Saturday, July 12, 2008

High Anxiety & Blood Pressure

Well I've stalled about as long as I can with today's first update. I was hoping to be able to report that Cathy was extibated. However, that is not the case. The ventilator assistance has been reduced to 5 units. Cathy is working hard to breathe and remain calm. This morning the doctor's said that they wanted to observe Cathy a little longer before they extibate her. "One more day is not much in the grand scheme of things".

Cathy's blood pressure has been above 170 most of the morning (top number). they are alternating sedatives with morphine as well as giving her a new medication for anxiety. She has not slept well for the past two nights.

On a positive side of things, when Cathy first came into the ICU she was set up with medications and fluids on seven IV poles. At one time they were using twelve different IV pumps. Today there are only four IV poles and three pumps. Cathy has completed all the IV 'courses' for the antibiotics and antiviral medications. She is still receiving at least one oral antiviral medication(through the feeding tube) .

...... Shhhhhhhh, she just fell asleep.........

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