Myra will be going back to Bethesda on Sunday afternoon. She will get to make the transfer in a wheelchair, rather than the usual stretcher. She's super excited about this!
Little by little, she's getting stronger. This is very good news that she has the strength to sit up long enough to make the trip!
Friday (which ,marked 3 months in the hospital) she was able to stand up and sit down 3 times, with the help of nurses. This has really given her some confidence and she looks forward to getting back to some PT at Bethesda.
They have inserted a drain into the the area where the breast was removed because of a recent fluid build up.
The infection that she's had is being treated with IV antibiotics. They used to give it to her in large doses for a half hour at a time and they figured that is what was causing her hallucinations. They are now stretching this out over a 24 hour period and tomorrow she will start oral medication.
She's really excited to get back on the healing path at Bethesda!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
2/17 Sunday
Myra's not as confused as she was yesterday and her thoughts are more clear today.
Now the Disease doctor isn't sure she has MRSA, so we're not exactly sure what is going on and we don't know what's causing the confusion. I guess we just put our seat belts on and see where this episode takes us.
She did have some scans of her head to rule out anything more serious that could be causing the confusion but the results were negative, so we're happy about that. Except we don't really have any other answers at this point.
Now the Disease doctor isn't sure she has MRSA, so we're not exactly sure what is going on and we don't know what's causing the confusion. I guess we just put our seat belts on and see where this episode takes us.
She did have some scans of her head to rule out anything more serious that could be causing the confusion but the results were negative, so we're happy about that. Except we don't really have any other answers at this point.
Friday, February 15, 2008
2/15
Myra has a new infection called MRSA. This is an infection that is resistant to antibiotics and is extremely viral. Myra is in isolation because of the MRSA.
The doctors think this MRSA has caused her abscess infections to return to her liver. Its also formed in her lung and doctors were going to remove the lung fluid today.
She's had a low grade fever due to the infections and some of the medication she is on for that is causing some 'reality issues'. She's been a bit confused but seems more clear today.
The doctors think this MRSA has caused her abscess infections to return to her liver. Its also formed in her lung and doctors were going to remove the lung fluid today.
She's had a low grade fever due to the infections and some of the medication she is on for that is causing some 'reality issues'. She's been a bit confused but seems more clear today.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
2/14 St. John's Again
Well, turns out the abscess has returned in Myra's liver. As Myra told Curt today, its just the "usual medical fiasco".
What was supposed to be a quick trip to St. John's and back today turned into an overnight stay at St. John's. This is due to communication problems at St. John's and is unrelated to Myra. She will have the procedure to insert the drain back into her liver tomorrow and should be back at Bethesda by Saturday night at the latest.
Her INR levels (clotting agent) were high, which required a plasma fusion today.
She will also be meeting with Infectious Disease specialists tomorrow to figure out why this infection returned.
This little field trip to St. John's means that Curt has to go remove all of Myra's belongings from her Bethesda room because the room may or may not be given to another patient.
Myra is in her old room at St. John's and her nurses are happy to see her again. They think Myra should win some sort of award for the most nights stayed.
What was supposed to be a quick trip to St. John's and back today turned into an overnight stay at St. John's. This is due to communication problems at St. John's and is unrelated to Myra. She will have the procedure to insert the drain back into her liver tomorrow and should be back at Bethesda by Saturday night at the latest.
Her INR levels (clotting agent) were high, which required a plasma fusion today.
She will also be meeting with Infectious Disease specialists tomorrow to figure out why this infection returned.
This little field trip to St. John's means that Curt has to go remove all of Myra's belongings from her Bethesda room because the room may or may not be given to another patient.
Myra is in her old room at St. John's and her nurses are happy to see her again. They think Myra should win some sort of award for the most nights stayed.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
2/13
The fistula problem Myra was having last Friday seemed to work itself out. Doctors let the area breath and rest a bit over the weekend. They re-inserted the fistula Monday and had a successful dialysis.
The removal of the fistula did irritate the area a bit so she was medicated with Vicadin over the weekend and was a bit foggy and slept most of the weekend.
Myra's Bethesda doctors and nurses met with her, Curt & Dusty today to discuss a plan for Myra to go home. They mentioned transitioning from Bethesda to a nursing home for further recovery. Once she transitions out of Bethesda, she will resume dialyisis as an outpatient in Forest Lake, which is what she has been doing since February of '07 up until she entered the hospital in November.
Myra has a list of goals she'll need to achieve before going home is an option. These goals could take weeks for Myra to accomplish, but it's encouraging for the family to hear that going home is an option!
The goals that the doctors presented to Myra today act as a dangling carrot for Myra. Going home depends on several things. One goal being that Myra gains enough strength to get out of bed and walk on her own. She still is not able to get up out of bed on her own, so she needs to gain lots of strength back (from being in a bed for 2 1/2 months).
We'll keep you posted!
The removal of the fistula did irritate the area a bit so she was medicated with Vicadin over the weekend and was a bit foggy and slept most of the weekend.
Myra's Bethesda doctors and nurses met with her, Curt & Dusty today to discuss a plan for Myra to go home. They mentioned transitioning from Bethesda to a nursing home for further recovery. Once she transitions out of Bethesda, she will resume dialyisis as an outpatient in Forest Lake, which is what she has been doing since February of '07 up until she entered the hospital in November.
Myra has a list of goals she'll need to achieve before going home is an option. These goals could take weeks for Myra to accomplish, but it's encouraging for the family to hear that going home is an option!
The goals that the doctors presented to Myra today act as a dangling carrot for Myra. Going home depends on several things. One goal being that Myra gains enough strength to get out of bed and walk on her own. She still is not able to get up out of bed on her own, so she needs to gain lots of strength back (from being in a bed for 2 1/2 months).
We'll keep you posted!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
2/9
Friday marked 10 weeks. During dialysis, it was discovered that the fistula was infiltrated and stopped working. Dialysis was cut to an hour and unable to finish, her kidney specialist was called to Bethesda.
They are going to try again Monday and if the fistula doesn't work, Myra will go back to St. John's for a new catheter in a new location.
This has really bummed her out because this next week the doctors wanted to discuss a transition plan for Myra to go home in 2-3 weeks, depending on how the progress goes.
They have her pretty medicated today so she's real groggy. Because of this, she didn't have PT today and tomorrow is an off day.
One step forward . Two steps back.
They are going to try again Monday and if the fistula doesn't work, Myra will go back to St. John's for a new catheter in a new location.
This has really bummed her out because this next week the doctors wanted to discuss a transition plan for Myra to go home in 2-3 weeks, depending on how the progress goes.
They have her pretty medicated today so she's real groggy. Because of this, she didn't have PT today and tomorrow is an off day.
One step forward . Two steps back.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
2/6
Myra seems to be doing very well! Yesterday she took 4 steps during PT! She's also off her blood pressure medication and her body has done a great job of maintaining a healthy and acceptable blood pressure all on its own! Even during dialysis, which is where she usually runs into trouble.
She's in very good spirits!
She's in very good spirits!
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