Tuesday was a bit of a gauntlet for Mom - every time she turned around she was getting a new piece of information that needed to be looked into further. We are so incredibly grateful to my sister, JJ, who spent the day with Mom - feeding her, providing emotional support, and being another set of ears. Love in action. Thank you!
Tim and I arrived late Tuesday night and spent the night deciphering Dad's needs and generally making a nuisance of ourselves to the nursing staff. At one point I felt like asking the obviously irritated nurse, "Isn't there anybody in your life that you love enough to become a nuisance for?" Tim and I made a pinky promise that night that we would be willing to be a nuisance for each other. (Although my mom told me today that pinky promises are only valid for two years.)
The details of Tuesday are foggy at this point, but basically while he was being retuned to his bed following a CT scan, his heart rate dropped to 20. He received a dose of atropine and was quickly restored to a normal rate. However, this incident prompted questions as to why this occurred? The current theory is that he had a vagal response due to his trach being manipulated. He had a cardiac consult following this episode and there were no new findings. The recommendation is to always have atropine at bedside and with transport. We all but taped the atropine to his chest last night before he was moved to Drake (at Christ).
The transfer went well. The staff has been HIGHLY responsive to Dad's needs. We are educating anyone that comes into the room on Dad's mental clarity and how he makes his needs known. The call light system is still a question, but we have a lead on a sensitive clicker that could go under his chin. The question is, does it work with the Christ system.
This morning, the pulmonologist noticed that Dad was essentially breathing on his own with minimal ventilator assist. They decided to give him a chance to fully see what he was capable of doing. 16 minutes into the wean process his heart rate dropped into the 20s again. At this point they reestablished ventilation and it quickly returned to normal. At the time of incident, the RT was providing trach care, so once again there is question of a vagal response. The plan for today is to decrease any movement. Depending on the frequency of these episodes there might be further talk of a pacemaker. (The RT-Bob, who has been an RT for 40 years and has a wonderful bedside manner) is in the room now and says that he has been restored to his original O2 settings following this mornings episode. (They had him pretty bumped up after the incident but have weaned him back down to pre-incident levels)
The nurses are currently reapplying his hand splints and stopping to admire his photos and ask questions about Dad. I like these people.
The big goals for today are:
Moving Dad closer to nurse's station
Getting a call light system that works
Figuring out what is happening with his left ear (his good ear) He is complaining that it is clogged. :/
This JUST happened-
Doug Collins, MD, a friend from Lifespring, "just happened" to run into Tim in the lobby and hear about what is going on...and thought to himself I need to speak with a certain Dr about this...then he "just happened" to stand directly next to that certain Dr in the lunch line...who said "You need to get Dr. Deaton (a physical medical and rehab Dr) to consult on this case." He went to look for Dr Deaton and ran directly into her and she absolutely agreed to be involved in this case. In Dr Collin's words, "The Lord had His hand on these encounters."
Yes He does! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! I love how God works in these "just happened to's" - it's never just. Steve continues to be in my prayers. (side note - my phone absolutely hates blogspot!)
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