How am I to retrieve my wireless access point? In anticipation of Alexa's release I thought I'd take a peek into the storage room, only to find that it's locked!
Hey, breaking news... the doctor is here, and she's going home today!
Notes:
Rx for 30 Vicodin
Liver tests are going back down
Appt with surgeon Monday
Appt with internist in about a week
Looks like 2 or 3 mg of Coumadin are about right
Blood tests both Fri and Sat. Doctor can check online
Plane rides okay since she's anti coagulated. Hemorrhaging is not a good idea, so no air plane crashes.
Now, the important stuff. If they don't unlock that closet, I'll have to plan another visit to retrieve the secret equipment. I'll first need to find out which nurses are on duty... find the name of patient on the 5th floor, or maybe follow another visitor up in the elevator. Hmmm
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Going Home?
Hello Everyone,
I am excited to report that I get to go home today. I guess I won't actually believe it until they take out my IV, because last time they told me I was going home I had to stay here for two more days. I can't wait to go home and take a hot shower.
I am excited to report that I get to go home today. I guess I won't actually believe it until they take out my IV, because last time they told me I was going home I had to stay here for two more days. I can't wait to go home and take a hot shower.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Almost Released
Alexa is on the verge of going home. After feeling horrible yesterday, everything aching, headache behind her eye's, she slept most of the day and night and now she's back to being more like normal. She hopped into the bathroom to take a shower this morning. Now she's eating breakfast. A bite of the worst waffle either of us has ever tasted, cup of fruit, raisin bran with low fat milk. Approaching normalcy. Yesterday's food intake was 3 cubic centimeters of tofu.
Breakfast and shower made her sleepy, so time for another nap.
The doctor almost let her go home today. Her INR, which is the blood test used to measure the Coumadin effectiveness, was very close to the acceptable range this morning, but she still has a low grade fever, and her liver, as suggested by her blood results, might be inflamed. And she's got a new cough.
So, she's in for another day. Chest x-ray, maybe liver ultrasound, IV drip and blood work all day long. After she wakes up we might try a wheel chair excursion to get her some fresh air, something she has not had for over a week. When's the last time you were not outside, even for a minute, not even close to an open window, for more than a week? For more than a day?
Here's a diagram. Yes, I saw the duplication not permitted copyright, but decided to risk it.
Breakfast and shower made her sleepy, so time for another nap.
The doctor almost let her go home today. Her INR, which is the blood test used to measure the Coumadin effectiveness, was very close to the acceptable range this morning, but she still has a low grade fever, and her liver, as suggested by her blood results, might be inflamed. And she's got a new cough.
So, she's in for another day. Chest x-ray, maybe liver ultrasound, IV drip and blood work all day long. After she wakes up we might try a wheel chair excursion to get her some fresh air, something she has not had for over a week. When's the last time you were not outside, even for a minute, not even close to an open window, for more than a week? For more than a day?
Here's a diagram. Yes, I saw the duplication not permitted copyright, but decided to risk it.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Well, she's not going home yet
We all thought she'd be home by now, Tue morning, but the plan changed. The doctors wanted stable levels of Coumadin in her system, but they've had a problem getting it just right. Sunday it was too low, Monday too high, and this morning, when they thought they'd have it just right, it was way too low.
So, she'll remain in the hospital, with an IV drip of Heparin, until they get the Coumadin level correct. Estimates are all over the map. Perhaps Thu, another Dr said Wed. Nurse even said paperwork is ready, maybe even for later this afternoon, but that certainly seems unlikely.
And to top it off, she's not feeling well.
Blah. She's sad. I'm sad. Blah.
So, she'll remain in the hospital, with an IV drip of Heparin, until they get the Coumadin level correct. Estimates are all over the map. Perhaps Thu, another Dr said Wed. Nurse even said paperwork is ready, maybe even for later this afternoon, but that certainly seems unlikely.
And to top it off, she's not feeling well.
Blah. She's sad. I'm sad. Blah.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Hello from Kelly, Angel, and Anthony
"Alexa is now unbreaking and almost ready to come home. Yay. Hopefully her strict diet of candy and soda has returned her to normal working condition. She is in much higher spirits now that she doesn't have so many tubes and wires and stuff sticking out of her. She is pushing the button to get more Vicodin as I type. Now she won't be a pad sanda, and neither will I."-Anthony
"Alexa seems delighted to be leaving soon... and we are all delighted with her because we have missed her!! She desperately wants more candy to eat, so be sure to clean out powell's before you see her. She requests that you have it dropped off at her house at any time, day or night. In fact, it is best if you have hourly deliveries made. So unless you are a cheap #$*%&#$*%& you had better send her a ton of candy. "
-Kellfo
"Alexa is looking much healthier now that she is no longer in the ICU. I'm not really sure how she doesn't get extremely bored in her hospital room. . but its probably because she has such amazing friends that come and visit her. O yay. . this is exciting she is taking a pill of Vicodin right now. And as stated above, she doesn't just request that you drop off it is a DEMAND. She won't accept less than 10 lbs at a time. The hospital doesn't feed her, they refuse her food so it is a necessity to bring her up to a healthy weight."
"Alexa seems delighted to be leaving soon... and we are all delighted with her because we have missed her!! She desperately wants more candy to eat, so be sure to clean out powell's before you see her. She requests that you have it dropped off at her house at any time, day or night. In fact, it is best if you have hourly deliveries made. So unless you are a cheap #$*%&#$*%& you had better send her a ton of candy. "
-Kellfo
"Alexa is looking much healthier now that she is no longer in the ICU. I'm not really sure how she doesn't get extremely bored in her hospital room. . but its probably because she has such amazing friends that come and visit her. O yay. . this is exciting she is taking a pill of Vicodin right now. And as stated above, she doesn't just request that you drop off it is a DEMAND. She won't accept less than 10 lbs at a time. The hospital doesn't feed her, they refuse her food so it is a necessity to bring her up to a healthy weight."
She's going home!
Good news. Drugs are working, she's feeling much better. Doctors have decided to send her home tomorrow. She's not very mobile--her leg hurts when it's not above her heart, but she's strong willed, so we'll see how it goes.
Tomorrow they'll take out her IV, put her in a wheel chair with all her balloons, flowers, and cards, and her week long hospital ordeal will come to an end.
She probably had this: May-Thurner Syndrome
Tomorrow they'll take out her IV, put her in a wheel chair with all her balloons, flowers, and cards, and her week long hospital ordeal will come to an end.
She probably had this: May-Thurner Syndrome
Another night
She's getting much better. She's up in her corner room, enjoying the view, holding court to scores of visitors. When her leg is not elevated it really hurts; she's not mobile at all. Her bathroom is only 4 feet from the bed, but it's quite a chore to get the crutches and make it safely there and back. Have to wheel the IV pole around to the other side of the bed, slide out of bed onto the crutches, hobble hobble, door... and back. Then call the nurse for a Vicodin.
Yesterday I noticed a computer sitting in a storage room down the hall, connected to the wall with a blue cable. This morning, when all the nurses were asleep, I snuck my Airport Express into that room. Now Alexa's room with a view includes wireless internet. She's gonna be really really happy (after she wakes up).
Before they let her go home the doctors are waiting for the blood thinner drugs to stabilize. Probably going to be 2 or 3 more days. Happy to say, her days in the hospital are starting to get to be routine.
Yesterday I noticed a computer sitting in a storage room down the hall, connected to the wall with a blue cable. This morning, when all the nurses were asleep, I snuck my Airport Express into that room. Now Alexa's room with a view includes wireless internet. She's gonna be really really happy (after she wakes up).
Before they let her go home the doctors are waiting for the blood thinner drugs to stabilize. Probably going to be 2 or 3 more days. Happy to say, her days in the hospital are starting to get to be routine.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Out of ICU
She's upstairs, top floor, private room in the corner, with a nice view. And most importantly, out of ICU!
Pretty happy is she. Had a fun ride from ICU up to her room. The woman driving her bed had trouble keeping her IV machine within 3 feet of the bed, so Alexa was holding on to her IV tubes for dear life--had she not been, they would have been yanked out more than once. She was smiling, and as she was moving into the new bed she spied the sink outside her room and asked me "pop, how about we wash my hair now???"
Pretty happy is she. Had a fun ride from ICU up to her room. The woman driving her bed had trouble keeping her IV machine within 3 feet of the bed, so Alexa was holding on to her IV tubes for dear life--had she not been, they would have been yanked out more than once. She was smiling, and as she was moving into the new bed she spied the sink outside her room and asked me "pop, how about we wash my hair now???"
Night after surgery
Tina reported that Alexa had a good night after the big surgery. We'll see the Dr this morning, find out what's next, see if she'll be moving out of the ICU.
She really wants to wash her hair, the old fashioned way, shampoo and water. Alexa called me and asked that I bring a highlighter. Thinking about schoolwork again. Neato.
She really wants to wash her hair, the old fashioned way, shampoo and water. Alexa called me and asked that I bring a highlighter. Thinking about schoolwork again. Neato.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Out of Surgery
Really good news. The surgery went very well--the doctor not only cleaned up and removed most of the clot (which, by the way, measured roughly 2 ft long by 1 inch in diameter), but he also found and repaired the obstruction in the major vein and repaired it with a stint.
It appears that no more surgery will be needed; in fact, he removed the catheter since it had done its job overnight.
So, she is on her way to recovery. She's happy, alert, calling her friends (sorry if you consider yourself friend and she hasn't gotten to you yet).
She asked me to let you all know that she's feeling so much better. She's sounding and looking better, talking about food, getting cranky about the normal things that make her cranky. Very nice to see!
She should be in the hospital a few more days. They'll want to watch her recovery and make sure they've got the right level of blood thinner medication stabilized for 24 hours before they let her go. We expect she'll be out of ICU and in a less threatening hospital bed by tomorrow.
Yeah!!!
It appears that no more surgery will be needed; in fact, he removed the catheter since it had done its job overnight.
So, she is on her way to recovery. She's happy, alert, calling her friends (sorry if you consider yourself friend and she hasn't gotten to you yet).
She asked me to let you all know that she's feeling so much better. She's sounding and looking better, talking about food, getting cranky about the normal things that make her cranky. Very nice to see!
She should be in the hospital a few more days. They'll want to watch her recovery and make sure they've got the right level of blood thinner medication stabilized for 24 hours before they let her go. We expect she'll be out of ICU and in a less threatening hospital bed by tomorrow.
Yeah!!!
Cleaning day
Today is a big day. The doctor's plan is to go in and clean out everything. He's taking into the state-of-the-art $4M brand new operating room, designed just for vascular work, one of the best facilities in the country. He's going in with the goal of breaking up the clot and removing it all. Tina and I watched them prep her and take her to surgery. Pretty emotional.
It's almost noon. They just rolled her away. They gave her a shot into an IV tube, she said it felt cold, and then she was asleep.
The work should take about 2 hours.
It's almost noon. They just rolled her away. They gave her a shot into an IV tube, she said it felt cold, and then she was asleep.
The work should take about 2 hours.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Bad morning and good afternoon
Alexa's first day in ICU was hard. After the anestetic wore off she was very uncomfortable, crying and shivering. The nurse tried to lift Alexa's leg and somehow pressed on the catheter, or the entry point, or both, and according to Alexa's teary eyed account, it "really really really really hurt". For quite a while this morning and early afternoon she was really hurting.
But the afternoon was much better. She ate a tub of pasta, we washed her hair (with some no rinse shampoo, used by astronauts, like Tang), she washed her face, changed her shirt. Fresh as a daisy. And, she started feeling better. Less pain, less pain, less pain. She said she felt 100 times better in the afternoon than in the morning.
Throughout her hospital visit she's been worried about her homework. Friday night at midnight she's got a big assignment due in economics. So, we're going to turn it in sometime tomorrow. http://www.turnitin.com/, I guess. As another measure of how she's doing, though Alexa is not the type to easily be distracted from her homework, the fact that she wants to turn in an assignment while in ICU must be some indication that she's doing okay.
We were working on an entry that was Alexa's description of the surgical procedure. She was telling me about it and I was typing. Sounded pretty wacky, like an scene from Lost. But, we ran out of time. Check back later.
Tomorrow she's going in to surgery again so the doctor can move the catheter and take another look around. Sometime around 10 am. Hopefully it's less traumatic for Alexa and more importantly, hopefully he'll discover that things are looking promising.
But the afternoon was much better. She ate a tub of pasta, we washed her hair (with some no rinse shampoo, used by astronauts, like Tang), she washed her face, changed her shirt. Fresh as a daisy. And, she started feeling better. Less pain, less pain, less pain. She said she felt 100 times better in the afternoon than in the morning.
Throughout her hospital visit she's been worried about her homework. Friday night at midnight she's got a big assignment due in economics. So, we're going to turn it in sometime tomorrow. http://www.turnitin.com/, I guess. As another measure of how she's doing, though Alexa is not the type to easily be distracted from her homework, the fact that she wants to turn in an assignment while in ICU must be some indication that she's doing okay.
We were working on an entry that was Alexa's description of the surgical procedure. She was telling me about it and I was typing. Sounded pretty wacky, like an scene from Lost. But, we ran out of time. Check back later.
Tomorrow she's going in to surgery again so the doctor can move the catheter and take another look around. Sometime around 10 am. Hopefully it's less traumatic for Alexa and more importantly, hopefully he'll discover that things are looking promising.
Critical Care Unit
ICU doesn't look too fun. Sick people all around. Only relatives allowed to visit, and only for 10 minutes per hour. Ugh.
Alexa's in the Hospital
Alexa had been having problems with her back and leg for almost 2 weeks. A few days ago she went in for a MRI and they found a clot running all through her left leg. They immediately admitted her to the hospital (Tuesday 9/25). For the next couple of days she was given some blood thinning medication, which wasn't going to do the trick.
This morning she went into surgery to have a procedure known as Thrombolysis, in which a catheter was inserted into the clotted vein in her leg. Over the next few days they'll be injecting drugs directly into the clot to directly dissolve it. During that time she'll be in the intensive care unit. Though that doesn't sound very encouraging, the doctors have told me more than once that she'll be the healthiest person in the ICU. The surgeon also said she's the healthiest person he's ever worked on.
At the moment she's in surgical recovery. She was in pretty good spirits after the procedure. I heard her ask the doctor about pain medication, which means she really hurts, or can feel that it's really going to hurt--she's such a tough kid, so when she asks, I know it must hurt.
This morning she went into surgery to have a procedure known as Thrombolysis, in which a catheter was inserted into the clotted vein in her leg. Over the next few days they'll be injecting drugs directly into the clot to directly dissolve it. During that time she'll be in the intensive care unit. Though that doesn't sound very encouraging, the doctors have told me more than once that she'll be the healthiest person in the ICU. The surgeon also said she's the healthiest person he's ever worked on.
At the moment she's in surgical recovery. She was in pretty good spirits after the procedure. I heard her ask the doctor about pain medication, which means she really hurts, or can feel that it's really going to hurt--she's such a tough kid, so when she asks, I know it must hurt.
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