I made it to the step down floor yesterday morning about 3 a.m. What a relief. Bigger, more quiet, a bathroom with a SHOWER, more freedom, and no more heparin shots. I was able to get in the shower yesterday after almost a week in the ICU unit. I got to take a walk from one end of the hall to the lounge area with my husband. We found a banana in one of the patient/family kitchen nooks and I hid it away for this morning. For some reason bananas are a hot commodity. For breakfast they offer peaches and pears but they come in sealed plastic cups full of heavy syrup. I keep having issues with low potassium so I'm concerned about getting enough. At home I usually have coconut water mixed with orange juice in the morning. I can at least hunt down orange juice here. But I also worry about blood sugar spikes since they monitor EVERYTHING that goes in and OUT. They will happily give me pills and medicine for anything that needs it, but I'd rather let my body try to work that out with some natural food. Natural food around here seems to be an unusual thing.
The Hickman was not as traumatic as I was imagining. Everyone told me the hearth cath was nothing to worry about but they just numbed the area and started cutting into the jugular vein. Isn't that enough to make someone scared? I suppose if it was over and out, it would be different but they placed what is called a Swan-Ganz in my neck. The tube remained in my pulmonary artery, up through the heart and out my neck for a couple days while they monitored the pressure inside. Anyway, I thought it was traumatic. Much to my relief they gave me something to make me groggy when the Hickman was placed. I remember the doctor talking to me about Tony Packo's and the bridge in Toledo but don't remember much until I was back under the care of my nurse. They said I was upset with the Novocaine shots in my chest and they upped it. I don't remember but that sounds like me so I believe them. I was itchy after the surgery so they gave me Benadryl through the IV, probably contributing to my already drunken state.
They are upping the meds today and I am hoping to have some progress concerning me going home soon. They say I need to talk to this person and this person, so on and so forth, but everything has to be ordered and reviewed and faxed to Santa's workshop and back so it takes forever. Okay, I'm kidding about the Santa part but that's what it feels like.
I don't know who told you that a heart cath is no big deal. What you went through sounds like a big deal to me. However, you weathered through it like a champ! Way to go! I hope you have someone there everyday when doctors come in and talk with you. It's SO important to have someone help you remember which doctors say what to you when you are medicated. It helps even more if someone takes notes. Heck my husband has recorded a whole doctor meeting with his family for his dad. He did it on his iPhone! No one even knew about him recording. Hopefully you will have a Social Worker from the hospital to arrange any of your medical needs for when you get to go home. Stay strong. *hugs*
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