More good news

7 Apr

No seriously. It is good news! Barbara has been moved from the ICU unit to a regular floor. I don’t have the room number yet. She was supposed to call me and let me know after she is settled. If you have a direct line into the hospital, that number rings in the ICU room she was in. So you can dispose of that number now.

No, that doesn’t mean I can go see her. I have to stay away from all patients until I am no longer contagious. Chickenpox can kill adults, especially ones who are already weakened from surgery or illness. I don’t need that bad karma.

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/562001.html

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Shingles update / Barbara update

7 Apr

Doctor was not entirely convinced it is shingles, but she did think it probably is. Problem is it is very rare for it to occur bilaterally. I have it in both ears, as well as a more typical line across my chest from just between the nipples to right shoulder.

She gave me valacyclovir (Valtrex) 1000 mg PO q12h x7 and triamcinolone acetonide cream bid. I’m already on neurontin for my fibro and epilepsy, so the pain is well covered. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons she was confused about it being shingles was that she thought I should already be in agony from the outbreak I have. When I reminded her I was on neurontin, that seemed to explain that anomaly to her satisfaction. In me, my increase in pain at the actual site is minor, while I seem to be having an overall increase in fibro pain. So I am guessing the neurontin is now suppressing the shingles pain and not as available for the fibro. But IANAMD, so take that for what it’s worth.

Barbara is going for another abdominal CT scan today. The doctors still can’t find the reason for her steadily increasing white blood cell count. She has no symptoms other than the lab result. Nothing is growing in the cultures, she has no fever, and she has no abnormal pain. So they are looking inside for any possible problems with the surgical repair.

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/561690.html

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Can it get any more fun?

6 Apr

Well, this is grand. I woke up this morning with what is apparently an active case of shingles (herpes zoster) on my chest and ears. I have an appointment with my doctor at 3:15pm CT to confirm it. I am barred from visiting Barbara at the unit where she is because (and I didn’t know this) shingles can give chickenpox to anyone not already immune.

Barbara is in a transplant ICU because of who her surgeon is. That means other patients in that unit are purposely immune compromised. Hospital tells me that if this is confirmed to be shingles, I have to wait until it dries and crusts over before I can come back.

Herpes zoster – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/561651.html

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Update

5 Apr

Barbara is doing pretty well today, but her WBC is up. Surgeon has pulled the abdominal drains, and they are taking the usual cultures. She is still fever free, so whatever infection (if any) is still pretty minor.

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/561385.html

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Today in Barbara’s world

4 Apr

Barbara progressed from “clear liquids” to “full liquid” diet. One more small step in the right direction.

She’s been unexplicably, even for her, depressed for a couple of days, getting worse each day. Well, today I realized: :SNAP: her anti-depressant was an oral med. She’s had no oral meds since she went NPO for surgery. Of course she is depressed. Abrupt DC of anti-depressants is generally a bad idea.

Once I realized this, I brought it up to the critical care team that is seeing her. They are going to discuss it with her attending. Hopefully, she will get back on her anti-depressant by sometime tomorrow.

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/561103.html

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Update of the day!

1 Apr

Barbara is no longer intubated. She is breathing on her own, with oxygen mask. Voice is rough, raspy. But she can talk again!!

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/560839.html

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Where to start?

31 Mar

Barbara still has sufficient swelling of the esophagus that she remains intubated. She spiked a significant fever overnight (103) but it’s back down around 99 now. They’ve added another antibiotic to her regime. We have proof that everything abdominal is working now (enough said about that).

They took her for a CT scan this afternoon. I was deeply asleep when they left, and I woke up to an empty ICU room. I got punked. I don’t sleep well in here, so I catch as catch can, so to speak. Ah well, the staff had a good laugh at that.

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/560497.html

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Posted using TxtLJ

31 Mar

Barbara has mild bacterial pneumonia. Still intubated. That’s the update for now.

Update

30 Mar

I am indeed typing this from inside the ICU with her. So no more excuse not to stay with her. 🙂 It’s weird typing while wearing nitrile gloves, which are required anytime you are in the room. The good side of that is that my hands are not quite so cold. The plastic gown should be interesting to sleep in…

Barbara’s condition is essentially unchanged with the exception of the emotional impact of having me here with her for so much more time each day. Fever is slightly lower right now, but not enough to be considered significant.

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/560359.html

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Minor concern (Barbara)

30 Mar

I went home last night, so what happened? You guessed it. lasarina developed a fever of unknown origin overnight. They are running all the usual cultures. Her WBC (White Blood Count) is normal so far. Fever could be a drug reaction, or it could be an infection that her immune system is not reacting to fully. With her immune system issues, her WBC may just be slow to react.

In addition, her esophagus is still too swollen to safely remove the vent tube, so she is still intubated. This is more disturbing to her than the fever, because it means her ability to communicate is severely limited. She is extremely afraid of becoming vent dependent or requiring a trach. They are medicating for the emotional issues.

On a good note: Her nurse today told me that one person can stay overnight in the room with her, and they will provide a sleeper sofa. So no more sleeping in the waiting room on chairs and footstools! Also, she is going to confirm this part, but she believes I was misinformed about cell phones and computers being prohibited from the unit. If that part is true, I can spend much more time each day with her than I have so far, and still be able to work and stay in touch with the outside world.

Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/559941.html

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