Update From New Orleans #3
Quite a bit has happened since this update, I’ll do my best to fill you in. This will be mostly repeat information for any that I’ve spoken with personally.
Post-surgery, Sarah was in quite a bit of pain. It took 24-hours or so before they had that really under control, and I now wonder if it was even under control then. Initially, it was very difficult for her to breathe deeply because of the pain. I thought it was going to improve with actions taken before they chased me out of the ICU, but it did not. Later, she was sedated heavily enough that it wasn’t her instinct to breathe deeply (and she couldn’t remind herself to do it because of the sedation). Otherwise, her recovery was on schedule.
On Saturday, they moved her out of ICU into a regular room. She continued to struggle with pain when inhaling, and with hindsight I believe she had started to lose some lung capacity at this point. The situation worsened through the night, with the primary suspect being pain, not lung capacity. Mid-Sunday morning, it became clear she was not receiving enough oxygen.
They put her on a machine called a BiPAP, which could be described as an oxygen mask on steroids. Or a cool jet engine strapped to your face. This happened around 11:00 on Sunday, and she was moved back to ICU shortly after that. The goal of this machine was to improve her oxygen levels, which it did, while also reinflating her lungs, which it did not. The experience was also miserable, so called for sedation and general unhappiness for all, but none more than Sarah, who did her best to take the stupid thing off whenever possible.
The BiPAP remained on until this morning around 10:00, when they intubated her. The respirator will hopefully reinflate her lungs (appearing to work so far) and provide her with steady supply of oxygen, which it is. She is ‘out’ with sedation and appears to finally be resting. They’ve also found signs of infection in her lungs (unknown at my last info what type of infection) and have started her on antibiotics. She had a pretty good fever, but that has started to drop. Her pulse rate remains much higher than I would think is reasonable, but they indicate it is normal and OK under the circumstances. With all that, we’ve asked for and are receiving input from Pulmonology, Infectious Diseases, and Cardiology physicians, in addition to the surgical team.
It’s our hope that the fever dropping is the first sign of this stuff combining to work, with pulse etc to follow. Time will tell on that. All the stuff behind the purpose for the surgery continues to do well, by all indications. Even further, all other vital signs and bodily functions appear to be doing very well. Blood pressure and other routine readings have all looked good, even while they try to hunt down the cause for the other problems.
The ICU nurses are generally very good, so we trust she’s in good care there, which is critical since we’re not able to be in there much. Visiting hours are for 30 minutes at 8, Noon, 4, and 8, so I’m in there for an hour or so then and briefly sporadically at other times (my rule breaking is just a minor part of why I’m not very popular here at Ochsner.) Anyone is welcome to call/e-mail when you’re wanting an update, just be patient in awaiting a response. While she’s in ICU I have way too much time to respond, so will certainly try to.
Got a stack of cards today, appreciate everyone’s efforts there. Also got a nice Mizzou Bedpan in the mail, which happened to be blue with some fictional shoe-wearing bird on the outside. It was appreciated the most.
Continued thoughts and prayers are implied, and appreciated.