Becca's Wish Trip........Update:September 2011.....Photo's....Sorta :)
- Thread starter llurgy
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llurgy
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Day 50 - Happy to Throw Up (March 27, 2009)
Neither David nor I were with Bic during the day. We both went back home, leaving poor Bic on her own. The reports from the nursing staff when we returned in the evening were not particularly good. Bic has had a rough day feeling sick.
But let's get back to the beginning of the day:
Bic had a bad night suffering from diarrhea and sickness and was running a temperature as high as 102.2. The doctors decided that it wasn't a good idea to perform the swallow test that had been planned for this morning, so David went to work and I did the long overdue taxes at home.
When we first got back to the ward this evening, Bic was in fairly good spirit, though still obviously recovering from feeling ill all day. We were all watching a movie when Bic suddenly felt unwell again. It coincided with her 6 hourly penicillin being infused - it had been running for about 5 minutes, just like we have observed over the last couple of days. The complication is that another antibiotic called Flagyl is run immediately before the penicillin for an hour and that has a 'reputation' for causing stomach upsets.
Anyway, the penicillin was immediately stopped and the doctors called to report what had just happened. They in turn contacted the attending on infectious diseases for their recommendations. They confirmed that the penicillin should be stopped. They also terminated another medicine (Moxifloxacin) that was given for the first time today.
The penicillin was replaced with Vancomyocin (which she has received previously) and the Moxifloxacin was replaced with Cefotaxime.
This news is very promising and we are extremely hopeful that the cause of Bic's vomiting has finally been found. If it's not the penicillin, it is probably the Flagyl. Either way, the offending medicine can be eliminated and hopefully Bic can get back on with what she is here for - rehabilitation.
It also means that we maybe able to forgo the scope on Monday and not have to make that decision about having a belly feeding tube surgically placed.
The throwing up and possibly the residual medicine in her system continued to make Bic feel bad all the way through to going to sleep for the night; so it's not just a question of getting the meds, throwing up, then getting back to business. It seems to knock her out for several hours afterward and she is sometimes able to recover just in time for the next dose!
We are finally optimistic that Bic might have a good weekend!
Neither David nor I were with Bic during the day. We both went back home, leaving poor Bic on her own. The reports from the nursing staff when we returned in the evening were not particularly good. Bic has had a rough day feeling sick.
But let's get back to the beginning of the day:
Bic had a bad night suffering from diarrhea and sickness and was running a temperature as high as 102.2. The doctors decided that it wasn't a good idea to perform the swallow test that had been planned for this morning, so David went to work and I did the long overdue taxes at home.
When we first got back to the ward this evening, Bic was in fairly good spirit, though still obviously recovering from feeling ill all day. We were all watching a movie when Bic suddenly felt unwell again. It coincided with her 6 hourly penicillin being infused - it had been running for about 5 minutes, just like we have observed over the last couple of days. The complication is that another antibiotic called Flagyl is run immediately before the penicillin for an hour and that has a 'reputation' for causing stomach upsets.
Anyway, the penicillin was immediately stopped and the doctors called to report what had just happened. They in turn contacted the attending on infectious diseases for their recommendations. They confirmed that the penicillin should be stopped. They also terminated another medicine (Moxifloxacin) that was given for the first time today.
The penicillin was replaced with Vancomyocin (which she has received previously) and the Moxifloxacin was replaced with Cefotaxime.
This news is very promising and we are extremely hopeful that the cause of Bic's vomiting has finally been found. If it's not the penicillin, it is probably the Flagyl. Either way, the offending medicine can be eliminated and hopefully Bic can get back on with what she is here for - rehabilitation.
It also means that we maybe able to forgo the scope on Monday and not have to make that decision about having a belly feeding tube surgically placed.
The throwing up and possibly the residual medicine in her system continued to make Bic feel bad all the way through to going to sleep for the night; so it's not just a question of getting the meds, throwing up, then getting back to business. It seems to knock her out for several hours afterward and she is sometimes able to recover just in time for the next dose!
We are finally optimistic that Bic might have a good weekend!
llurgy
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Day 51 - Electric Chair (March 28, 2009)
Bic was feeling a lot better this morning after being quite bad when we left her last night. She felt weak, but was in good spirit. She got herself ready for the day by getting dressed and brushed her teeth. She had her respiratory therapy and was told that her chest sounded very clear with no signs of crackles. We later asked the doctor when she could stop having the 'vest' and we were told that they wanted her to keep at it for a little while longer to make double sure that there isn't any problem that could surface again later.
The doctor was very pleased with the turn around since the withdraw of her penicillin. She was quietly optimistic that we had indeed found the culprit for her stomach upsets, but didn't want to get too excited until she had remained settled for several days.
The endoscopy planned for Monday may not happen now depending on how Bic feels between now and then. For us, that is a good thing because we are not keen on having to make the decision about having a belly tube installed.
We also spoke to the neuro surgeon this morning and he admitted that he had been pressed by the infectious disease doctors to do another surgery on her lesion (abscess) because of her continued temperature spikes. With the events of the last 24 hours, this had been put on low priority and quite honestly, the neuro surgeon didn't want to rush into it. He admitted the initial sugery was done under less than ideal conditions which had lead to the bleed and puncturing of the ventricles. He said if they were to do it again, they would do a good MRI scan and direct the aspiration needle stereoscopically (like GPS guidance). Unfortunately, such a surgery would still put Bic back several weeks and she might loose her speech again. At this point, though it is not an imminent possibility - but that could change if her temperatures continue to spike.
Bic was out of bed in her electric wheelchair by 9am. We made a bee line down to the gift shop, Bic's favorite place in the hospital (surprise) and got herself a small cuddly chicken that she is calling Jake! Bic says "Sorry Jake, no offense, even though it is pink, it is still called Jake - but I am not calling you girly."
She stayed in her wheelchair all morning even through her therapy sessions. It wasn't until lunchtime that she finally got back into bed.
Through the morning, she experienced an active belly that she described as "gurgly and hungry". She didn't feel sick though, which is the main thing.
Overall, Bic has been weak from days of inactivity. Every movement has been a big strain on her body and especially getting in and out of bed has been very difficult for her. She did manage to go to the bathroom today - perhaps only the second or third time during her stay. It is still a performance getting her there especially with the pole stacked with infusion pumps and about half a dozen tubes to fight with!
Late this afternoon, the nurses took away the pole of infusion pumps to try to better organize them. That was our chance to escape, pole free. We all made a dash for the lobby and, of course, the gift shop. Our freedom lasted just over half an hour before there was a call put out over the hospital public address system for us to return to the ward!
That was more or less it for activities except for a much needed bath that she took this evening. Her belly continued to gurgle, not feeling right. It was as though her stomach was still trying to recover from weeks of torture and we hope that is what it is.
She is being fed again via her NG tube - all of 1 ml/h of pediolite! They plan to change this to 1 ml/h of formula tomorrow.
Bic was feeling a lot better this morning after being quite bad when we left her last night. She felt weak, but was in good spirit. She got herself ready for the day by getting dressed and brushed her teeth. She had her respiratory therapy and was told that her chest sounded very clear with no signs of crackles. We later asked the doctor when she could stop having the 'vest' and we were told that they wanted her to keep at it for a little while longer to make double sure that there isn't any problem that could surface again later.
The doctor was very pleased with the turn around since the withdraw of her penicillin. She was quietly optimistic that we had indeed found the culprit for her stomach upsets, but didn't want to get too excited until she had remained settled for several days.
The endoscopy planned for Monday may not happen now depending on how Bic feels between now and then. For us, that is a good thing because we are not keen on having to make the decision about having a belly tube installed.
We also spoke to the neuro surgeon this morning and he admitted that he had been pressed by the infectious disease doctors to do another surgery on her lesion (abscess) because of her continued temperature spikes. With the events of the last 24 hours, this had been put on low priority and quite honestly, the neuro surgeon didn't want to rush into it. He admitted the initial sugery was done under less than ideal conditions which had lead to the bleed and puncturing of the ventricles. He said if they were to do it again, they would do a good MRI scan and direct the aspiration needle stereoscopically (like GPS guidance). Unfortunately, such a surgery would still put Bic back several weeks and she might loose her speech again. At this point, though it is not an imminent possibility - but that could change if her temperatures continue to spike.
Bic was out of bed in her electric wheelchair by 9am. We made a bee line down to the gift shop, Bic's favorite place in the hospital (surprise) and got herself a small cuddly chicken that she is calling Jake! Bic says "Sorry Jake, no offense, even though it is pink, it is still called Jake - but I am not calling you girly."
She stayed in her wheelchair all morning even through her therapy sessions. It wasn't until lunchtime that she finally got back into bed.
Through the morning, she experienced an active belly that she described as "gurgly and hungry". She didn't feel sick though, which is the main thing.
Overall, Bic has been weak from days of inactivity. Every movement has been a big strain on her body and especially getting in and out of bed has been very difficult for her. She did manage to go to the bathroom today - perhaps only the second or third time during her stay. It is still a performance getting her there especially with the pole stacked with infusion pumps and about half a dozen tubes to fight with!
Late this afternoon, the nurses took away the pole of infusion pumps to try to better organize them. That was our chance to escape, pole free. We all made a dash for the lobby and, of course, the gift shop. Our freedom lasted just over half an hour before there was a call put out over the hospital public address system for us to return to the ward!
That was more or less it for activities except for a much needed bath that she took this evening. Her belly continued to gurgle, not feeling right. It was as though her stomach was still trying to recover from weeks of torture and we hope that is what it is.
She is being fed again via her NG tube - all of 1 ml/h of pediolite! They plan to change this to 1 ml/h of formula tomorrow.
TwistofLemon
<font color=green>I laugh til I can't breath<br><f
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Fantastic to see the new pics! I'm so glad you all had a good day, you certainly deserve it.
Wishes and prayers and
that you've started an upward trend!
Wishes and prayers and
that you've started an upward trend!
eyor44
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- May 26, 2008
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wow! missed a couple of days and look at all you have been through. I do hope they have figured out the reason for being sick. How wonderful if it were just the meds. Now the fevers. Maybe the fevers are because she feels so poorly? Prayers all around every day.
Jen
Just dropping by to say Hi! I'm glad the penicillin was found to be part of the source of Becca's tummy troubles. I love her new little chick, Jake, and Dollie the bunny pictures. It must have felt so good for Becca to just get outside for some fresh air and sunshine! You are still in our prayers!
llurgy
DIS Veteran
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Day 52 - Ice Maiden (March 29, 2009)
This morning, we found Bic in very good spirit. She has had a good nights sleep and was ready for a brand new day.
There is still a lot of medical things to contend with first thing in the morning like her 20 minute respiratory vest treatment, her Lovonox injection in her belly and organization of about half a dozen infusion meds and food. It makes the whole process of getting started very slow.
Bic had one of each color from her Trix cereal like last night and a lot of crushed ice (she had a full cup of ice)!
The doctor came in this morning and expressed her pleasure at how well Bic was doing. She confirmed that the endoscopy could probably be dispensed with tomorrow, but they would have to talk with GI first thing to get their buy in. Also we talked about the proposition of another brain surgery. She said that this was also looking unlikely since Bic appears to be in the clear since withdrawing the penicillin. The fevers are now been put down to the penicillin (drug fever). During the night, Bic complained that she woke with a hot flush and the nurses reported a high temperature of 100.2, which is relatively low for Bic.
She managed to go to the toilet again, which is a good accomplishment. She is being taken off the medicine pole for bathroom visits, which helps a lot with maneuverability around the room.
This afternoon, Bic had another trip down stairs to the lobby and gift shop. This time it was a large bunny she found. She was named Dollie!
Bic kept complaining of belly discomfort - not stomach and not nausea, but cramps lower down. This continued throughout the afternoon. She did get back in her chair once more to walk with visitors, but she had to cut her venture short because she felt too bad. We returned to her room mid afternoon and Bic spent the rest of the day in bed watching TV. Besides a few ice chips, Bic didn't really eat much more either.
Day 53 - March 30th
Again I arrived this AM to find Bic in great form. In fact she was awake and sat up in bed watching early episodes of Drake and Josh on her computer and all of this at the early hour of just gone 7am
We went through the morning ritual of eating breakfast - one small bite of scrambled egg and 4 segments of Mandarin oranges, getting dressed - of which she does about 70% herself now and brushing teeth which she does completely herself.
About 8.30am she has her vest treatment for the pneumonia, she still really hates this and it is 20 minutes long so it cuts into her 'free' time greatly.
The GI doc came in around 8.45am to see what was happening in preparation for her upper GI scope down in surgery today. As it was being related to him what had happened over the weekend and that because the nausea had gone away we didn't feel that the scope was necessary at this time he received a page from the GI attending stating that Becca's procedure had been canceled.
All her therapies then lasted through until 12 noon. She did rather well in them all, she did get really tired but she persevered until lunchtime.
For lunch she had 2 bites of hot dog and a spoonful of peas. I know it sounds pretty pitiful the amount of food she is eating but you have to remember that she is getting her full supplement of TPN feeding and some formula via her NJ tube, so she is never ever actually hungry. The plan for feeding is to slowly get her up to speed again with the formula through the NJ tube so that they can withdraw the TPN feeding. While that is happening we are trying to get her to take food by mouth but it is really difficult because she is full from her other feeds. It will work itself out eventually but our goal for now is to get the TPN infusions stopped as soon as possible.
Around 3.45pm she suffered through a really bad belly cramp. This was in the upper belly, there was no nausea with it just pain and it lasted around 10 minutes total. We figure it is just her belly complaining about being used again and hope that it is nothing more than that.
Dinner has just arrived, going to try and get some of that in her belly now. I wonder how many teeny-weeny bits I can get her to eat?
Love Mandy
This morning, we found Bic in very good spirit. She has had a good nights sleep and was ready for a brand new day.
There is still a lot of medical things to contend with first thing in the morning like her 20 minute respiratory vest treatment, her Lovonox injection in her belly and organization of about half a dozen infusion meds and food. It makes the whole process of getting started very slow.
Bic had one of each color from her Trix cereal like last night and a lot of crushed ice (she had a full cup of ice)!
The doctor came in this morning and expressed her pleasure at how well Bic was doing. She confirmed that the endoscopy could probably be dispensed with tomorrow, but they would have to talk with GI first thing to get their buy in. Also we talked about the proposition of another brain surgery. She said that this was also looking unlikely since Bic appears to be in the clear since withdrawing the penicillin. The fevers are now been put down to the penicillin (drug fever). During the night, Bic complained that she woke with a hot flush and the nurses reported a high temperature of 100.2, which is relatively low for Bic.
She managed to go to the toilet again, which is a good accomplishment. She is being taken off the medicine pole for bathroom visits, which helps a lot with maneuverability around the room.
This afternoon, Bic had another trip down stairs to the lobby and gift shop. This time it was a large bunny she found. She was named Dollie!
Bic kept complaining of belly discomfort - not stomach and not nausea, but cramps lower down. This continued throughout the afternoon. She did get back in her chair once more to walk with visitors, but she had to cut her venture short because she felt too bad. We returned to her room mid afternoon and Bic spent the rest of the day in bed watching TV. Besides a few ice chips, Bic didn't really eat much more either.
Day 53 - March 30th
Again I arrived this AM to find Bic in great form. In fact she was awake and sat up in bed watching early episodes of Drake and Josh on her computer and all of this at the early hour of just gone 7am
We went through the morning ritual of eating breakfast - one small bite of scrambled egg and 4 segments of Mandarin oranges, getting dressed - of which she does about 70% herself now and brushing teeth which she does completely herself.
About 8.30am she has her vest treatment for the pneumonia, she still really hates this and it is 20 minutes long so it cuts into her 'free' time greatly.
The GI doc came in around 8.45am to see what was happening in preparation for her upper GI scope down in surgery today. As it was being related to him what had happened over the weekend and that because the nausea had gone away we didn't feel that the scope was necessary at this time he received a page from the GI attending stating that Becca's procedure had been canceled.
All her therapies then lasted through until 12 noon. She did rather well in them all, she did get really tired but she persevered until lunchtime.
For lunch she had 2 bites of hot dog and a spoonful of peas. I know it sounds pretty pitiful the amount of food she is eating but you have to remember that she is getting her full supplement of TPN feeding and some formula via her NJ tube, so she is never ever actually hungry. The plan for feeding is to slowly get her up to speed again with the formula through the NJ tube so that they can withdraw the TPN feeding. While that is happening we are trying to get her to take food by mouth but it is really difficult because she is full from her other feeds. It will work itself out eventually but our goal for now is to get the TPN infusions stopped as soon as possible.
Around 3.45pm she suffered through a really bad belly cramp. This was in the upper belly, there was no nausea with it just pain and it lasted around 10 minutes total. We figure it is just her belly complaining about being used again and hope that it is nothing more than that.
Dinner has just arrived, going to try and get some of that in her belly now. I wonder how many teeny-weeny bits I can get her to eat?
Love Mandy
Mandy: as always, thank you for the update. Our son Mark ahs a g-tube that is now used only to supplement his nutrition at night, but there was a time when about 80% of his nutrition was by g-tube. At that time, we were desperate to have him continue to put food - just about ANY food - into his mouth, just so he wouldn't give up. I'm sure you celebrate each and every one of those bites! Still, I think Becca is a successful eater who appreciates the taste of things she knows she likes - we just wanted to get to that point, as we figured it meant he would always east something, and we just had to work on quantity.
I hope the nausea continues to be hold at bay adn the tummy cramps go away too. Sounds like she had a busy day!
Alison
I hope the nausea continues to be hold at bay adn the tummy cramps go away too. Sounds like she had a busy day!
Alison
llurgy
DIS Veteran
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Day 54 (March 31, 2009)
The morning started full steam ahead. I arrived at 7.45am to find that things were in full swing getting Becca prepared to go down for her MRI of the brain. Becca went down at 8am and straight after the MRI was wheeled in her bed to ultrasound to have her belly echoed. It was amazing really, no-one back up on the unit could actually believe that she had had 2 procedures done back to back without having to come back up to the unit in between.
Becca finally got back onto the unit at 10.30am just in time to see the man who had arrived to evaluate her for her wheelchair. This evaluation went on until just after 12pm.
At 12 noon her respiratory therapist came to give her the vest treatment......and then the Infectious disease doc came in to see how she was doing and to kind of discuss her antibiotic regime. The MRI showed that the abscess was actually shrinking but it probably wouldn't disappear altogether due to it filling with blood at the time if the original surgery. Infectious diseases said that she would probably only need to be on antibiotics for another 10-14 days and that they would MRI her again about 2 weeks after the antibiotics have finished. Infectious diseases couldn't understand her reaction to the Penicillin she had been having. Throwing up and spiking fevers is not a known reaction to the drug. The evidence proves otherwise because she has not even felt nauseous since the drug was withdrawn and her fever spikes also ceased occurring at the same time. The infectious disease doc was also wanting to get in touch with Becca's specialist in Yale to talk about long term antibiotics to try and lessen the chance of another brain abscess occurring.
Even though she has been ill for the past few weeks and has not been able to participate fully in her therapy sessions her preliminary release date has not changed this week (We get a progress report from the therapists' weekly get together) so we are still on target for April 29th. Hopefully she will carry on gaining strength and be able to do her therapies to her full extent. She really needs to work hard, because if she doesn't we fear that her release date will be put back to sometime in May. As it is we feel that the release date as it stands may have just been an omission and they just forgot to change it when they discussed her progress......or lack of.
Becca has worked hard today in between all the other tests and treatments, she stood for thirty seconds with minimal help and also managed to walk a few steps with more help. She made a visit to the bathroom which is harder than it sounds. She has to transfer from bed to chair, get into the bathroom which is all the way around the other side of the bed (and the bathroom is really big). Transfer out of her chair onto the toilet, hold herself up whilst on the toilet and when finished transfer off the toilet into her chair and get back to the bed, out of the chair and into bed again. As you may guess, she has to give a lot of warning time when she needs to go because as well as the travel distance and transferring we also have to contend with an IV pole filled with 6 infusion machines.
Becca's hard day of labor finished with her enjoying a relaxing half hour of massage therapy, she looks forward to this time every day and knows that she is finished for the day, after her massage she is totally useless for a while, she just wants to doze and carry on relaxing so when David gets in from work she is usually zonked for a while and he is lucky if he even gets a hello out of her.
Love
Mandy
The morning started full steam ahead. I arrived at 7.45am to find that things were in full swing getting Becca prepared to go down for her MRI of the brain. Becca went down at 8am and straight after the MRI was wheeled in her bed to ultrasound to have her belly echoed. It was amazing really, no-one back up on the unit could actually believe that she had had 2 procedures done back to back without having to come back up to the unit in between.
Becca finally got back onto the unit at 10.30am just in time to see the man who had arrived to evaluate her for her wheelchair. This evaluation went on until just after 12pm.
At 12 noon her respiratory therapist came to give her the vest treatment......and then the Infectious disease doc came in to see how she was doing and to kind of discuss her antibiotic regime. The MRI showed that the abscess was actually shrinking but it probably wouldn't disappear altogether due to it filling with blood at the time if the original surgery. Infectious diseases said that she would probably only need to be on antibiotics for another 10-14 days and that they would MRI her again about 2 weeks after the antibiotics have finished. Infectious diseases couldn't understand her reaction to the Penicillin she had been having. Throwing up and spiking fevers is not a known reaction to the drug. The evidence proves otherwise because she has not even felt nauseous since the drug was withdrawn and her fever spikes also ceased occurring at the same time. The infectious disease doc was also wanting to get in touch with Becca's specialist in Yale to talk about long term antibiotics to try and lessen the chance of another brain abscess occurring.
Even though she has been ill for the past few weeks and has not been able to participate fully in her therapy sessions her preliminary release date has not changed this week (We get a progress report from the therapists' weekly get together) so we are still on target for April 29th. Hopefully she will carry on gaining strength and be able to do her therapies to her full extent. She really needs to work hard, because if she doesn't we fear that her release date will be put back to sometime in May. As it is we feel that the release date as it stands may have just been an omission and they just forgot to change it when they discussed her progress......or lack of.
Becca has worked hard today in between all the other tests and treatments, she stood for thirty seconds with minimal help and also managed to walk a few steps with more help. She made a visit to the bathroom which is harder than it sounds. She has to transfer from bed to chair, get into the bathroom which is all the way around the other side of the bed (and the bathroom is really big). Transfer out of her chair onto the toilet, hold herself up whilst on the toilet and when finished transfer off the toilet into her chair and get back to the bed, out of the chair and into bed again. As you may guess, she has to give a lot of warning time when she needs to go because as well as the travel distance and transferring we also have to contend with an IV pole filled with 6 infusion machines.
Becca's hard day of labor finished with her enjoying a relaxing half hour of massage therapy, she looks forward to this time every day and knows that she is finished for the day, after her massage she is totally useless for a while, she just wants to doze and carry on relaxing so when David gets in from work she is usually zonked for a while and he is lucky if he even gets a hello out of her.
Love
Mandy
maroo
DIS Veteran
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That is great news that the brain MRI went well!!!!
Bless her...I know about that bathroom stuff...is it quite a trip to get yourself through all of that stuff when you are in the hospital and such!
It sounds like she is doing MUCH better! Tell her way to go !!!!
We are still praying!
Bless her...I know about that bathroom stuff...is it quite a trip to get yourself through all of that stuff when you are in the hospital and such!
It sounds like she is doing MUCH better! Tell her way to go !!!!
We are still praying!
llurgy
DIS Veteran
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- Oct 2, 2008
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- 585
I went across to the hospital this morning at 7.45am and Becca was snoring away. I gave her 5 minutes more then wished her a good morning. She stated that she had slept "so-so" because she had had some "hot flashes" in the night. She does tend to run a little bit warm anyways and she likes to have a pillow on each side of her. The pillows are plastic under the cases and we think these are adding to the hot flushes she is experiencing, added to the fact that she is over extending the capacity of her diapers so she is insisting that she have those plastic backed scut sheets under her. So she is surrounding herself with heat inducing plastic and it is no wonder she is getting hot in the night.
About 8.20am her nurse pushed a dose of Prevacid (a new medicine used to prevent ulcers) through her NJ tube, it was pushed very slowly but about 1/2 way through she started experiencing rather severe stomach cramping. The rest of the medicine was pushed through but we are now on alert to see if the same thing happens next time it is given. Becca experienced several cramps throughout the rest of the day. At the same time as this new medicine was introduced they started to up her formula feeding through her NJ tube from 30ml per hour to 50ml per hour. This was being done in 5ml per hour incremental doses instead of the previous 1ml per hour increments. So, the cramping could be a result of the higher NJ tube feeding or the Prevacid, they are keeping an eye out for changes but in the meantime her formula feeding is still climbing in volume but now only being upped at 1ml per hour instead of the 5ml per hour.
In Physical Therapy this afternoon Bic apparently did wonders. I unfortunately was not there (gone to lunch) but I had the story told to me by a very, very proud Becca!! Becca had stood up out of her chair, walked four steps to the raised mat in the Gym, pivoted and then sat on the raised mat, all by herself!!!! No aid, no person, no walker!! She then had to take a five minute break laid down on the mat but did leg exercises whilst resting. She repeated the return journey to her chair but required a little help pivoting and sitting back in her chair. She was so proud and was bursting to tell me when I returned from lunch. I was really bummed that I missed it all but Becca said that I could see it all the next time.
At 2pm Becca did another bathroom visit,chair around the bedside and into the bathroom, stand, pivot, sit on the toilet......everyone leaves her to it and then everyone piles back into the bathroom to repeat the procedure in reverse. It would only need one person to help if it were not for the pole with all the machines on it and the six or seven tubes that lead from Bic to that pole. Poor Becca has to state at least 15 minutes in advance that she needs the bathroom otherwise we would never be able to get everything done in time.
Becca has slowly been getting much better, the stomach cramps today were a worry but we will see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully they will be all gone except for the odd twinge here and there. The odd twinge we can handle but the cramps this morning were doubling her up in pain.
Today and yesterday she worked on a pillow project, she had to make a small round pillow by tying pre-cut fleece together, stuffing it then gluing on a face. She sat last night diligently tying knots in the fleece whilst watching TV, she then stuffed it and finished tying before we left last night. Today she glued the face on, she loves it and now wants to make another.
Love
Mandy
About 8.20am her nurse pushed a dose of Prevacid (a new medicine used to prevent ulcers) through her NJ tube, it was pushed very slowly but about 1/2 way through she started experiencing rather severe stomach cramping. The rest of the medicine was pushed through but we are now on alert to see if the same thing happens next time it is given. Becca experienced several cramps throughout the rest of the day. At the same time as this new medicine was introduced they started to up her formula feeding through her NJ tube from 30ml per hour to 50ml per hour. This was being done in 5ml per hour incremental doses instead of the previous 1ml per hour increments. So, the cramping could be a result of the higher NJ tube feeding or the Prevacid, they are keeping an eye out for changes but in the meantime her formula feeding is still climbing in volume but now only being upped at 1ml per hour instead of the 5ml per hour.
In Physical Therapy this afternoon Bic apparently did wonders. I unfortunately was not there (gone to lunch) but I had the story told to me by a very, very proud Becca!! Becca had stood up out of her chair, walked four steps to the raised mat in the Gym, pivoted and then sat on the raised mat, all by herself!!!! No aid, no person, no walker!! She then had to take a five minute break laid down on the mat but did leg exercises whilst resting. She repeated the return journey to her chair but required a little help pivoting and sitting back in her chair. She was so proud and was bursting to tell me when I returned from lunch. I was really bummed that I missed it all but Becca said that I could see it all the next time.
At 2pm Becca did another bathroom visit,chair around the bedside and into the bathroom, stand, pivot, sit on the toilet......everyone leaves her to it and then everyone piles back into the bathroom to repeat the procedure in reverse. It would only need one person to help if it were not for the pole with all the machines on it and the six or seven tubes that lead from Bic to that pole. Poor Becca has to state at least 15 minutes in advance that she needs the bathroom otherwise we would never be able to get everything done in time.
Becca has slowly been getting much better, the stomach cramps today were a worry but we will see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully they will be all gone except for the odd twinge here and there. The odd twinge we can handle but the cramps this morning were doubling her up in pain.
Today and yesterday she worked on a pillow project, she had to make a small round pillow by tying pre-cut fleece together, stuffing it then gluing on a face. She sat last night diligently tying knots in the fleece whilst watching TV, she then stuffed it and finished tying before we left last night. Today she glued the face on, she loves it and now wants to make another.
Love
Mandy
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