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Barbara – Still in ICU

8 May

This morning, they performed a test I had actually never heard of, called a Bubble Echocardiogram. Continue reading →

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Settled once again in the ICU

7 May

After much back and forth, Barbara was finally admitted under her surgeon. He put her back in the transplant ICU. That’s where she was originally post-surgery (about 6 weeks ago).

She’s more than a little unhappy. She spent 11 hours in the ER. Half that was NPO. She is still NPO, thirsty, grouchy, and generally unpleasant. The good news for her is that this unit permits one “primary support person” to stay overnight. So I will stay with her tonight, and then tomorrow, go to the SNF to get her belongings.

She is on a heparin drip to break down the clot and prevent formation of any more. Tomorrow they will do some more imaging studies to determine whether or not there is a new fistula. Even if there is, it will be minor, particularly compared to the risk posed by the clot.

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Still Waiting

6 May

We are still waiting in ER for cardiac consult from surgeon. He is in surgery. No clue how long we will be waiting. We know only that he wanted her in the ICU, but apparently had to go to surgery before the orders were written.

This hospital is a level one trauma center. That’s a good thing and a bad thing. Good doctors. Really good doctors. Unfortunately, they can get pulled away to save lives in more immediate danger. That seems to be what happened here.

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Barbara Moving to Cardiac ICU

6 May

The CT scan was “inconclusive” for fistulas. But more importantly, it revealed a previously unknown “significant clot” in the superior vena cava which could be life threatening if it broke loose.

As a result, she is being admitted to the cardiac ICU for close monitoring. It will initially be treated with anti-coagulant (clot buster) drugs. Surgery is not being ruled out as a possibility though.

Keep up the prayers, good thoughts, etc please.

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Outcome of CT Scan

6 May

No problem found with Barbara’s intestines, but … A significant clot was found in superior vena cava. Barbara is being admitted. Don’t know for how long.

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Quick status

6 May

Barbara is in for abdominal CT now. That’s all I know so far. Thanks everyone for your concern.

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Quick request for Barbara

6 May

Prayer for Barbara needed.. May have a leak in her intestines. If so, back to surgery. Headed off for CT as soon as possible.

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SNF Update

4 May

Barbara has now spent a little over 24 hours in the SNF. It’s different. She realized today that part of why it was making her uncomfortable was that she had become comfortable with the hospital setting. The SNF is more home like. It’s not a hospital. And that was making her uncomfortable. Continue reading →

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Barbara is leaving the LTAC today

3 May

Looks like today is the day. Moving to the SNF as soon as orders are finalized for transfer and medications are available at the receiving facility.

I hate our “healthcare system”

28 Apr

So Barbara is being down-graded to a lower level of care. I suspected that the decision was not so much a clinical decision as a monetary one. I got absolute confirmation that it is not a purely clinical decision just this morning. Her doctor thought we had at least six days. This morning he was informed that “No, the deadline is tomorrow”. He is PO’ed. He is refusing to write the transfer order.

As far as he is concerned, he wasn’t given enough time to prepare for this level of care change (including narcotic weaning, among other things) and “They [the LTAC] have made plenty of money off her these many months, they can eat a few days” while he gets her ready in an appropriate manner.

I like this doctor. He doesn’t work for the facility directly, and can therefore buck their decision on this. And luckily, he is in a mood to do so.

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