One Ginormous Step Forward; One Shuffle to the Side
First, the shuffle:
Dr. Treadwell eliminated Mom's sedation; and took her off the intubation tube. As the sedation reduced, Mom began to better understand her circumstances. Her heart rate and blood pressure went very high. We were not able to have her relax in a way which reduced her heart rate and blood pressure to acceptable levels. Therefore, Dr. Treadwell had the intubation tube re-inserted, and re-started sedation. Dr. Treadwell expects the tube to come out in a couple of days. His goal is to provide some "neurologic rest", thus allowing her neurology to become a bit stronger. He says this is no big deal at all, and he expects her to come off the tube after a bit more rest.
Second, the ginormous (love that [non] word!) step:
Mom's mental capacity is outstanding! - as evidenced by her conversation while she was off the intubation tube:
Mom overtly refused to be a good patient. I can guarantee she is tremendously angry with everyone who came into her room, then allowed her to be re-intubated. Our only hope is she might forget some of us were there...
If she remembers I was there, I plan to blame the whole thing on Bruce.
Overview:
Mom faced a not insignificant danger that her brain function might not return to normal. This morning Dr. Treadwell, in speaking with Dad about another matter, offhandedly mentioned "her brain function has returned to normal." I was not there to question exactly what he meant by that. I find it unlikely that he was making an absolute statement about her mental acuity. I can say, in a lay person's opinion, she was very sharp mentally. Very. Hopefully, the dangers in this area have been largely eliminated.
Mom still faces a not insignificant danger of stroke. Anyone who suffers this type of blood on the brain finds their brain arteries(?) constricting over the ensuing 21 days. If the constriction becomes severe enough, it is called Vaso Spasm. The danger of Vaso Spasm is especially high during the 3 - 12 days after the incident; and is lower during the 13th - 21st days after. If Mom makes it past 21 days, her prognosis becomes - I can't seem to find an appropriate adjective, which does not overstate - but her prognosis becomes pretty doggone good.
Intubation/schmintubation. This has been a fantabulous day.
Dr. Treadwell eliminated Mom's sedation; and took her off the intubation tube. As the sedation reduced, Mom began to better understand her circumstances. Her heart rate and blood pressure went very high. We were not able to have her relax in a way which reduced her heart rate and blood pressure to acceptable levels. Therefore, Dr. Treadwell had the intubation tube re-inserted, and re-started sedation. Dr. Treadwell expects the tube to come out in a couple of days. His goal is to provide some "neurologic rest", thus allowing her neurology to become a bit stronger. He says this is no big deal at all, and he expects her to come off the tube after a bit more rest.
Second, the ginormous (love that [non] word!) step:
Mom's mental capacity is outstanding! - as evidenced by her conversation while she was off the intubation tube:
- Where is your father?
- How is he doing?
- Cancel my beauty shop appointment at Plaza Beauty Shop. Me: Rosie already cancelled the appointment at Plaza Beauty School. She: No, it's not a beauty school!
- Am I in ICU?
- How long have I been here?
- What did they do? (Arteriogram to solve the bleeding aneurysm problem - but no actual surgery)
- That's amazing!
- What are my dosages?
- Bruce, help me up, and get me out of this bed right now!
Mom overtly refused to be a good patient. I can guarantee she is tremendously angry with everyone who came into her room, then allowed her to be re-intubated. Our only hope is she might forget some of us were there...
If she remembers I was there, I plan to blame the whole thing on Bruce.
Overview:
Mom faced a not insignificant danger that her brain function might not return to normal. This morning Dr. Treadwell, in speaking with Dad about another matter, offhandedly mentioned "her brain function has returned to normal." I was not there to question exactly what he meant by that. I find it unlikely that he was making an absolute statement about her mental acuity. I can say, in a lay person's opinion, she was very sharp mentally. Very. Hopefully, the dangers in this area have been largely eliminated.
Mom still faces a not insignificant danger of stroke. Anyone who suffers this type of blood on the brain finds their brain arteries(?) constricting over the ensuing 21 days. If the constriction becomes severe enough, it is called Vaso Spasm. The danger of Vaso Spasm is especially high during the 3 - 12 days after the incident; and is lower during the 13th - 21st days after. If Mom makes it past 21 days, her prognosis becomes - I can't seem to find an appropriate adjective, which does not overstate - but her prognosis becomes pretty doggone good.
Intubation/schmintubation. This has been a fantabulous day.
posted by gcotharn at 5:44 PM
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