Saturday, February 21, 2015
Update # 166
8 Years
Thank you for the relatively quiet day for Jeff. We appreciate your prayers.
Yesterday during a temperature check, Jeff had 99. Another time showed 99.9 – over 100 is considered a fever. Late last night, Jeff had a fever of 101.1. The concern was – is it pneumonia or is there an infection in one the lines in his body? At the next antibiotic dose, meds were switched. Apparently, that was the correct antibiotic because that was the only fever Jeff has had this week. And we are most thankful for that.
Before each of the breathing treatments, Jeff is given a med to help the airways stay open so he can tolerate the treatment. Before the Midnight treatment, they upped the pre-med and it seemed to work better. Jeff did not have the agitation during treatment #14.
The Potassium level continues to rise and fall. The med that is to begin bowel movements is necessary to help decrease the Potassium level. They were happy that the med worked twice today.
They had lowered the oxygen level on Jeff yesterday. To help Jeff have a restful night, they did increase the O2 level for a few hours. The lower rate was resumed this morning. But late this afternoon, it was again increased.
The morning chest x-ray showed no change. Not a small improvement like other days but at least not worse.
A pulmonary doctor said they would not begin weaning Jeff off the vent today. After such a rough day yesterday, Jeff should remain sedated today and hopefully get a full day’s rest.
Final treatment #15 began mid-morning and caused Jeff’s blood pressure to increase. It fluctuated enough that the treatment was stopped 20 minutes early. Also a blood pressure med was started. Those worked well to keep Jeff’s blood pressure even. (One nurse commented that Jeff is running high and another guy is running low so they should work together and be just right.)
Nutrition was stopped yesterday after a couple of feedings. That is one of the reasons Jeff has had a calmer time today.
We thank Bishop Roth for driving a long distance to visit us late morning today. John is Ken’s new “boss” those three days a week in Springfield.
People have asked if we’re taking care of ourselves. The three of us take turns spending the night in Jeff’s hospital room. So yes, we are resting well the other nights at the hotel. And yes we are eating. Warmer temps of low 40’s melting the snow had me ask Ken this afternoon if he’d walk across the street to Panera’s. A doctor walked into the room just as Jeff’s b/p rose a bit and the heart monitor sounded. The doc asked what was going on and I said I mentioned Panera’s. Jeff is not responding too much with his hand or head movements but there are times he is listening to us.
Breathing treatments are finished so we wait for the RSV to work its way out of Jeff’s body. We wait till the docs decide Jeff is ready to be weaned off the vent. We ask for prayers that this waiting time be calm to help Jeff heal. He is still considered critical but stable.
Thank you for the emails and texts with words of encouragement, strength, support, and love. They do lift us up each day. Every one of you continues to be the best family and friends for Jeff and us. God has blessed us tremendously.
love,
Marcia