..for those who don't hang around hospitals, stands for Surgical Intensive Care Unit. In theory, visitors are only allowed for 15 minutes every two hours, but if you're nice to the nurses and don't get in the way, they have the option of allowing you to stay in the room. I've been very nice to the nurses.
Other policies here seem pretty fucked up -- there are 'family rounds' that allow the family members to talk to the doctors, but that's only one day a week. (Tuesday) Given that most people are out of here in 48 hours or so, it seems like a pretty token program to me.
dp still has two IVs and an arterial line, a four lead heart and breathing monitor, a oxygen saturation sensor and two inflatable cuffs around her calves, hooked up to an air pump made by Kendall (well-known from my youth as a manufacturer of milking machines.) The arterial line gives constant blood pressure readings, but she still has a blood pressure cuff on her arm. With all that, the simple act of rolling over in bed becomes a puzzle on how to keep all those lines from fouling each other.
All the monitors say she's doing okay, but she's still pretty miserable. Sleep comes in 60 minute intervals, punctuated by the 'is-your-brain-still-working' tests. She did eat lunch -- a container of orange ice and most of another of jello. She says it sat hard in her stomach, but she's keeping it down.
A fellow could also spend quite awhile here before he realized that actual doctors work here -- I was here from 3 to 11 yesterday and since about 8:30 this morning. I saw an intern last night, and nobody today. The surgeon told us that the follow-up would include a head CT yesterday afternoon or evening, but the nurse last night said that would wait until this morning. When there was no talk of that by 12:30, I told the nurse I was concerned that it hadn't happened. She called down and came back to tell me it would probably happen in the next hour or so. Diana is shaky and groggy and not interested in talking to anyone (including me), and I want some objective tests, dammit!
The word from the nurse is that she'll probably go back up the neurology ward sometime today. Both of us are looking forward to that. She's sleeping now, so I think I'll take this opportunity to feed Trooley and myself, and find a place to upload this post.
I appreciate all the posts of support, and I imagine dp will too, as soon as she feels well enough to direct her attention outside of the world that is her bed.
...our scenario surrounding the big C.
Welcome!
This weblog began as a way to keep loved ones informed as we learned about our diagnosis in March 2007.
"the sCenario" has evolved into a journal, a photo display, an historic record, a scrapbook, an inspiration, a place for loved ones to gather.
We hope you enjoy your visit!
--Kevin and Diana
4 comments:
It's good to get the post- I check this WAY too often when I am supposed to be serving the people. I hope she feels a little better every hour. Is the dizziness diminished...or does she feel to crumby to even tell?xx Katie
My sense of SICU is that it's a high intensity nursing unit more than a place for docs, unless someone crashes and then, by God, you'll see 'em.
Thanks for the update, Kevin. I'm sure dp has a hell of a headache, to say the least. My only words of comfort about the CT is that if they were worried she'd have had one already. I absolutely hate not having information, though, and it was like that when my Mom was hospitalized a few years ago. I knew she'd had a coronary at one time or another but no one would tell me anything. I was beside myself and threw a mini-social-worker-almost-tantrum, finally.
I'm glad you're there, camping out in SICU. I too am on this thing pretty often, Katie. It makes me feel better. Hope you do, too.
I have the blog set as my home page!
Most hospital inpatient units are "nursing territory". We prefer it that way as the doctors tend to get in our way. But I know it is frustrating for families who need answers. I agree with Sam that if dp was not doing well on those annoying hourly tests they would be whisking her down to CT with doctor in tow. But keep up with your legendary persistence in asking for those answers. You know what they say about the squeaky wheel.....
I also suspect that part of what dp is feeling is due to being under anesthesia for all those hours. Her body tends not to handle anesthesia drugs well (based on the first two surgeries) and this was a much longer procedure. Good to hear that she is keeping the liquid diet down. (Yep, Jello is considered a liquid.)
Kevin and Diana,
I have been checking all day also. Thank you for all of the details. We are still praying and hoping for the best. Yes, hospitals can be frustrating. Your friends are correct about people coming out of the woodwork when it is necessary. We send our love. I have to go back to work tonight and Fred is out teaching driver education in the dark tonight,also. We'll check in later when we get home.
Love,
Carol and Fred
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