Sunday, March 11, 2007
Sunday Morning
I was unable to update the blog yesterday. Mary Lee and I could not visit Bill until noon yesterday and once we got to the hospital we were with him all day. In fact I spent the night in a cot beside him. I have come back to the hotel momentarily to have breakfast, shower and do some laundry as well as pick up Mary Lee for a return to the hospital.
When we arrived yesterday at noon Bill was still in the neuro critical care unit. A nurse was stationed to him at all times. She monitored all of his vital signs and cognitive abilities throughout the night. There was hardly any room for Mary Lee and I in the room because of all the machinery that Bill was attached to. It was evident at first sight that Bill was in alot of pain and completely exhausted. He whispered to us that he did not get any sleep all night...the pain and nausea were excruciating. Of course he was stoic and had sat all night watching the clock tick slowly until our return.
Shortly after we arrived, Bill was transferred to a single room on the neuro floor. He was cut loose from all the monitors and rolled into a quiet room with a sunny window. Bill immediately asked for "basketball." We ordered the cable and within moments BC versus NC was on the screen. While he did not have the energy to look at the game, it gave him a sense of normalcy.
Yesterday proved to be difficult with little relief from pain and nausea. His neck is also very painful from being both swisted in an unatural position during surgery and swelling from the 5 inch incision behind his ear. Pain medications are not heavy because they want Bill to be aware at all times in order to monitor his cognition. His headache is self explanatory (brain surgery!) and the nausea comes from the cutting of the left vestibular nerve. Although the tumor had basically destroyed the nerve already, the further destruction of it during surgery has caused
severe dizziness and lack of balance with just a little movement. The Dr.s have all said that time and movement with allow his right vestibular nerve to pick up the slack and he will regain his innate sense of balance. In addition to the mentioned, Bill's facial nerve is severley weakened by the surgery and he is having difficulty with motion on the left side of his face. He has a cellophane wrap over his left eye to protect his cornea since he cannot close his eye completely. The left side of his mouth is also weakened so he sounds drunk when he talks (but he's not).
The nurse told Bill that as the pain meds built up in his system, he would get more relief. She was right because by 7:45 last night he was finally resting. He was able to put together a few hours of sleep between the nurse recording vitals and dispensing meds. By 8 AM this morning he was markedly improved. One of the Fellow Drs on the team, Dr. Eiser, came in (he will be moving to Hartford in August to join an otology practice) and removed the heavy bandage on Bill's incision. The incision looks good.
We have already reached some milestones today. The catheter was removed and one of the plans for today is to try solid foods. He has been on an IV drip since Friday and his last meal was lamb stew at James Joyce's Pub. He is very hungry. He had to prove his swallowing capabilities by taking his own meds and drinking on his own. He passed! A physical therapist will come and make a plan for getting him up (slowly) and moving. He is ready to follow all instructions with 100% effort.
Mary Lee and I are packing a bag with comfortable flannels. The day before surgery he bought a pair of "life is Good" flannel pajama pants which we washed for him. Leo, Paul and Susan will be back again to visit today. I will update the blog again the next time I'm back at the computer.
Thank you for all the calls and emails....they truly make recovery easier!
When we arrived yesterday at noon Bill was still in the neuro critical care unit. A nurse was stationed to him at all times. She monitored all of his vital signs and cognitive abilities throughout the night. There was hardly any room for Mary Lee and I in the room because of all the machinery that Bill was attached to. It was evident at first sight that Bill was in alot of pain and completely exhausted. He whispered to us that he did not get any sleep all night...the pain and nausea were excruciating. Of course he was stoic and had sat all night watching the clock tick slowly until our return.
Shortly after we arrived, Bill was transferred to a single room on the neuro floor. He was cut loose from all the monitors and rolled into a quiet room with a sunny window. Bill immediately asked for "basketball." We ordered the cable and within moments BC versus NC was on the screen. While he did not have the energy to look at the game, it gave him a sense of normalcy.
Yesterday proved to be difficult with little relief from pain and nausea. His neck is also very painful from being both swisted in an unatural position during surgery and swelling from the 5 inch incision behind his ear. Pain medications are not heavy because they want Bill to be aware at all times in order to monitor his cognition. His headache is self explanatory (brain surgery!) and the nausea comes from the cutting of the left vestibular nerve. Although the tumor had basically destroyed the nerve already, the further destruction of it during surgery has caused
severe dizziness and lack of balance with just a little movement. The Dr.s have all said that time and movement with allow his right vestibular nerve to pick up the slack and he will regain his innate sense of balance. In addition to the mentioned, Bill's facial nerve is severley weakened by the surgery and he is having difficulty with motion on the left side of his face. He has a cellophane wrap over his left eye to protect his cornea since he cannot close his eye completely. The left side of his mouth is also weakened so he sounds drunk when he talks (but he's not).
The nurse told Bill that as the pain meds built up in his system, he would get more relief. She was right because by 7:45 last night he was finally resting. He was able to put together a few hours of sleep between the nurse recording vitals and dispensing meds. By 8 AM this morning he was markedly improved. One of the Fellow Drs on the team, Dr. Eiser, came in (he will be moving to Hartford in August to join an otology practice) and removed the heavy bandage on Bill's incision. The incision looks good.
We have already reached some milestones today. The catheter was removed and one of the plans for today is to try solid foods. He has been on an IV drip since Friday and his last meal was lamb stew at James Joyce's Pub. He is very hungry. He had to prove his swallowing capabilities by taking his own meds and drinking on his own. He passed! A physical therapist will come and make a plan for getting him up (slowly) and moving. He is ready to follow all instructions with 100% effort.
Mary Lee and I are packing a bag with comfortable flannels. The day before surgery he bought a pair of "life is Good" flannel pajama pants which we washed for him. Leo, Paul and Susan will be back again to visit today. I will update the blog again the next time I'm back at the computer.
Thank you for all the calls and emails....they truly make recovery easier!
