Bugs!!! Bugs!!! Bugs!!!

Sorry for being away for so long. When I came back I brought a migraine with me and have not felt good since. I do feel better today, except for the snow.

Mom is doing so well, probably so many things that have gone on. I'm sure I won't get to them all.

I think the most important one for her is getting the tube out. She is like a different person. You can tell she feels better. They say having the feeding tube in her stomach will help so much now.

I have discovered one of her biggest problems (or should I say they have). She was full of nasty super bugs!!! That is what Dr. Mia, the infectious disease doc told me. She had infections in her bloodstream, urine, lungs, stomach and saliva. Some she said were not worrisome, they were just "clingers" I guess they changed her catheter also and stated fresh. She is on all new antibiotics and they seem to be working good. I asked about where all these bugs came from and was assured when you have an extended hospital stay, this can happen.

They are weaning her off the ventilator again. Today she was down to a 6 (breaths per minute the vent breathes for her) and seems to be doing good. Her blood gases have all been great. They feel she has been aspirating this whole time and that is the cause for all the lung and vent problems she has had with getting off. She has had some problems with "spitting up." She seems to be getting too much air in her tummy. So when the spitting up happens, they take air out of her stomach and turn her feeding off for at least a half hour and let her stomach settle. I believe they are looking into changing her feeding.

Her cardio boyfriend wants to do an echo cardiogram sometime in the next week to check her ejection fracture and see if it has improved. Here is a treat for you, I found his website and you can see his handsomeness for yourself. Although his cheeks look fat in some pics!!! http://elitecardiologysolutions.com/index.htm

The hematologist is pleased, her hemoglobin is staying up.

Karen is working on her with swallowing. She uses this thing that stimulates her cheeks and neck and then gives her wet swabs to use in her mouth. Mom takes them herself and puts them in her mouth and twirls them around and moves from side to side and gives them back to Karen to re wet. Karen feels her chin and makes sure she swallows and she does. I was very proud of her.

I guess one of the best things is also how many people have said since I came back how different Mom is. She is much more awake and alert and interactive than she was and now I know it's not just me seeing it!

Bunches of Love
Angela

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