possible at this point. Anyone know anything about this stuff? I feel like I'm really reaching here but I've always been pretty darn impressed with the level of knowledge at this place. I'm trying to have the docs call me directly but so far they haven't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slapthefunkyfour Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Wow. I wish I could give some advice. I can send some good vibes your way though. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Can the American embassy help? Here's a link to the one in Athens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Whoa, that's some crazy stuff! Mojo ~~~~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bryan316 Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Wow. Wooooow. Maybe they can wait until he gets tired enough, and has to lay down to sleep? Then shoot him up and move him to the CAT scanner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Can the American embassy help?Good idea. I had encouraged her to contact the American Embassy yesterday, I may just tell her to revisit that thought. Just talked to my mom and they're going to but him under a general and doing the CAT scan that way. If they don't find anything, they'll be placing him in a psychiatric hospital. I'm guessing they'll find something based on the fact that his BP was well into the "Oh Crap!" territory and his blood work showed some weird heart things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Here's a link to the one in Athens.Thanks for that, I'll be calling them in a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Greece isn't a 3rd world country. Trust the doctors over there before he can be brought back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dDigitalPimp Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 holy crap. that is terrible. i hope everything works out in the end. :::mojo::: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Greece isn't a 3rd world country. Trust the doctors over there before he can be brought back.Based on everything that I've heard, the docs are excellent over there. Freaky situation though. Who knows, I may be showing up on your doorstep in a day or two looking for a good bottle of wine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pickinatit Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 I'm out of ideas here. My parents went to Greece on vacation and the first night there, my mom found my dad wandering the halls of the hotel looking for his kids. When she tried to get him to come back to bed, he asked if she was the bellboy. Whoa. He's currently in the hospital over there and he needs a CAT scan but has violently refused to lay down to have it done. And, when I say violently, I mean that he's told the attendants that he'd kill them if they touched him. Sounds like he can't board a plane to leave without being fully evaluated and a CAT scan is part of that. They tried doping him up but he's still acting, as my mom put it, like a caged animal. I'd just love to hop on a plane and get over there to deal with it but that's not possible at this point. Anyone know anything about this stuff? I feel like I'm really reaching here but I've always been pretty darn impressed with the level of knowledge at this place. I'm trying to have the docs call me directly but so far they haven't. You or your Mom should contact the U.S. Embassy over there and the State Dept. and your Congressman here in the U.S. I'm sure if they get involved that it could be arranged to bring your Dad back home to be evaluated/treated further. Hard to believe they couldn't sedate him sufficiently for making the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bryan316 Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 So far, are the docs okay with English/Greek translations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 So far, are the docs okay with English/Greek translations?Many of them were trained in the US but I haven't had an chance to speak with any of them yet. I have a call into the hospital but no word yet. My mom hasn't expressed any difficulty in communication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Based on everything that I've heard, the docs are excellent over there. Freaky situation though. Who knows, I may be showing up on your doorstep in a day or two looking for a good bottle of wine!You still have some miles to go from France to Greece but I will keep champagne in the fridge, just in case.It's annoying to feel worthless because you're so far, sisn't it ?I felt this way when my kid was in he hospital while I was an ocean away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 You still have some miles to go from France to Greece but I will keep champagne in the fridge, just in case.It's annoying to feel worthless because you're so far, sisn't it ?I felt this way when my kid was in he hospital while I was an ocean away.You sir, have nailed it. Sucks that you've had to go through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 There are a lot of U.S. educated doctors in Greece. Maybe if they can find one, the doctor might be able to persuade your dad? At least the doc would speak perfect English. Wish you the best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted November 7, 2008 Members Share Posted November 7, 2008 You or your mom needs to call the US embassy RIGHT NOW. This is not a joking matter and they can give you advice and help you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 7, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 7, 2008 . This is not a joking matter and they can give you advice and help you out.The US Embassy's closed over there right now but I totally agree. I'll actually be calling them myself as soon as we get some test results back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted November 7, 2008 CMS Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 If he's had a stroke, the last thing you want is to put him on a plane. In fact he may have suffered the stroke as a result of the flight there. The cabin pressure is at about 5-7K ft level at cruising altitude and this can cause problems. If his stroke is an aneurism, another flight could cause it to burst. The hospital should be able to perform the CT scan with him unconscious, if they think it's safe to fully sedate him. It may just take some time for him to calm down, but this may not happen depending upon the nature of damage he's suffered. Trust the doctors and your mom to take care of him until you can arrive or he can be returned. Best of luck and hang in there. Let us know what's up as soon as you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted November 7, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 7, 2008 If he's had a stroke, the last thing you want is to put him on a plane. In fact he may have suffered the stroke as a result of the flight there. The cabin pressure is at about 5-7K ft level at cruising altitude and this can cause problems. If his stroke is an aneurism, another flight could cause it to burst.The hospital should be able to perform the CT scan with him unconscious, if they think it's safe to fully sedate him. It may just take some time for him to calm down, but this may not happen depending upon the nature of damage he's suffered.Trust the doctors and your mom to take care of him until you can arrive or he can be returned. Best of luck and hang in there. Let us know what's up as soon as you can. They actually waited for him to fall asleep, slipped him a mickey in his IV that totally put him out and did the scan then. We'll have the results in 4 hours or so, when things start moving in that part of the world. I guess it's kinda weird for me because I'm the point person here and her primary advisor. I'm the guy making all the calls, send the emails and tell the story over and over again. My brain's pretty fried from lack of sleep but it's nothing compared to what my mom's going through -- a total of 2 hours of sleep since she woke up to head to the airport on Sunday morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted November 7, 2008 CMS Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 They actually waited for him to fall asleep, slipped him a mickey in his IV that totally put him out and did the scan then. We'll have the results in 4 hours or so, when things start moving in that part of the world. I guess it's kinda weird for me because I'm the point person here and her primary advisor. I'm the guy making all the calls, send the emails and tell the story over and over again. My brain's pretty fried from lack of sleep but it's nothing compared to what my mom's going through -- a total of 2 hours of sleep since she woke up to head to the airport on Sunday morning. Take care of yourself....you're no good to anyone if you're fried too. Again, put your trust in the doctors and your mom, and try to get some sleep or at least rest a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members max maroon Posted November 7, 2008 Members Share Posted November 7, 2008 Damn, I hope everything works out...Mojo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flatcat Posted November 7, 2008 Members Share Posted November 7, 2008 Mojo from here. I hope the folks at the State Department could help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members someotherguy Posted November 7, 2008 Members Share Posted November 7, 2008 Greece? Really? I'm very sorry to hear that, but I know some one who was in a similar situation in Greece maybe two years ago. A man who goes to my church who's around 80 years old was traveling in Greece with his wife and had a serious brain issue (not a stroke but I can't remember the neurological condition). He was in the hospital there and completely out of sorts. If I recall correctly, he had brain surgery there and spent a couple weeks under their medical care. He flew back about a month later and was talking with us. It took a while but he can drive now and they have travelled abroad again. It turned out about as well as could be hoped. I know the paperwork and insurance disputes were very troublesome once they were back in the States, but even that worked out. I hope that is encoraging. Like Jazz Ad said, they have real medical care there. I'm so sorry to hear. I was not in town when my grandmother had a stroke and I had to talk my dad through taking the appropriate steps by phone. It isn't easy. You are doing what you can, and I'm sure you are helping your mother. I hope he improves soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ThudMaker Posted November 7, 2008 Moderators Share Posted November 7, 2008 Prayers sent for you, your Mom and Dad, Emprov. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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