New line inserted without incident. Transport was momentarily exciting. EMT fell in the rain slicked lot while unloading her at Methodist. He dropped her foot end of gurney onto his legs, but by doing so, protected her from injury. We’re back at the LTAC, getting her settled in. She’s about to get her bath.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/554489.html
Tonight, that problematic central line just fell out. Never mind that it was sutured in place. Yes, one suture came out a couple of nights ago. But the other one was still in place. No bleeding, no problems. Just came out. So the infection source is gone.
They had to put in a regular IV into each arm to continue the IV antibiotics and meds. For the next 24 hours, there will be no TPN. That’s the biggest negative to this highly unexpected outcome. Barbara will be going to Methodist at 7:15 am on Monday to get a new central line inserted for the long term requirements until we can finally get the surgery she needs.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/554028.html
So far, Barbara has been through a failed attempt at a PICC line placement, and a failed attempt at a central line placement in her neck. She’s got a fever, which means some of the infection from the existing central line is starting to spread. The only solution to that is to pull that line, but they have to successfully place a new line first.
She is going to be sent out to either Hermann or Methodist for Interventional Radiology to do ultra-sound guided insertion of a new line. As to whether it will end up being a PICC, central, or subclavian is, at this point, anyone’s guess.
ETA: Time and place – 7:15 am Monday at Methodist.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/553799.html
Positive culture for staph in the central line. Hasn’t spread to her, yet. Already on antibiotics for it, but it means the line has to be removed, and a new one inserted. Again. Totally have lost count how many times that’s happened. This one was only about three weeks.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/553590.html
Things are going well, all in all. She’s gotten much stronger in the last few days. Her cognition has returned to full normal. Still sleeping a lot, but she did just spend almost two weeks in sepsis, so that’s expected and appropriate. She’s really doing very well.
Barbara is now in the IMU, which means a private room. It’s quiet, and I can room in again. Even more significant, the psychosis is already essentially gone. All that is left is to help her sort out what happened, and what was hallucination.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/552744.html
Room is being cleaned now. She’ll move this afternoon sometime. Still monitored unit, but private room. Should be much better environment for her (and me too, for that matter).
She was considerably more lucid this morning. She is sleeping now. Vitals are strong, all indications are that she is winning the current battle. Thanks to everyone for your comments of support. They do help.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/552549.html
Room didn’t come available. Status unchanged. Psychosis still pretty bad. She really needs to get some peace and quiet. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/551959.html
Doctor says lasarina is medically stable enough to leave the ICU. That should help with the psychosis. He’s going to transfer her today to the IMU (intermediate monitoring unit) if he can get a room. That would mean a private room without all the lights, noise, craziness of the ICU. It would also mean I could stay in the room with her overnight. All of these are good things.
Don’t get me wrong, she is still very ill. But at this point, I will gladly take any step in the right direction, no matter how small.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/551897.html
It is indeed Proteus, just as I predicted. But what I didn’t predict is that the Candida is also present again. Barbara is not lucid today. She is restless and uncomfortable. She is intermittently hallucinating. She is this close to ICU psychosis. I know, because I have seen it before. I am exhausted.
I won’t lie, the worst times for me are when I have to deal with the altered mental state. It’s too much like other things I saw growing up with very ill, very elderly, family members. Intellectually, I know what it is, and that it’s not all that big a deal. That doesn’t change the gut level emotional reaction. It’s frightening. It hurts to watch it. And yet I know, if I am not here, it will get exponentially worse.
I would love to nap, but if I do, I’ll repeat Sunday night. I didn’t go to sleep until 5am Monday as a result of a 90 minute nap Sunday afternoon. So I fight to stay awake, and maintain some sort of normalcy to my routine. As if normalcy and ICU can ever coexist. Thank the Goddess that at least I don’t have to worry about the pets this time.
Originally posted at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/551492.html
An Aging Trans Woman 