Post-Op Day 3 Update

So, Harlie is still febrile and miserable.  I was told that she hardly slept throughout the night.  Just little cat naps here and there.  That tells me that she just doesn't feel good, or hurts.  Or maybe all the drugs and medications are messing with her.  I don't know.  The good thing is that she seems a bit more restful today - but only a bit. 

When they rounded on her this am they said they wanted her sitting up and/or walking.  They want to get her to take deeper breaths.  They are assuming she's splinting, which means that she's taking shallow breaths to avoid the chest pain that probably comes with breathing deeply.  And that's not good for getting stuff out of  your lungs.  She's on a lot of oxygen.  When we moved the chair next to her bed so she could sit on my lap, they had to disconnect her trach collar for a minute.  Her sats went from the 80s to 51!!!  And that is NOT good. 

And it was hours into the morning before she coughed for the first time since I arrived.  When the nurse suctioned her it was terribly thick and red and brown.   So, I think it's pretty safe to say that's where the infection could be brewing.  Oh, and her white blood count has risen to 29 (supposed to be somewhere around 5-10) and a little high is normal post-op.  So they have put her on an additional breathing treatment, called Tobramycin. 

They want to start her on another antibiotic, Cephalexan. But, that is the one that we thought caused her months of hives December through January.  The doc attending said that months of hives, in his opinion, is not an allergic reaction to a drug.  I told him we went around and around with this months ago, and it was the only thing she had gotten different.  However, if that med is the best to treat what she's got brewing, then I was agreeable to trying it again to see what happens.  Hives vs. infection - I'll take hives, thank you.  At least they are somewhat treatable (in most cases).  And Zyrtec worked for her last time.  So, he called infectious disease and they are supposed to come and talk to me I guess. 

The cardiovascular (CV) surgeon fellows came to pull one of her atrium lines.  There are two - one in her left atrium (LA) and one in her right atrium (RA).  They are like an IV in that they can pull blood out and deliver meds, etc.  I think I have that right.  Anyway, they tried to take one out, but it is stuck.  So, they had to call the CV surgeon attending to come and try (as of 2:15pm he hasn't been by).  They don't want it to snap (break), leaving the line in on the inside of her heart.  Although, I think if that were to happen, her heart cath doc would have to go and fish it out.  The CV fellow said that since it is still working, means it is still in her atrium, which makes it more dangerous if it snaps.  I must have had a worried look on my face, because he was very sincere and told me that they would take care of it and that I shouldn't worry.  So, good.  I'm not going to worry.  And I'm not being sarcastic.  I'm really no longer worried.  You don't have to tell me twice. 

As far as her fever goes, they put some cooling pad thing under Harlie and she has to lay on it, which is probably not very comfortable.  But it is hooked up to a machine that makes the pad cold and monitors her temp.  It has been off and on all day. 

Oh, and they changed her dressing over her incision, and she barely fought.  Which is a real indication of how crummy she must feel.  She is a fighter, that girl.  But, today she's fighting on the inside.  Which is what is needed right now. 

So, needless to say, she will stay in the CICU for a little longer. 

That's it for now.  Thanks for continuing to keep Harlie in your thoughts and prayers!
~Christy