Sick, Sick, and Sick

Feel better, Barbara.
I hope you can come home soon.

In addition to everything else, Barbara has been having some stomach pain. This morning they diagnosed a bowel obstruction and she will have to have an NG tube put in. She was about to have a CT to make sure there isn't a hematoma in her bowels. Barbara may have to go back to ICU.

She said she refused the NG tube at first but they won't give her any pain meds and they say that the NG tube will suction out the blockage. Apparently she's had NG tubes before and says they hurt.

Her family has still not been able to visit, and in ICU she won't have access to a phone or her iPad, so no communication. Her husband has the flu/cold thing that knocked her down in the first place, and he won't be able to visit until he is healthy.

I'm sure Barbara is feeling alone & scared - I would be!

Hi Everyone,

Barb just asked me to update everyone.  She is back in the ICU and they have inserted an NG tube and a femerol artery IV.  She was having a bowel obstruction, but they have gotten her to have several BM's as the day goes on so no surgery for now.  She has a lot of pain in her abdomen, but I am glad she is passing something now, so hopefully this will settle down sooner than later. 

Say a prayer for our friend and big hugs wouldn't hurt any either!

Happy New Year everyone,

Julia

 

So happy they were able to stay away from surgery. It would be one more stressor. Thanks for the update. I will keep her in my thoughts this evening.

Love,
Laura

Latest news --

Moved to ICU in the middle of the night due to stomach pain - they finally figured out her Coumadin level was too high and there was some bleeding in her abdomen. Guess she's stable as they came by to move her back to the ward while we were chatting.

And in other good news -- her lungs are sounding SO much better! I'm sure being able to breath will help her recovery go faster!

I am so glad that her lungs are doing better. Give her a telephonic hug for me.

Love,
Laura

Has anyone heard how Barbara is doing today. Really hope she is improving.

Thank you for keeping us informed, Lynnwood. I have been thinking about Barbara all day and hoping she is doing better.

Barbara is feeling MUCH better! She's been trying to get them to release her today but as she had a temp over 100 this morning they're saying no for the time being. Maybe in a couple more days...

Happy to hear Barbs is doing better. That's a really high temp. I hope it's nothing serious. Please keep us updated when you hear from her again.

Thanks Lynn.

UA

Just got an email from Barbara which said...


Just wanted to let you know I'm still in the hospital. My WBC went up to 15,600 from 13,900. Still running low grade temp last night I was 100.8. Dr ordered blood cultures times two per each arm, clean catch urine, chest X-ray. I also refractured a rib last night while having a coughing fit.

The Dr feels as long as my WBC is going upwards they can not let me leave the hospital. They are very worried I'm getting an infection and don't want me to be home alone and have an issue.

So very frustrated, tomorrow will be 14 days. Why can't they figure this out? The nurse just came in and rechecked my heart rate I'm pounding away at 106 beats per minute UGH.

The huge doses of prednisone have kicked in sleep wise & Barbara hasn't had more than 2 hours of sleep today, and it's messing with her sugar levels -- she's having to have insulin with her meals.

I'll try to update again tomorrow.

Poor Barbara, I think she's better in hospital at the moment. Going home is too risky, better to go home feeling better.

Thanks again to Lynn for the update and love to Barbara.

Jane