Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.10 Day 34 Hello All, JaNell had another day of slow progress. She slept most of the day as a result of the anxiety medication she took yesterday. The doctor couldn’t get her to wake up and talk this morning. JaNell ask for more anxiety medication today, but the doctor said she didn’t want JaNell sleeping for such a long time. Her GN tube was clamped today to determine if her digestive system could function on it’s on. She was able to keep two servings of cranberry juice down today, which is a major accomplishment. Her doctor wants her to start eating food soon, so she can gain her strength back. She continues to have trouble with breathing and dizziness, when walking, and when getting out of and into bed. She seems to have labored breathing. Blood pressure was higher today 166/76 |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.11 Day 35 Hello All, Today was a good day, with one slight setback. The doctor removed the GN tube from JaNell’s nose this morning. She was able to drink cranberry juice and was ordered a liquid tray for lunch. Her condition changed this afternoon when she developed a chill, which later, evolved in to a low-grade fever. Tylenol was prescribed. JaNell became nauseous after sipping a small amount of warm water, but did not throw up. She is sleeping now and all seems well, her blood pressure is 142/62 and temperature is 98.6. The lung x-ray, she received this evening, indicated there is no change. She is under doctor’s orders (NPO,) and may be scheduled for a CT Scan tomorrow, if her condition changes tonight. JaNell says, "I am just trying to hang in there," terry |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.12.a Day 36 Hello All, Dr. Wasif scheduled a CT Scan for JaNell tomorrow. Vital signs: temperature, blood sugar and blood pressure are good. But, because her white blood cells are elevated, and she had chills yesterday, he thinks it’s possible that the JP drain tube might not be catching everything. He wants to check with a CT scan to be sure. terry |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.13 Day 37 Hello All, The results of the CT Scan, that JaNell had this morning, are positive, and the JP drain is draining all areas properly. The doctor wants her to try to keep solid food down, so she can get more calories, which will help her body heal. If nausea persists, and she can’t keep food down, a feeding tube will be inserted into her intestine. The doctor doesn’t want to waste time in the healing process, and will wait one day only to determine if food will stay down. The feeding tube, which is inserted through the nose, is similar to the GN tube. Part of her therapy is chewing gum, which stimulates stomach activity. |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.14 Day 38 Hello All, JaNell made some slow progress today. She was nauseous at times, but did not throw up. Food wasn’t very appealing; she only nibbled at her food. A few sips of Ensure were about the only thing that she was able to tolerate. By taking a few rest stops, she was able to walk around the pod this morning. Measurements from the JP drain tended to be lower today. She has a low-grade fever and normal blood pressure this evening. A doctor discussed the possibility treating her wound using Negative-pressure wound therapy. |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.15 Day 39 Hello All, Last night was a night of nausea, anxiety and depression and not much sleep for JaNell. This morning she was initially unwilling to talk to the doctor, but finally relented, after the doctor persisted and pointed out how much ground she has gained. Conditions improved, this morning, when breakfast was delivered and JaNell enjoyed a small portion of each item, which she kept down. She was not as fortunate at lunch when she was unable to keep Ensure down. Her vital signs were good today, highlighted by a much lower white blood cell count (10.2,) and lower out put of the JP tube, which is very encouraging. This evening she did not touch her food tray and was only interested in eating one section of an orange. Since she is eating food her IV feeding will be decreased. Please praise God because her cancer is gone, no more GN tube, she is eating, vital signs are good (with a minor fever tonight,) and her white blood cell count is lower. Please continue to pray for her mental and physical strength, breathing, wound healing, and mobility. Robert and Kelly will return to Las Cruces tomorrow. We thank you for your prayers and concern, terry |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.16 Day 40 Hello All, • JaNell had a good day today, one of her best yet. She was able to eat three meals today with a minimum amount of nausea. Her favorite – peaches. • Hooray. No Albuterol breathing treatments in the middle of the night. Now, she will only be given "treatments while awake." • Results of new blood culture test have not detected the presence of bacterial infection. Blood sugar test indicated that insulin would not be required today. •She is still experiencing anxiety, shortness of breath and dizziness while walking, and limited mobility. • Another Hooray; Nurse, Glenn, is doing wound dressing at 10:00 PM, so he won’t have to wake JaNell up in the middle of the night. |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.17 Day 41 Hello All, • JaNell had a throwing-up episode last night after I sent out my missive. The event, caused by sipping a small amount of water, created a speed bump in an otherwise perfect day. • Another throwing-up episode was experienced this morning after breakfast. It occurred when she was taking a pill. • Good news: Pain clicker – Gone. In the future, if required, she will receive pain medication in pill form or injection, through her PICC line. • All vital signs good today. Blood sugar OK. White blood cells normal. • To increase her appetite, and encourage eating real food, her TPN will be reduced by 50% • We received a booklet listing local skilled nursing facilities and acute rehab centers within Maricopa County from a social worker today. This may indicate that discharge from the hospital may be coming soon. One doctor said discharge might occur early next week. Thank you prayer warriors, terry |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.18 Day 42 Hello All, • JaNell had a good day. On two different occasions, she walked all the way around the pod. • Her medical telemetry device was removed today. • Her negative pressure wound therapy was started today. • She is only receiving TPN fifty percent of the time. • A gagging episode occurred this evening when JaNell got a whiff of her chicken soup serving. • Her doctor is encouraging her to eat, so her strength will increase. He says she can eat anything she wants. I temped her today with Haagen Dazs ice cream and grape juice from the cafeteria, and cherries and grapes form the grocery store (which she preferred to chicken soup.) • Nurse Loren says JaNell is the strongest willed patient, who is determined to walk after being bedfast for such a long time, that she has had in a long time. Thank you for your prayers, terry |
Day 43 Hello All, • Today was another good day, with only one problem keeping a pill down. • Only two infusion pumps operating tonight: TPN and Lipids. • JaNell is resting tonight watching TV. Thank you for your prayers, terry |
Subject: JaNell Surgery Report 2012.01.20 Day 44 Hello All, JaNell had a good day today. A talk with her doctor helped her overcome a bout of early morning depression. She walked and did strength-building exercises with the physical therapist. On two different occasions, two different therapists discussed the advantage of cooperating with them, and exercising, to gain strength, which would allow her to leave the hospital. They also discussed the pitfalls of not gaining strength, and the possibility of experiencing long term institutional care. She had one throwing up experience when she was swallowing a pill this morning, and gagged when she got a whiff if her lunch tray. She had trouble taking pills this evening, also. Orange Jell-O didn’t seam to help. Two nurses changed the dressing on her vac wound dressing. She ate part of her meals, but enjoyed cherries and grapes more than hospital food. She rested and watched TV today, and is looking forward to the arrival of Kelly and Robert this evening. Thank you for your prayers. terry |
Day 45 Hello All, • JaNell had another good day with only one speed bump, which happened when she attempted to swallow a pill. • A nurse pushed her, in a wheelchair, out to the lobby on the seventh floor, the main lobby on the first floor and then out side of the building. • A psychocirst came by today to evaluate her depressed mental condition. He ask her a lot of basic questions, such as, who the first president, day of the week, what floor she was on. She answered all of his questions correctly. He prescribed an antidepressant. • Krystal and Rebecca surprised JaNell by coming to visit.
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