sis
- Thread starter ennui
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I am still praying Ennui.
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I've been really busy with life today, but have been wondering how Ennui's sis is doing. Has there been an update in any other threads? Sorry, not enough time in the day today to peruse all the new posts/threads.
Thinking of you, your sister & your family! Praying for your sister & your family!
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I started to post an update 3 times today, but each time things changed radically with sis before I could finish.
Seems it wasn't pneumonia, but when she wasn't drained post-op last Wednesday or Thursday, the fluid build up caused atelectasis [hope you get some swagbucks] in her good lung, her bad lung isn't much help, and with the heavy pain killers it caused her oxygen to drop to very dangerous levels. She'll stay on antibiotics as some of the built up fluid may have become infected. The hosp has finally taught her how to drain herself [which they screwed up on & neglected to teach her prior to her release post-op last week]. She will need the help of visiting nurses because the drain is behind her back.
They neglected to tell her that she was not breathing deeply enough to help reflate the lung, nor that she needed to be up and walking more around the pod/floor to exercise the good lung.
I was annoyed that they hadn't tested her on the stairs. At the condo, she had been so worn out that she had to rest on a chair halfway up for a good 10 or 15 minutes before continuing. Two steps suck the life out of her now. So they finally did test her late this afternoon with a monitor and determined that she qualifies for oxygen tanks at home, including small ones to wear while climbing the stairs.
The drain that was inserted last week continues to clog and so now they want her to go back into Boston at least once a week, not the greatest ride from down on the Cape.
She is in pain tonight, but won't tell the staff. :gah:
Still no word on if the cancer has spread since this show was run by the thoracic docs not oncology. Bro suspects it has.
He brought her an oximeter to bring home to monitor her O levels to help warn her before disaster might strike again.
For one of the supposedly top hospitals in the world, the Brigham has been extremely sloppy & neglectful in patient communication & care. I am truly shocked by how they are now, because when dad was treated there in '95 & '06, and mom in '95/96 they were fantastic.
I have had a glass of wine since getting home [1st in a long long time] & will have another between phone calls from concrned family & friends. Sis won't let us set up a caring bridge site, plus elderly family/friends don't do internet anyway.
Been one hell of a day. indecision drives me crazy, having to argue with mom drives me crazy. How do you deal with an 80 yr old who insists that it sis is on the 14th floor when she is actually on the 11th? That the car is on the 5th floor of the garage not the fourth? I love mom, she is an angel to put up with sis' insanity & germ phobic demands & be her main care taker. I wish she'd let bro & I take some of the burden off & spoil mom a bit, it can't be easy caring for your very ill child, no matter her age.
Had to LMAO when the thoracic fellow told sis that I was aggressive in my questioning of what was going on [must be a surprise to all of you], but it did result in them doing the stairs test & ordering the oxygen she desperately needs.
Sorry for the rambling post, I'm exhausted & a cheap drunk, 1 glass & I'm out of it.
Hope sis is able to be unclogged, drained, painfree & able to get out tomoorow. Oh, one huge surprise bonus, they sent a shrink in to talk w/ her today. have no idea what they discussed, but I hope maybe they can get her into therapy, just to ease the stress of dealing with the cancer, if nothing lse.
Seems it wasn't pneumonia, but when she wasn't drained post-op last Wednesday or Thursday, the fluid build up caused atelectasis [hope you get some swagbucks] in her good lung, her bad lung isn't much help, and with the heavy pain killers it caused her oxygen to drop to very dangerous levels. She'll stay on antibiotics as some of the built up fluid may have become infected. The hosp has finally taught her how to drain herself [which they screwed up on & neglected to teach her prior to her release post-op last week]. She will need the help of visiting nurses because the drain is behind her back.
They neglected to tell her that she was not breathing deeply enough to help reflate the lung, nor that she needed to be up and walking more around the pod/floor to exercise the good lung.
I was annoyed that they hadn't tested her on the stairs. At the condo, she had been so worn out that she had to rest on a chair halfway up for a good 10 or 15 minutes before continuing. Two steps suck the life out of her now. So they finally did test her late this afternoon with a monitor and determined that she qualifies for oxygen tanks at home, including small ones to wear while climbing the stairs.
The drain that was inserted last week continues to clog and so now they want her to go back into Boston at least once a week, not the greatest ride from down on the Cape.
She is in pain tonight, but won't tell the staff. :gah:
Still no word on if the cancer has spread since this show was run by the thoracic docs not oncology. Bro suspects it has.
He brought her an oximeter to bring home to monitor her O levels to help warn her before disaster might strike again.
For one of the supposedly top hospitals in the world, the Brigham has been extremely sloppy & neglectful in patient communication & care. I am truly shocked by how they are now, because when dad was treated there in '95 & '06, and mom in '95/96 they were fantastic.
I have had a glass of wine since getting home [1st in a long long time] & will have another between phone calls from concrned family & friends. Sis won't let us set up a caring bridge site, plus elderly family/friends don't do internet anyway.
Been one hell of a day. indecision drives me crazy, having to argue with mom drives me crazy. How do you deal with an 80 yr old who insists that it sis is on the 14th floor when she is actually on the 11th? That the car is on the 5th floor of the garage not the fourth? I love mom, she is an angel to put up with sis' insanity & germ phobic demands & be her main care taker. I wish she'd let bro & I take some of the burden off & spoil mom a bit, it can't be easy caring for your very ill child, no matter her age.
Had to LMAO when the thoracic fellow told sis that I was aggressive in my questioning of what was going on [must be a surprise to all of you], but it did result in them doing the stairs test & ordering the oxygen she desperately needs.
Sorry for the rambling post, I'm exhausted & a cheap drunk, 1 glass & I'm out of it.
Hope sis is able to be unclogged, drained, painfree & able to get out tomoorow. Oh, one huge surprise bonus, they sent a shrink in to talk w/ her today. have no idea what they discussed, but I hope maybe they can get her into therapy, just to ease the stress of dealing with the cancer, if nothing lse.
Hugs and prayers.
Thank you for the update. You and your sis have been on my mind. I'm glad to hear your sister entertained the shrink. I wish more people understood that therapy does not indicate weakness/flaws -- it is just a way to accept the tools we all need to grow. Get some rest :huggy:
Sounds like she is making progress, and thanks so much for taking the time to update us here. Cuz weeze family too
:shesaid:
Just reading this thread today. Saying lots of prayers for sis.
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The update I started writing hours ago never got to the submit phase...
In yet another change of plans from this morning, sis will be released early this afternoon.
She was up with bad side chest & neck pain much of the night, and finally got the nurse to give her something stronger than tylenol for it, but they wisely didn't give her oxycodone.
They've swapped her to penicillin from the antibiotics that had been making her feel nauseous since Friday. She doesn't mind penicillin.
The good news is the chest/neck pain is mostly likely from her good lung re-inflating. YAY!! She walked a lot late yesterday & last night. She is breathing & sounding much better.
She had yet another x-ray this morning, she'll be able to glow in the dark without a flashlight soon. :D
Sis will have to travel back in tomorrow & most likely at least once a week to see the surgeon until they can be assured that her drain is flowing freely & not continuing to clog up necessitating injections of TPA.
The trips between Boston & the Cape are long & painful, worse if they coincide with eastern MA's horrific rush hour [6-10a & 4-8p] traffic jams.
The main thing is that she is finally being released, hope she can stomach mom's driving. The last trip home from Boston caused her to toss her cookies in Stop & Shop's parking lot while mom picked up sis' scrips. Bro & I each offered to drive but they didn't want to put either of us out. We'd rather do that than worry about mom driving in the dark.
If there's no snag, mom will make it down to the Cape around 5.
Thank you for the continued prayers & good thoughts. I know they helped & appreciate it very much. :flowers:
In yet another change of plans from this morning, sis will be released early this afternoon.
She was up with bad side chest & neck pain much of the night, and finally got the nurse to give her something stronger than tylenol for it, but they wisely didn't give her oxycodone.
They've swapped her to penicillin from the antibiotics that had been making her feel nauseous since Friday. She doesn't mind penicillin.
The good news is the chest/neck pain is mostly likely from her good lung re-inflating. YAY!! She walked a lot late yesterday & last night. She is breathing & sounding much better.
She had yet another x-ray this morning, she'll be able to glow in the dark without a flashlight soon. :D
Sis will have to travel back in tomorrow & most likely at least once a week to see the surgeon until they can be assured that her drain is flowing freely & not continuing to clog up necessitating injections of TPA.
The trips between Boston & the Cape are long & painful, worse if they coincide with eastern MA's horrific rush hour [6-10a & 4-8p] traffic jams.
The main thing is that she is finally being released, hope she can stomach mom's driving. The last trip home from Boston caused her to toss her cookies in Stop & Shop's parking lot while mom picked up sis' scrips. Bro & I each offered to drive but they didn't want to put either of us out. We'd rather do that than worry about mom driving in the dark.
If there's no snag, mom will make it down to the Cape around 5.
Thank you for the continued prayers & good thoughts. I know they helped & appreciate it very much. :flowers:
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Sis called, wanted me to try to catch mom enroute but mom either mom shut off her cell or didn't hear it ringing.
Slight snag, I'm LMAO, but sis is semi-annoyed.
Mom packed & brought in sis' clothes yesterday, but since sis wasn't getting released then, sis never checked the packed bag.
I will say in mom's defense that until last night, she hadn't slept more than 3 hrs per night since Friday am. At least she finally got caught up with a nice 10 hrs last night.
Seems when sis opened the bag to get dressed to leave, she found that mom packed her underwear, socks, and 3 sweaters. No pants. LMAO
Poor mom has had to go back down to the lobby, wait for the valet guys to retrieve the car so she can go through everything packed in the trunk to find pants for sis to wear. I heard the PA found sis some hospital pj bottoms, but poor sis has thunder thighs & they wouldn't fit over them.
Slight snag, I'm LMAO, but sis is semi-annoyed.
Mom packed & brought in sis' clothes yesterday, but since sis wasn't getting released then, sis never checked the packed bag.
I will say in mom's defense that until last night, she hadn't slept more than 3 hrs per night since Friday am. At least she finally got caught up with a nice 10 hrs last night.
Seems when sis opened the bag to get dressed to leave, she found that mom packed her underwear, socks, and 3 sweaters. No pants. LMAO
Poor mom has had to go back down to the lobby, wait for the valet guys to retrieve the car so she can go through everything packed in the trunk to find pants for sis to wear. I heard the PA found sis some hospital pj bottoms, but poor sis has thunder thighs & they wouldn't fit over them.
Glad that you can all enjoy a bit of humor in such a worrisome, stressful situation. Glad to hear she is being discharged today. Continued prayers for all of you.
