two updates

[coyotegoth]

From roadnotes:

This, I think is going to be the scary part. They put him on a CPAP machine late yesterday afternoon, and it seemed to help him sleep more soundly (when he's out, I'm having him tested for sleep apnea; that seems likely). But they're going to give him a feeding tube, unless he displays that he can swallow, which he hasn't.

And then he's going to have to be restrained all the time, because he's already been trying to take off the catheter and the cannula. And he'll be restrained, and effectively blinded, with a painful thing stuffed down his throat. and he'll be alone, and scared and angry, and I won't be able to be there all the time.

From eleanor, in a comment thread at Making Light:

Hi Folks,

I'm not sure if this is the best way to disseminate information about Soren, but Velma asked me to post this clarification on exactly the sort of stroke he had:

It was a left basal ganglia infarction, not right. This clarification comes via Dr. Karen Sobel, who is my niece and who was good enough to call Soren's primary attending and talk to him for about 20 minutes yesterday, after which she talked to me.

I'm sure that Velma will be along later with a progress report, but Dr. Karen also said that swelling of the brain generally peaks within 3-5 days; so it should start to go down (most likely has already) and when I was there earlier, he was alert and trying to form words.

Keep those good thoughts and support coming, for both Scraps and for Velma.

Comments

[schoenberg.livejournal.com]

is there a reason they haven't induced a drug-coma to keep him calm during the feeding tube? that's one way of addressing it.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

I believe there are dangers in doing that sort of thing with stroke patients and/or respiratory depressed patients.

[schoenberg.livejournal.com]

oh! sorry -- i didn't realize.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Good heavens. Have they considered a gastrointestinal feeding tube instead? Admittedly this requires more surgery, but it's a hell of a lot more comfortable, and probably better when someone already has swallowing and breathing difficulties. A throat GI tube is in fact likely to make it harder to re-learn to swallow.

Gah, I wish I was closer or something. This is very much like what we went through with my dad. And I'm good at sitting through the night shift in a hospital with a cranky scared person.

If someone can try to get a mouth spray and/or swabs to Velma if they aren't already in use, that would be good. There's nothing like four days of dry mouth to make it hard to swallow and talk, which are important skills right now. Any small mister bottle full of water will do; Evian makes a silly little one sold to travelers, and hospitals should have (but rarely admit to) mouthwash swabs. (Again, a Q-tip and diluted mouthwash or even water will help.)

I don't even have a Making Light login. Bah.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

You don't need a Making Light login. Just put what you want to use down above the textbox. :) I use Marilee there because it was originally people who already knew me.

I talked to Velma today about NG tubes because I had four that my stomach launched back up and blocked my breathing. I wasn't strapped down and I called the nurse with the button. She didn't come in time the first time, so I pulled it out myself, which turns out to be the right thing to do. I'm concerned that if he's left alone, while he's restrained, that might happen and he won't be able to do anything.

On the other hand, Helen has a quote from Ellie here (http://fimbrethil.livejournal.com/902416.html) that indicates that he may be starting to swallow. Someone should have told them earlier that he hates vanilla pudding.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Oh, geez. The miracles of communication in action... Refusal to eat gross hospital food does not necessarily equate to "cannot swallow". Sigh.

I hope he passes the swallowing test and they let him off the feeding tube possibility - but if not, I'd argue for a PEG tube, since an NG tube is so contraindicated in obstructed airway problems and he's got suspected apnea.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Yes- and he has asthma, as well. I'm very much hoping they go PEG on this.