I am getting behind here. I am copying 3 of Ashley's blogs and adding an urgent prayer request: Dan is awaiting for a CAT scan to see whether or not he has an abcess brewing inside. Stanford is experiencing a deluge of trauma cases so Dan's case is being bumped. His drain output is increasing somewhat and his fever is continuing. So he may or may not be getting out tomorrow. That looks a bit bleaker at the moment. Please pray for the CAT scan to take place SOON and for the results to be good and the infection to be healed by God or by medicine.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your prayers. You are standing with us as we walk through this storm and we are blessed.
Ashley's blogs:
sunday, january 17, 2010
Where's the Barium?!
So, CT was supposed to be around noon. Ha.
It's now nearly 2pm and radiology hasn't even sent up the contrast.
So, Dan has to eat nothing for a CT that we don't have any timeline for. Lame.
Dan just had the charge call down to see what the hold up is.
We'll see...in a long time!
Please keep praying that the CT does NOT show an abscess or anything scary.
Also, pray his wound cultures do NOT show VRE!
Stay tuned. (Or, just check in before bed and we should know something)
sunday january 17, 2010
Another Day
The night was pretty uneventful. The intern came in looking exhausted, drinking coffee and sat down for a while. After talking about the latest movies he has seen, he finally welcomed our questions. Basically, he said the fevers could be from the wound infection or from another type of infection internally. The labs could be from the same causes. The increased JP drain output could be from jostling around or from increased pancreatic leaking or from the removal of the other drain. He said not to worry about it quite yet, but that they will be monitoring Dan to see what happens.
This morning, McGreeky stopped by and changed the dressing. He said the wound is looking better a bit, but still has some purulent drainage. Also, he was concerned about Dan's WBC count yesterday (20). Though it came down to 16 today, he wants to do a CT to check for a liver abcess or other type of fluid collection internally. If they find something, another drain will need to be placed and we'll likely be here at Stanford for a while longer. The doc says he thinks the CT will be a "low-yield test" in that he doubts that's what is happening. Accordingly, Dan will be staying today until more results are known. If all goes well, he can probably go home tomorrow.
Dan is still running low-grade fevers. It's becoming very frustrating. One vital sign (VS) check will show 37 and the next 38.3 and back and forth all day. His JP only drained 30ml last night, as opposed to 110 the (8 hr) shift yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, the drainage is picking up again. McGreeky was fairly sure it is pancreatic juice being released, which means the leak is increasing a bit.
The CT is scheduled for early afternoon, but Dan has to drink contrast first, which hasn't shown up yet. Hopefully, it gets done on time and we can learn the results early evening. McGreeky said he will either call or drop by tonight, so we don't have to wait until tomorrow morning.
So, we're here another day. Dan still feels good, just a bit tired and frustrated. We need to go home soon.
Prayer Requests:
* A clean CT--no abcess or infection anywhere
* Resolution and healing of the wound infection
* Slowing of the JP drainage, eventual drying up
* No more fevers
* Sealing of the pancreatic leak on it's own (without surgical intervention)
* Guidance and wisdom for the docs
* Release from the hospital soon (and safely)
* Healing in all of Dan's body
* Encouragement and endurance
saturday, january 16, 2010
Bah!
Dan has been feeling great all day. He's taken two pain pills today at most, is eating more with no nausea and walking like crazy. He's even been less tired after his walks. When McGreeky saw him this morning, he felt confident that Dan would be going home tomorrow with only one drain. Unfortunately, the labs hadn't come in yet...
So, around 1300 I asked the nurse for a print out of the labs as I normally do. I was shocked to see that Dan's WBCs jumped from 11 to 20 today (normal below 11). Along with the words "toxic granulation" and "bands>20%" that means that his infection is not under control. Trying not to get too disappointed or worried, we decided to just ask the intern when he came around (picture a skinny, tall, apathetic Ben Affleck beach guy...his intonation never changes). Unfortunately, the intern is in charge of several units today and hasn't rounded yet.
While we've been waiting to ask some questions, another unfriendly change has occurred. Dan's drains were previously putting out hardly anything. One drain got removed (yay!) and we forgot about the drains for a while. Then, the CNA came to empty the remaining 2 drains and we discovered that one of them was basically full! This was a dramatic increase in output, which is worrisome because his pancreas is already leaky. So, this could mean that increased food has led to increased leaking of pancreatic enzymes, or some fluid just shifted when the other drain got removed or a little pseudocyst is resolving. Oddly, the drainage color has changed also. Unfortunately, we pretty much have no way of telling which one is going on.
We are still waiting for the intern to stop by, as Dan tries to cool down his fever. He's getting very tired of these temps :(
It is so frustrating to be so close to being released from the hospital to start recovery at home and then have things like this happen. Dan has felt so good today, that it's difficult to remember he's sick. Yet, it would be far worse for Dan to be sent home and have something unexpected happen away from the doctor's watchful eyes.
God is in control what ever happens.
Prayer Requests:
* Resolution of fevers and infection(s)
* That Dan's wound infection is NOT VRE (a nasty antibiotic resistant bacteria)
* Guidance for docs as to what the heck is going on with Dan's drain and labs
* Drying up of any pancreatic leak going on--big or small
* Peace and endurance for the both of us
* Getting out of here in God's timing when Dan is ready to go
* Cooperative digestive system
* NO MORE COMPLICATIONS
Rom 8:28-31
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
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