She Walks

10:15 AM - Last night was a bit rough to a point. Actually, yesterday was a bit rough. There were several issues when it came to pain control. Mom has developed a tolerance for some of these narcotics because she has needed so much even just recently. The problem with giving her large doses of this and that is that her already low blood pressure could drop even more. The third major issue with the pain was it seemed the epidural was only reaching the right side of her body. When they did pain tests, it was the left that was the worst. They wanted to just move the catheter a tiny bit, but Mom's blood was too thin, and the doctors didn't want even a little bleeding.

The solution - while waiting for the plasma to thicken Mom's blood, she was given a couple of different pain meds, Between the hours of 7 and midnight, we had the pain management people in the room at least 3 times administering all kinds of stuff. Once her blood was finally thick enough, they moved the catheter just slightly. From about 11 PM to 3 AM Mom slept pretty soundly. At 3 the nurses came in and out and this and that.

So far so good today. Her blood pressure did drop way low (systolic # in the 60's and diastolic in the 40's), but the nurses and doctors are all on top of it.

Mom got up and sat in a chair again for quite a while. Then she wanted to try walking. We went around he nurses station one time, and she did quite well. She was hunching the left side of her body down a little so we kept reminded her to try to straighten up. Overall, though, she did really great. Of course, all of that this morning and the disturbed sleep made her pretty tired. She dozed off a bit earlier as we were getting ready to use the spirometer.

Mom should be moved into a room at some point today. The pain doctors who have worked with us reassured me that they will continue to monitor her closely here and when we move to a room as well.

Please pray:
-for the pain to really be managed and to be eased. They told us the first 72 hours would be the worst. I look forward to the acute pain leaving, but in the meantime, pray that pain would continue to be manged.
-for Mom's blood pressure not to drop as she continues to use the epidural.
-for continued overall healing.