Jarrad and I time our hospital stays carefully. We stay at Seven’s bedside until the night nurse has taken over. The main doctor making decisions has also changed. We then have time to talk to both these people after they have assessed Seven’s condition. If they have any plans for tests or changes to his fluids we get a chance to give our opinions. We have found that not a whole lot changes over the night. Specialists come during the day and most CT scans, MRIs and Xrays are also accomplished during light hours. Nights usually involve mundane tasks like weight checks and baths. Because Seven is heavily sedated and usually can’t distinguish between Mommy’s touch and the kindly nurses, we have the benefit of being able to go home at night to get a full night’s sleep. It helps that we are only a few minutes away. We also know that the best thing we can do for Seven is offer our expertise on his case history to help with his treatment. We are not very useful if we are overly tired. I want to add that if Seven were coherent and actively searching for us, we would make sure that one of us was always here. We are grateful that that isn’t the case, though because Jarrad and I have a perfect symbiosis. Usually Jarrad feels the stress of this stuff in his stomach and I remain easy going, but when I start to feel tired and overwhelmed Jarrad is quick to be strong for me to lean on. He always knows just what I need to hear and when to let me be quiet and alone. I am also able to help him not get too worked up over things that haven’t happened. It would be so much more difficult to be alone here.
Today started with a 5:00am phone call from the night nurse. Our alarm had just gone off and we were starting to get ready to go down to the hospital. Rachelle was calling to inform us of some of the changes. First, she started with the good news. Seven’s sodium level had dropped to 158. This is still outside the normal level, but below being considered dangerous. His blood pressure was down though, and his temperature had dipped to 96 degrees. When we came in, we were to expect to see him wrapped up in warm blankets. He was also fitted with a “Bair Hugger,” which is a warm air heater they often
use on preemies. Rachelle also wanted to prepare us for Seven being even more swollen than yesterday (which was obscene already.) He was now 6lbs heavier than when we entered the hospital on Tuesday due to excess fluid. I’m going to let that sink in for a minute… He was only 20 lbs before. Due to all these extra fluids, Seven’s platelet, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were too low. He needed a blood transfusion, and we needed to come in to sign the consent form. They were already checking his blood for type and cross matching. When we got to the hospital we were already feeling a little stressed. Even though we had been through so much with Seven, a blood transfusion was never in our mind as a possibility. By the time we reached the hospital, Jarrad and I were full of questions. We spoke to the Intensivist (basically the top doc in the ICU,) and we were feeling comfortable and confident. Dr. Cheah is amazing at explaining things in a way we can understand. A transfusion was necessary and worth the small chance of risk.
It was so much more than what we were expecting. Seven really didn’t look like himself. Where tape was placed to hold down tubes, the skin didn’t puff. However, it swelled around it and created strange shapes. (Exhibit A: Seven’s upper/lower lip ratio) I know it is a necessary part of recovery but it really does hurt to see. Over the course of the day, Seven started to develop blisters in the creases of his skin.
He had the transfusion. The blood takes time to acclimate to the body so it will be at least a day until we see the effects of this.
We started a very small drip of Seven’s food. This isn’t for nutritional reasons, but to keep his stomach lining healthy. So far, so good.
A low grade fever simmered. It wasn’t high enough to even give a fever reducer. This pleases me. Calcium was given to replace what the infused blood lacks. This also helped keep the fever down and blood pressure up.
Seven was a little more active today. It seemed impossible, but he did manage to lift his arm in the air. Just like at home, he protests when we suction mucus out of his nose! Little Seven really is under all that water weight!
Seven didn’t excrete a lot of urine today. With that and the blistering in mind, the doctors decided to give a diuretic. Within just a few minutes, the waterworks began! After seeing Seven so puffy, it was such a relief.
We finished the day with a sodium level of 151. Dr. Cheah told us at the beginning of the day that his goal was 145-150. I tried to give him a hard time about not quite reaching that goal, but he reminded me the day ends at midnight.
*I will be posting daily so please check back!
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