Thoughts and experiences from the scoliosis diagnosis through surgery and recovery. As told from the perspectives of parents, Mom and Dad, and the patient, Princess Pants.
Day 4? What time is it? Where are we?
As not to totally embarrass her, let's just say she ticked one of the 3 things she needed to do to be able to go home off that list ;)
The physiotherapist arrived around 2:30 and we had already gotten the room all prepared so as not to waste any more of her time. Avery was entirely bewildered about how it was she was supposed to get from lying to standing, but after a little refresher got to upright. She walked twice as far as she did yesterday and even a little faster. She'll be scooting down that hallway in no time. And Andrew and I were cleared to be her hall shuffling escorts - so if he is back tonight perhaps we will try to get that second walk in after all.
Since she was feeling a little flushed, we just did up her gown instead of adding the robe today - which only sucked for the entire time she was sitting as I hadn't been quick enough to untie the back and she found it terribly restrictive to sit in. While she was in the chair I wiped down her legs, I guess that is almost a bath. After just under an hour, she was so uncomfortable she felt she needed back in bed. We did manage to get her some fresh sheets and a clean gown. I hope we are getting closer to losing some of her tubes and lines, but have decided asking doesn't really do much for us
I was quite pleased when Avery ordered the fish sticks for dinner - and when they came she even ate 1.5 of them. Protein for the win!
Otherwise, it seems Pants keeps herself quite cool so the finger monitor keeps not being able to get a proper read. The one nurse was going to try a toe, but then felt her ice brick feet and immediately went to find a heated blanket to wrap around her toes.
So now we wait for Pants' wishes for the night. Andrew is planning on coming back, and I promised the PT I would be back by 9 am, but we'll see. Sometimes a girl just wants her (less snoring) mother as her roommate.
If anything else exciting happens, we'll be sure to post.
Post-op Night 3 and What's On Tap for Day 4
Last night the nurse was wearing a Batman t-shirt. She's been my favourite so far :) Avery took her Tylenol and long acting oral pain meds (only 3 pills) and then hit her morphine pump. A couple minutes later she started talking in her sleep, "When's the next course?"
"Four hours sweetie. Batman will be back in four hours."
I had a dream that a couple friends had me over for dinner and instead of offering me a regular bottle of wine they took out this wine bottle that had a peel back side. They lay it down on the counter, took a bread knife out and slid it through this lengthwise opening, and cut me off a slice of fish. I think it was a Northern Pike Grigio.
Now I'm beginning to wonder if maybe Batnurse wasn't slipping me some of the good meds in the water she brought for me.
Pants had a rough night. She couldn't get comfortable. Also, one of her IVs was leaking (down her arm this time, not into her arm) so she probably wasn't getting her full dose when she hit the PCA button. They got her IV switched over this morning and hopefully that will improve things. We need her to hit the machine less so she can transition to oral meds (a requirement for going home) but she needs to also manage the pain so she can do her physio. It's a balancing act that she hasn't quite figured out yet.
Today we are going to focus on getting her eating more and walking more. The surgical resident figures she'll be standing on her own comfortably enough by Monday so they can take some X-rays. Her goal for today is to get up and walk twice and by the end of the second trip travel almost three times farther than she did yesterday.
Aunt Stacey will visit too with a possible appearance from The Dude (who misses his big sister) so it's going to be a full day.
Jodi's going to tag me out after The Dude's bowling and I'll go home and get some proper rest before coming back later tonight.
~ Dad