Behind

Yes, I am behind. I blame it all on Raul. I will leave you guessing about that one for awhile.

How about I talk about Mom? She has been doing really well. Monday she went on the peak pressure of 10 instead of 15, tolerated that well and on Tuesday she went to a 4 on the ventilator and today she went to CPAP. Yes, she is doing it all on her own right now, just receiving some pressure support.

She slept alot on Monday and most of Tuesday morning. Then she was awake for Tuesday afternoon and the evening. When I went in today a bit after 10 she was awake and stayed awake mostly. When I left about 7:30 she was sleeping, she had been up in her chair. This evening was the first time I have seen her take the remote (or whatever you call it in the hospital) and hold it, look at it and turn up and volume. The social worker was in today and boy, she sure smiled at her. I think it was bigger than I get!

A few things going on. They took her telemetry off the other day (heart monitor) decided that she didn't need it anymore, which is a good thing. Well today I was sitting with her and one of the machines was going off and I am right up checking it, was a different beep that I was used to. Her heart rate was up to 173. Here comes a nurse and a wound nurse. They decided that she was not in distress, reset the alarm of off they went. About an hour later the darn thing went off again and went up to 213. Ok, so I am calm. I am watching her, she is awake and alert and seems fine and her rate goes down and I reset the alarm. (I am getting very good at playing aide and nurse) I let her nurse know about it and she said she would chart it and let the next nurse know. I also let her know when Mom gets to moving her leg sometimes it means she wants to be turned or she is uncomfortable. She said the night shift before said she was doing that and they think that means she is anxious. Maybe she does get anxious, but I know for one it could be the uncomfortable or I think she is just moving around. I think I might know something since I am the one who sits by her all day and watches her.

When the pulmonologist and his physicians assistant were in later, I let them know about it and I am pretty sure the telemetry will be going back on. They also ordered her a chest xray. They talked about what their plans were with Mom. She is going to get watched very close this time she is off the ventilator and plugged because of what happened last time. There are some different theories on what could be going on. 1-is she was tired and they still think that was part of it. 2-sleep apnea and 3-she has some hypo ventilation. Ok, let me try to get this right. When you hyperventilate, you don't breathe enough and don't get rid of enough carbon monoxide and that is what puts you in distress. Of course, you can always look it up! HAHAHA!

Then the other thing is a nasty infection. I will try to make this a short story. I noticed all day people were putting gowns on to come in Mom's room and thought they just didn't know what they were doing. I ask Karen her RT why and she says it might be because she has an infectious warning outside her door. Ha, well aren't I smart and observant. I just go in the room, I had not even noticed it. I do swear though I am taking good care of her. I ask her nurse who does not know why and said she will check it out and she comes back with a piece of paper and gives it to me and tells me this is why. She said her and one of the RT's had to google it to get the right spelling. So here is what it is, they found in her mucus.

Resistant Stenotrophouonas Maltophilia

I have looked it up,pretty complicated, but then again, probably pretty simple. I will be checking it out tomorrow.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitforwardhouse.org