Sunday, December 3, 2023

Progress is slow and mostly steady

It’s hard to believe it’s already been 5 days since Becky’s surgery. It’s also hard to believe it’s only been 5 days since Becky’s surgery. Becky’s not the only one losing track of the days. I have to double check myself from time to time.

On the plus side, her new liver is doing great. The chart on the right tells that story better than I could. Most of us are familiar with bilirubin levels and how the liver plays a role in keeping them under control. We’ve seen or had babies that looked a little yellow because the liver wasn’t quite doing its job yet. Well, during Becky’s time in the ICU prior to surgery her bilirubin numbers were steadily climbing, and her skin and eyes were getting more and more yellow. Then only three days after surgery her number was back in the green, and her normal color has returned. This is just one of many numbers that indicate the new liver is doing well.

The kidney, on the other hand, is taking its sweet time. We’re still waiting, but everyone is still optimistic that it’s just a matter of time.

Becky’s been out of bed a couple times sitting in a chair. She watched the Texas football game with her brothers yesterday. Hook ‘em! College Football Playoff bound! Hopefully we won’t have to watch those games from the hospital. She’s off oxygen. She even walked around the room a bit yesterday and she seemed to be coming out of her ICU delirium. Lots of positives in just a few days.

Last night was a bit of a setback. The doctors were trying to use Melatonin to replace her Seroquel to help her sleep. She takes Seroquel as one of her anxiety meds, but it also helps her sleep at night. I believe there are concerns about its interaction with some of her new medications which is why they’ve lowered the dose and were trying the Melatonin. However, it feels like the Melatonin was having the opposite effect on her. It was keeping her up and after two nights was leading to new confusion and some hallucinations. I think those side-effects have worn off a little as the day has progressed, and hopefully she’ll be better after a good night’s sleep. And she won’t be getting any more Melatonin.

If all goes well today, they will try to take her off the CRRT (continuous dialysis) tomorrow and transition to traditional dialysis (a.k.a. HD or hemodialysis). If that goes well, she could move from the ICU to a regular room in the next day or so. Rehab will almost certainly come after that.

She’s also been cleared to start a regular diet and ate a little bit at lunch and dinner. Not a lot of appetite, but she’s keeping down what she does eat so that’s good.

In addition to prayers for her continued recovery and minimal complications (there are almost certainly going to be some at some point), please pray that Becky has the strength, determination, willpower, resolve, self-discipline, etc. to follow the guidance provided by the doctors, nurses, therapists, nutritionists, and her family and to do the right things for her recovery and long term health. It won’t be easy for her. It will take a village.

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