I was awakened by the nurse giving Amanda meds at five this morning. She left the door open, and I heard a code blue, a call to someone crashing or in need of resuscitation, for Cooley 8A. That’s where the CTICU is and makes things a little more real. I was researching the new medication Amanda is about to start, and it was talking about survival rates a year out from treatment. Things like that really bring the gravity of our situation to light.
We waited for the usual hospitalist; I could set a clock by her. But her usual time of 9 a.m. came and went; it was about 15 minutes later, and I told Amanda she must be off. The fill-in we’d seen last week came in to talk with us not long after. We seem to know more than the hospitalist. He did mention that there wasn’t an order for transfer to the ICU yet, but they should put it in because that always takes time.
The transplant NP came by and told us the medication should arrive this afternoon. There is a different team that rounds in the ICU. However, the cardiologist on that team didn’t want to start the medication till tomorrow morning. The NP said Amanda’s kidneys were happy; they must have liked the diuretic holiday and some extra fluid. When the NP left, she told Amanda she liked her smile and that it was pretty. When she left the room, I looked at Amanda and said I still don’t like her. She said I knew you’d say something like that!
We went for a walk after that, Amanda made two laps before she was hurting. She needed morphine by the end. It just seems futile to do any activity with the pain always coming on. Amanda mentioned the need for the new medication to be administered during the day, not at night. I think she’s getting a little anxious about the “big gun.” I believe the daytime dosing is just that the doctor doesn’t want to be woken up if there’s an issue!
After our walk, I went to grab a coffee. I forgot my jacket, but it wasn’t too cold; my pullover sufficed. I didn’t place my mobile order too early, so I had a little time to chat with Dennis, my buddy. Every time I see him, he calls me baby bark!
I will have to worry about work soon. I was bumped off the board I was on and am back to the regular board. This is where I work up a board matched with a train, once called a spend two days gone then home for two or so. I am lined up to get out tomorrow, but with the new medication, I don’t think Amanda is up for me leaving just yet. This half will likely be a bust, as the last one was with only a couple of sick days for pay.
I’d had my foot up on the doubled-over cushion on my chair bed to help with swelling. It has been feeling great, and I’ve had little pain. I texted a select few yesterday morning to pray I wouldn’t have any issues. Praise the Lord, this has, by far, been the best experience I’ve had with my toe issues. I was even wearing cowboy boots today.
I saw the rounding cardiologist coming down the hall. I took my foot down and put the cushion back so he’d have a place to sit. It was such a quick visit he didn’t even sit down this time! He said they would put the transfer order in now so we could get moved ahead of time and not have any issues getting a room.
Amanda wanted Salata for lunch, so I ran across and grabbed that. I had some oats in my Target order yesterday, so I got hot water from the coffee machine and had those for lunch. Amanda had been raring to do her nails. After all the doctors were done coming by and we had lunch, she knocked them out.
We went for a walk after she was done with her nails. One lap was it before she had chest pain. She called the nurse for morphine, and she came with another vaccine. This was a Hip vaccine for Haemophilus influenza, which helps prevent meningitis and pneumonia. Yesterday, she received a meningitis vaccine A and B, one for each arm. Not sure which one was worse, but her left arm has been sore and swollen today. I asked the ID doc if I needed a meningitis vaccine myself. He said it wouldn’t hurt; neither he nor Dr. Nair seemed to think it was necessary.
I went out to grab my wash-and-fold load and pick up dinner while I was out. I also had a pair of pants to drop off at the cleaners. My undies were neatly folded and tied up in a plastic bag, a good thing, too, because it was raining. I am really making use of Christmas bags. I’d carried some things out in the big gift bag. My clean clothes bag fit perfectly in the bag. At least the pillowcase was on top to semi-hide my undies!
Amanda had been wanting Sweetgreen for dinner. So, I picked up a couple of loaded shroom veggie bowls and roasted sweet potatoes for an app. They also had a brown rice quinoa and date caramel treat. Think kinda healthy rice crispy treat. The bowls were great, and Amanda was ready to order again. We settled in afterward to watch a movie.
I thought we’d already be transferred to the ICU, but the nurse hadn’t even seen the transfer order, much less a room assignment. The NP argued with the nurse that she could put the order in and didn’t need a doctor. She probably forgot, or at least I’ll blame it on her; I like the doctor too much to blame it on him! Now, we’ll be waiting for a room before she can even start the new medication. Who knows when they’ll move us, it was right before the ball dropped last week, so it could still happen tonight.
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