I'd like to say that Izzy is no longer sullen, but that is not
true. Today has been about trying to get her comfortable. She was
obviously in pain for quite a while. The nurse figured if we got
her pain under control she might start to feed herself again. I
felt our first step was getting her to open her mouth and move
around a little. So both of us did our own thing. I got her
interested in her pacifier again (which was always a favorite for
her). First, she wouldn't take it at all, but then I got her to
hold it in her hand, then she held it in her mouth for a couple of
seconds. The nurse gave her tylenol with a morphine chaser and
versed for dessert. She chilled out, stretched a little, then
accepted the pacifier I was still trying to get her to take. She
sucked the pacifier until she fell asleep. She stayed asleep for
several hours. That is very good. When she woke, she was not happy
without the pacifier. That is much closer to normal!
About an hour or so ago, she woke up a little and tried to move her arms. She got the arterial line out today and her left arm is extremely weak and tense from being held out straight and down all week, but I put her colorful baby doll on her chest and she reached both hands up for it. It was nice to see her moving and all the while sucking her pacifier. She had been moaning for most of her waking day, but while she played, she was much calmer. Now, she was sleeping next to me, until her newborn room mate woke her up.
Phin was able to visit Izzy today and I think it was very good for him, even though after seeing her he decided the television program she was watching was much more interesting. Izzy liked it too for a little while.
Now we are just waiting for her to start to get better. Her pain needs to be controlled. She needs to try eating again. Hopefully, her use of the pacifier will allow us to get the bottle in her mouth. Before she took the pacifier, I tried to feed her a bottle and she cried out because of it. That is weird because she is not making any noises. Up until that point, I couldn't even get her mouth open. She absolutely refused. She is doing better at opening now that she has accepted the pacifier back into her life. So, the feeding tube stays for now and tomorrow, we will try some solids to see if she will open for those. I hope she starts to improve. Her eyes are starting to get deep dark circles. She is getting that sick look and her little moans/grunts she is constantly doing is very sad.
On a clinical note, she had the art line removed and the foley cath. They discontinued much of her dirurectics and no more heart meds. So, she has in the pd drain (chest tube), the central venious line in her neck, one IV in her foot, oxygen, and the n-g tube. We need her to want to eat, to want to move, to do more than just moan/grunt. If she can start doing more than that, she can start to turn around and maybe just maybe we will see an end in sight. Right now, she is looking like the beginning of a hospital stay, not the middle.
Mel
About an hour or so ago, she woke up a little and tried to move her arms. She got the arterial line out today and her left arm is extremely weak and tense from being held out straight and down all week, but I put her colorful baby doll on her chest and she reached both hands up for it. It was nice to see her moving and all the while sucking her pacifier. She had been moaning for most of her waking day, but while she played, she was much calmer. Now, she was sleeping next to me, until her newborn room mate woke her up.
Phin was able to visit Izzy today and I think it was very good for him, even though after seeing her he decided the television program she was watching was much more interesting. Izzy liked it too for a little while.
Now we are just waiting for her to start to get better. Her pain needs to be controlled. She needs to try eating again. Hopefully, her use of the pacifier will allow us to get the bottle in her mouth. Before she took the pacifier, I tried to feed her a bottle and she cried out because of it. That is weird because she is not making any noises. Up until that point, I couldn't even get her mouth open. She absolutely refused. She is doing better at opening now that she has accepted the pacifier back into her life. So, the feeding tube stays for now and tomorrow, we will try some solids to see if she will open for those. I hope she starts to improve. Her eyes are starting to get deep dark circles. She is getting that sick look and her little moans/grunts she is constantly doing is very sad.
On a clinical note, she had the art line removed and the foley cath. They discontinued much of her dirurectics and no more heart meds. So, she has in the pd drain (chest tube), the central venious line in her neck, one IV in her foot, oxygen, and the n-g tube. We need her to want to eat, to want to move, to do more than just moan/grunt. If she can start doing more than that, she can start to turn around and maybe just maybe we will see an end in sight. Right now, she is looking like the beginning of a hospital stay, not the middle.
Mel
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