ICU Day 4 – We Have Movement

05.13.2012

We have movement!

Of the bowels that is. Sounds weird but after this type of operation your guts tend to turn off. Until they start moving you can’t eat. Too much risk of chundering and maybe aspiration into the remaining good lung. I’m sure Sam will kill me once she has her strength back but I’m happy to announce that she has finally pooped since getting out of surgery! (I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m very obviously not as gifted in words as Alison if you happen to read her last blog entry. If you haven’t, you should. Truly beautiful).

Her diet can now start with clear fluids. Clear juices, broths, jello (not just the standard hospital green flavour but the red one too) popsicles. Mmmmm. If she doesn’t cramp up or get nauseated we will go to full fluids.  Thicker soups and shakes etc. Last step will be full diet. That’s probably two or three days away.

Sam has been off her oxygen all morning. Breathing fairly well but still getting nebulizer treatments. Like an automatic water bong that comes out of the wall (but not quite the same effect). It vapourizes meds for her to inhale and open up her airways. It also loosens up some of the crud so its easier to cough up.

The chest tube on her good side is draining way less which is great. Once it stops all together it can come out. Not sure how long that will be.

With all the progress the move to the ward is almost set. Should be this afternoon. I think Alison and I are both looking forward to moving out of ICU. Between us we are here from around 8am to midnight and it’s quite bright and noisy with all the monitors and commotion around. I must say, Alison makes it as cozy a place as it can be for Sam. It’s that best friend touch that is priceless. Lucky for all of us.

Sam is sleeping again which means I’m puttin headphones on and playing Angry Birds.

Later.

Jesse