Wednesday April 29

When I called to check on dad early this morning the nurse said he had had a good calm night but early this morning he got across that he wanted to go home and he started messing with the bandages on his stomach. They had to give him a little sedation and restrain his hands once more. He had the restraints off for 2 or 3 days.

The nurse didn't say I could not come see dad today but suggested maybe I needed to take a day off to rest. I think what she was really saying is that they finally got dad calmed down and maybe seeing me would get him all riled up again. That's ok, I totally understand.

I called to check up on dad several times today. The last time Nurse A said that dad had been calm and then agitated. Finally she had to give him a mixture of Versed and Fentanyl. (I am not sure when they stopped the Fentanyl drip so I was a little surprised when she mentioned this.) Nurse A couldn't tell if dad was just agitated or in pain so that is why she gave him some sedation and pain medicine.

I totally forgot to ask if they had dad off the vent and on oxygen today. I'll try to remember to ask when I call and check up on dad tonight.

Since dad was making it clear that he wanted to go home I would say that he is getting better. I am hoping that once they are able to take the trachea out and he can talk it will be easier to calm him down. And who doesn't blame him for wanting to come home?

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me.

Kathy

Friday April 24

Yesterday they put dad on CPAP because he just wasn't breathing with the ventilator (sounds weird but that is close to what they told me). They left him on the CPAP from like 8 AM yesterday until 11 AM today. Dad's blood pressure started going way up so they switched him back to the ventilator and his blood pressure went down some. He has slept a lot today, I think being on the CPAP for so long -- while good for him -- just wore him out.

Today dad is following commands better Nurse D said. He still gets really agitated at times so they have had to give him some Versed, and Nurse D doesn't think the Precedex is doing dad much good. I just don't know. I know they can give him some Ativan and I tried to tell the nurse that it might help his blood pressure come down some. Nurse D said she didn't think the blood pressure was up because of agitation so she was giving him everything else in the world.

The thing is that the nurses rotate within ICU and some within ICU3 (where dad is) so he never has the same nurse more than 4 days in a row then he may get that nurse again in another week or not. Each nurse treats dad different, one notices something might be working and another nurse sees it differently. I really wish dad could have the same nurse/s more consistantly. I think his care would have better continuity if they did.

Still those teeny tiney baby steps. A step forward and 2 steps back. But overall dad is doing lots better than he was say just a week ago. But he still has a long way to go.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me, and Aunt Betty.

Kathy

Thursday April 23

I think today makes 5 weeks for dad being in ICU? I think that is right. One day runs into another and time just doesn't have much meaning anymore.

Daddy is doing a little teeny bit better. The bladder pressure I told you about yesterday was down to 11 this morning. The lower the number the better. The lower the number the better his tummy probably feels.

Early this morning Nurse S said they had to give dad some Versed. But when I was there and they did a major re-arrange him in the bed he did fine. Later in the day when they changed his wound dressing the nurse said she gave him a little Ativan. This is great stuff and it won't be as sedative as some of the other stuff they give dad. Also Nurse S said he is building up a tolerance to the Versed.

Dad's primary care doctor has not called me back yet. I haven't given up on him yet. I really believe he will call me back sooner or later.

Today dad liked being on the CPAP better than the ventilator so the doctor told the nurse it was ok to leave him on it for as long as dad was doing ok with it. Usually they don't do more than 2 hours at a time because they get tired. When on the CPAP dad is breathing on his own. And it is easier to ween him off that than it is the ventilator.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me, and don't forget Aunt Betty!

Kathy

About forgot, I got another smooch from dad today! Yay.

Wednesday April 22 Earth Day 2009

The Precedex hasn't been working so well. Dr H said they will play with the dosage to see if he can get it to work for dad. The only thing is that one of the side effects of this drug is that it can cause your heart rate to go down. Not a good thing. So they have had to cut the drip on and off because dad's heart rate goes down.

Today when I was there and dad starting waking up you could tell he was getting agitated and I was trying my best to calm him down. Nurse S goes and gives him some Versed. I asked her why because dad wasn't that bad and she said because we can't risk him getting bad before she gives him something. I guess she is right but it really upset me. I was really hoping to be able to calm dad down without any Versed.

They have started measuring the pressure in dad's bladder. The bladder pressure test tells them about how much pressure is in the abdomen. Nurse S says we want a number no higher than 20. Dad was at 18 so they are going to do this test every 6 hours. I don't know for how many times or days. I guess it depends on the numbers.

Today they started dad on Heparin to try to dissolve the blood clot in his right arm. I thought he was already on a blood thinner. I also thought Dr H said they were lowing the dosage because maybe that was why dad needed blood from time to time. I am really confused. But I know he needs to get rid of the blood clot some how.

Dad's feet is swelling again but they are giving him something for that.

I called dad's primary doctor (his doctor BEFORE all this happened) and left a message with his nurse about dad. I asked if he could check out what is going on with dad and what he thinks about the treatments dad is getting. Dr G has not called me back yet but I didn't really expect to hear back from him today. I do think he will call me but I don't know how much he will want to get involved in dad's case. Have to wait to see.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me. Don't forget to send up prayers for Aunt Betty.

Kathy

Tuesday April 21

I have talked to the doctor about the Versed and today I found out that they will be using a new medicine on dad something called Precedex (the information I found on it here on the web is not the same as what the doctor told me) which Dr H said should help to keep dad calm without sedating him. The Versed may still be used as a back up if the Prededex does not keep him calm. Dr H said it was the same stuff they give alcoholics who are going through withdrawal. (I don't find that mentioned in the sites I looked at about this drug but I just found this about the drug) Confused? Me too. I will just have to wait to see what happens and go from there.

Dad was given 2 more units of blood today. I asked Dr H why does dad seem to need blood so often and he said it could be the because of the blood thinners they have dad on because of the blood clot in his arm and they are cutting back on that drug. I asked if they could check to see if the blood clot is still there (which I had asked Dr B about before but I guess I wasn't as straight to the point or maybe it's just a difference in doctors) and he said yes. When I called to check up on dad Nurse S told me that they had come in and did some sort of scan on dad's arm to see if the blood clot was still there and that the results weren't back yet.

Because they hadn't started dad on the Precedex early this morning they evidently gave him a huge dose of the Versed because he slept the whole time I was there and when I called to check up on him he was still sleeping. Nurse S said dad was really agitated and wound up this morning and it took a long time to get him settled down. I still think all the sleeping via Versed is keeping him confused and might be causing all the agitation.

Waiting to see what happens. Right now all I want is for dad to be awake (and not in pain of course and not highly agitated). It has only been the past few days that I have gotten a glimpse of him recognizing me and I don't want to lose that.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me. Keep them going up for Aunt Betty too.

Kathy

Monday April 20

I finally found out the results of the latest CT scan. And they are ---- nothing. Yup, it didn't show up any infection deep inside that would need attention. Dad's wound does have some oozing pus (according to Dr H) but evidently that is not what is causing dad's low grade fever. Still waiting for cultures to come back.

I asked Dr H (who is the ICU rotating doctor) about one of the medicines they are giving dad. It's called Versed. They have been giving it to dad when he gets really agitated. It does calm him down but it also sedates him which on top of his pain medicine (Fentinal) -- which also has a sedating effect -- has him sleeping more than I think he should be. They say they want him awake but yet the medicines they give him make him sleep, AND I just read that Versed can give the patient a hangover effect. No wonder dad doesn't seem to be aware of everything going on, they are keeping him too drugged. I don't doubt that dad needs this medicine but I think they could reduce the dose or find another drug to calm him without sedating him so much. Dr H said it was something to consider and asked how sleepy the Versed made dad. I just pointed to dad who was asleep through us talking and machines beeping which the doctor found interesting. I saw him write something in dad's chart but I don't know if he is going to change anything or wait for dad's surgeon Dr B to make the call. I do intend to stay on top of this because I don't think it is good for dad in the long run and (I didn't mention to anyone at the hospital) I can't help but wonder if the nurses aren't giving it a little to freely so they don't have to deal with dad, it seems like every time I call to check up on dad they tell me they have had to give him some Versed. Maybe they aren't giving it to him all that often but it sure seems like it.

This afternoon when I went to see dad he was more awake and I know he recognized me because he puckered up and gave me a kiss, he also squeezed my hand several times. He doesn't follow commands all the time and sometimes I wonder if he realizes it's me so when he does the puckering thing I KNOW he knows. And it REALLY makes me feel good.

Oh, Dr H said dad still has pneumonia (I thought it would be gone by now)

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me. Remember Aunt Betty in your prayers also.

Kathy