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Friday, January 14, 2011

Day 12: In Pain and LaLaLand

Before I begin this next episode I want to thank so many of you for your concern and love for Louise and for me. Your comments, emails, phone calls, etc. have been so appreciated over all of these days. Most of them have been read to Louise also. I am amazed at how many people that I had no idea were following this, have surfaced in comments and emails. When Louise becomes Louise again, she will want to write each of you a thank you note and put each of your well wishes in a scrapbook. That is how she is!

But today, Louise was not with us very much. She was in the dream world and she kept waking up to doctors and nurses and telling them strange things about her dreams. One poor pain doctor was a little shocked when she told him that he probably would never drive with her again because she was so tipsy. I know you have never heard this about Louise before, but she is right now high on drugs.

Last night she came out of surgery and they had not turned on the epidural medicine and they had not given her pain killers. That half hour of pain for her was the worst. She had me put on soothing music and I caressed her arms and hands until she finally fell into deep sleep. She said she slept pretty well last night. This morning, though, she was in a lot of pain for most of the morning. They really tried to keep her out of pain but not drug her up too much because they could see how loopy she was. Finally about 2 pm the pain subsided somewhat and her heart stopped racing. I think she finally was relaxing. But she still couldn't ever stop from going to sleep. It was almost scary. She kept asking what day it was and whether it was day or night. She had trouble talking clearly and eating by herself. I'm sure it was the drugs. The one drug they gave her that knocked her out was called fentanyl which is supposed to be 4 times stronger than morphine.

Even with her being so drugged, they still made her get out of bed and sit in the chair. She sat in the chair for close to 3 hours. The surgeon did not want her to just lay in her bed all day. He worried about lung infections. She did develop a fever of about 101.5. The surgeon felt that it was probably due to last night's surgery where they scrape her chest and then throw inflammatory medicine on it to make it sticky. Talk about burning. It hurts to even think about.

Even though it was one of Louise's toughest days, there was some good news. The surgery last night accomplished everything that it was supposed to. This morning's x-ray revealed that the leak in her lung was gone and the lung had inflated completely and everything looked very positive. the surgeon even thought that she might get the left tube out tomorrow and maybe the right tubes out as early as Sunday. The epidural would come out at that time too. She will remain in ICu at least one, maybe two more days. So that seems to be the story for today. thanks again for your concern for her. We all appreciate it so much. She is worth it!!

Spence

12 comments:

  1. Yes, it's been a good day, all things considered! So glad to hear they accomplished what they needed to with the surgery yesterday. I hope her pain subsides enough to decrease the drugs bit by bit! Some of us, myself included, get super loopy with drugs that hardly do that to others. Webe and I would have never been good "druggies"! We would have been too looped to function at any level! Spence, I sure hope you can both rest even better tonight! Much love, Deb

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  2. Lloyd and I went to see the Belnaps that got home this week. The first thing they wanted to know was how Louise was doing. They actually knew more than we did about her lung problems. Thank you so much, Spence, for keeping us up to date. You will be glad that you have this record in times to come as well. We sure love you both.
    Donise

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  3. Just a quick note to let you know I did not miss this post.........so happy she is getting a drug to help with some pain, as also helps you when you see she has some relief.

    Peggy

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  4. Did you know that I have written almost everyday and today just checked to see if my comments were here and they aren't. I HATE COMPUTERS! (Just imagine the damage I can do in the office of the Rochester Mission).

    Thank you so very very much, Spence, for the detailed updates. The minute we get home from work we rush to the computer to see what the latest news is. We love you guys so much and my prayers have a lot deeper meaning. I do wish, however, that you would create a new blog for me to read that only had good news. I'm very shallow

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  5. The procedure seemed so odd: scraping up the inside of the chest cavity so that a lung will stick to it...but I guess they knew what they were doing. Great news. I'm only sorry that I didn't get to see Louise so loopy...sounds like it might have been a tad funny! Anyway, those drugs are only friends for a while...then they are bad news. Here's to more progress and less pain for the weekend. That's what I'll be praying for. We want her back at home with you guys. Spence, thanks another million times for keeping us in the "know". It really helps us all care, cope, and mostly to pray. Hugs.

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  6. OK Friend, enough drama...we're ready for some easy days of healing! My wimpy side is trauatized with all of this happening to my best friend. Hugs to you and may your dreams be of basking on lovely (your favorite word) beaches in the south seas or maybe whirling on rides at your favorite destination (Disney Land).
    Love you.

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  7. David and I are thankful for the successful surgery also. We are both grateful for your amazing reports and pray for your health too, Spence. This has got to be so draining on you. Yes, Louise loopy would be funny but we hope that is the last day for her "high" personality.
    Love, Becky

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  8. Here is hoping that Louise has finally turned the corner and will soon be home with her wonderful family. Maybe it is good that she was a little loopy, then she might not be able to remember the "yucky stuff" so much. Take good care and get well quickly!

    Love,
    Annie

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  9. Oh my goodness Louise,I know we all wish that we could take all your pain away. Here is hoping that all the surgeries and drains will do the trick. And I must say, we are all thankful for drugs and what they can do when used in the proper manner. We all can't wait for your recovery and for when you are back home.

    Love,
    Sharon aka momab

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  10. Even though I don't comment much, I keep up on this blog almost every day. I'm so sorry she's had to go through so much. She's in our prayers every day.

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  11. Concerned, is 11pm sat. nite, no post, usually see a post before this late, must have been hard day, do hope and pray all going well and Louise not in too much pain.

    Peg

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  12. Sending so much love to you and Louise. I love you both and am so amazed by you constant strength. Here's hoping to some quick recovery and more eating for Louise!

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