No more posts until January 3, 2017

The remainder of the posts for this history occur between Friday, January 3, 2014 and Friday, December 5, 2014. The miracles related to Ken's illness weren't quite finished. But then, I don't think they ever will be.  Miracles seem to have eternal impact.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Monday, October 21, 2013

Last night was scary because Ken was so out of it with Lortab. He tried to get up, still connected, but couldn't sit up, even after I disconnected stuff. I was panicked because he was acting like he had low sodium and mental confusion. But after doctor visits, blood tests and Xray they confirmed that yes his sodium was down to 130 but the biggest problem was the Lortab.  He got the nose sponge out this morning, and has been doing fine withTylenol.  When Becca and Chris were here he still had pain relief from the general anesthetic and the blood hadn't started dripping from his nose.  A humidity mask has helped and thoughtful nursing, and helpful doctors and residents.

So that is why we are still here at the hospital on Monday night at 5:38. But the IV is out and Ken is dressed and we are just waiting for the pharmacist.  It will be good to be home. I slept at the hospital all three nights but had about one good night's sleep.  There is a fold out loveseat that is really tricky to fold out. I had to ask about four different people for help the first night, but only one the second night and managed all by myself last night.  

We just got the prescriptions and will get them filled and be on our way.  We will need to do some free water restriction again because of the low sodium, and no coughing or sneezing and no shoe tying, head below the heart, or lifting things over ten pounds, but we are good to go.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Monday, October 18, 2013

Successful surgery. Everything they can do with different sinus surgeries in one. They drilled connections, straightened things, had to go through the eyebrow, put in a drainage shunt, and closed the hole even though there was no dye leakage. Doctor said he was sweating bullets for a while. Everything worked perfectly. He is awake now, but I haven't seen him yet. Surgery took over four hours.

 In the recovery room he looked pretty good.



There were a few complications later.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Tuesday, October 15

Another blessing.  Ken had his pre-op appointment yesterday and the doctor showed us the sinus scan results.  There are many places where his sinuses have not drained correctly.  He has a lot of gunk they will clean out.  There are also places they will fix so that they will drain instead of recycling. They will straighten the septum or whatever they called, the bone in the center.  The biggest most important thing will be closing the connection between cerebral fluid and sinus.  They will do it with his own tissue.  They hope to see clearly where the problem is by injecting dye into his spinal fluid with a lumbar puncture.

It is because of this last procedure that he will be staying in the hospital for two days.  The first day he will have to stay flat on his back.  We don't know what time the operation will be, but the doctor thinks it will be early.  It will be a three to four hour surgery.  They will use a camera and do everything through the nose. 

We are hopeful that it will prevent the kind of sinus infection that happened in Chile and that it will help his body be able to deal with things better so that his health can continue to improve.