Johnny Stephens
Well-known member
OUSTANDING
OUSTANDING
Great news! Welcome to the other side of the mountain ....
OUSTANDING
Great news! Welcome to the other side of the mountain ....
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
K
KathyH
Great News! Thanks for updating us. Take care,
KathyH
KathyH
D
Diana F
Day 2
Day 2
Hello everybody!
Day 2 finds Kenny sitting up in a chair, eating his lunch (meatloaf -which he doesn't even care for), talking with visitors, going to the bathroom - in the bathroom
, one small chest tube left and that will be gone tomorrow, iv only for antibiotics, out on the regular ward with 6 nurses to one room vs. one nurse per Kenny, etc. etc. etc.
I copied your emails and took them to the hospital. Kenny was very glad to read your messages. He really is doing terrific - everybody who comes by can't believe his surgery was yesterday morning!
They put him in a room before lunch time today. My concern is the care he will receive on the ward when I'm not there. He is in a private room but in the space of 3 hours this evening, the nurse came in 1 time to take vitals. Is this normal? His antibiotic alarm went off today (empty) and the alarm rang for over 5 minutes, light above room flashing also - and I had to tell two nurses before anyone came to check!
Kenny seemed to want to try to get by with minimal pain medication (I would personally want all the meds I could get
), but I think Kenny finally changed his mind this evening. I think he let the pain get a little ahead and was very quiet and seemed afraid to move.
The night nurse explained that the medications actually help you to do those things you wouldn't normally try because you're afraid movement will hurt - and it won't hurt as much if you have medication. Round about way of saying - Kenny - TAKE THE MEDS!
I know you will want some factual information and I told Kenny I will "take dictation" from him tomorrow and send you a message from him personally. I'm not as good with the details as he would be. He spoke with his surgeon this morning and has lots to tell you all!
Again, thanks for being there . . .
Diana
Day 2
Hello everybody!
Day 2 finds Kenny sitting up in a chair, eating his lunch (meatloaf -which he doesn't even care for), talking with visitors, going to the bathroom - in the bathroom
, one small chest tube left and that will be gone tomorrow, iv only for antibiotics, out on the regular ward with 6 nurses to one room vs. one nurse per Kenny, etc. etc. etc.I copied your emails and took them to the hospital. Kenny was very glad to read your messages. He really is doing terrific - everybody who comes by can't believe his surgery was yesterday morning!
They put him in a room before lunch time today. My concern is the care he will receive on the ward when I'm not there. He is in a private room but in the space of 3 hours this evening, the nurse came in 1 time to take vitals. Is this normal? His antibiotic alarm went off today (empty) and the alarm rang for over 5 minutes, light above room flashing also - and I had to tell two nurses before anyone came to check!
Kenny seemed to want to try to get by with minimal pain medication (I would personally want all the meds I could get
), but I think Kenny finally changed his mind this evening. I think he let the pain get a little ahead and was very quiet and seemed afraid to move. The night nurse explained that the medications actually help you to do those things you wouldn't normally try because you're afraid movement will hurt - and it won't hurt as much if you have medication. Round about way of saying - Kenny - TAKE THE MEDS!
I know you will want some factual information and I told Kenny I will "take dictation" from him tomorrow and send you a message from him personally. I'm not as good with the details as he would be. He spoke with his surgeon this morning and has lots to tell you all!
Again, thanks for being there . . .
Diana
fyrfytr
Well-known member
Hey Diana F,
Thank You for the update. Sounds like Kenny is making a Mole Hill out of the Mountain.
I am Glad to hear how well he is doing. Tell him we know how strong of a man he is but right now it is OK to take those meds.
Sounds like you are doing OK also.
Take Care
Dave
____________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Thank You for the update. Sounds like Kenny is making a Mole Hill out of the Mountain.
I am Glad to hear how well he is doing. Tell him we know how strong of a man he is but right now it is OK to take those meds.
Sounds like you are doing OK also.
Take Care
Dave
____________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
C
Chevy man
Great news!!! Sounds like he is doing very well.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!
Nancy
Well-known member
Coming along right on schedule. Pain medications are very important so you can move around and walk like they want you to. It doesn't help to be in a lot of pain. Joe found the heavy-duty ones were making him too "out of it" so he got some that were not so powerful.
Once you're in a regular room, the care drops off dramatically. He should be getting his vitals done several times per day, and he's probably being monitored with telemetry. Those alarms go off all the time. Most of the time, they are benign and can wait a little. There is a different alarm for something bad. So the nurses won't come in right away for the normal stuff. But I always say that you should be there with him as much as you possibly can. It's such a comfort to the patient, because there are many things that you can help with. But still, the alarms mean that something needs to be taken care of, so don't let it go on and on. It's usually the IV line that gets twisted.
Sometimes this is a gentle way to get the patient to do a little more for him/herself, to start gaining a little more independence.
Thanks for the update.
Once you're in a regular room, the care drops off dramatically. He should be getting his vitals done several times per day, and he's probably being monitored with telemetry. Those alarms go off all the time. Most of the time, they are benign and can wait a little. There is a different alarm for something bad. So the nurses won't come in right away for the normal stuff. But I always say that you should be there with him as much as you possibly can. It's such a comfort to the patient, because there are many things that you can help with. But still, the alarms mean that something needs to be taken care of, so don't let it go on and on. It's usually the IV line that gets twisted.
Sometimes this is a gentle way to get the patient to do a little more for him/herself, to start gaining a little more independence.
Thanks for the update.
MelissaM
Well-known member
Hi Diana,
Thanks for the update. Kenny sure did make this look easy. Here's hoping for a continued smooth trip down the mountain. Must be that good attitude of his.
The nursing care does taper off, especially compared to the super-duper attention one gets in ICU. Luckily, you (and Kenny) have the call button if anything gets out of hand - use it well, use it wisely. And find out where the off button to the IV line is - it helps to keep you from going bonkers between the time you ring the nurse to tell them it has gone off until the time they actually get there. (Surviving in the Hospital, Trick #203 ).
Thanks for the update. Kenny sure did make this look easy. Here's hoping for a continued smooth trip down the mountain. Must be that good attitude of his.
The nursing care does taper off, especially compared to the super-duper attention one gets in ICU. Luckily, you (and Kenny) have the call button if anything gets out of hand - use it well, use it wisely.
And find out where the off button to the IV line is - it helps to keep you from going bonkers between the time you ring the nurse to tell them it has gone off until the time they actually get there. (Surviving in the Hospital, Trick #203 ).Hi Diana
Tell Kenny: TAKE THE MEDS!!! He'll be off them soon enough. If I remember correctly, Tyce was on pain meds for 3 days...after that it went to Tylenol extra strength....and that was ALL he was told to take when he got home. The meds help you move and moving is so important for Ken now. Don't be macho, Ken, TAKE THE MEDS. Now the creedo: NAP, NAP, NAP, WALK, WALK, WALK, BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE......
I'm so glad everything is going so well for you both.....YOU remember to rest, too. It has been a huge emotional ordeal for you both, so take care of yourself, too.
Evelyn
Tell Kenny: TAKE THE MEDS!!! He'll be off them soon enough. If I remember correctly, Tyce was on pain meds for 3 days...after that it went to Tylenol extra strength....and that was ALL he was told to take when he got home. The meds help you move and moving is so important for Ken now. Don't be macho, Ken, TAKE THE MEDS. Now the creedo: NAP, NAP, NAP, WALK, WALK, WALK, BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE......
I'm so glad everything is going so well for you both.....YOU remember to rest, too. It has been a huge emotional ordeal for you both, so take care of yourself, too.
Evelyn
C
carlapv
Hi Diana,
Please let Kenny know how thrilled we are that everything went so well for him.
Thanks for posting.
Carla
Please let Kenny know how thrilled we are that everything went so well for him.
Thanks for posting.
Carla
F
fisher6476
Hi Diana,
I am so pleaed for you both. It sounds like I have someone to emulate when I get there. Don't forget to take care of YOU also. Steve
I am so pleaed for you both. It sounds like I have someone to emulate when I get there. Don't forget to take care of YOU also. Steve
G
Georgia
Things sound good, Diana. If Kenny's painkillers are making him sick, there are others he can take. I had trouble with morphine, and they changed me to something because the morphine made me too nauseated to walk. So if he's having a problem like that, tell him to speak up.
Otherwise, tell him to enjoy life through chemistry
Otherwise, tell him to enjoy life through chemistry
hi diana!
thanks for letting us know how well kenny is doing.
you must be so happy that the worst is behind you. now it's just a matter of resting, breathing and walking a bit. also, about the pain meds... everyone is right, take them!!!! joey had a bad reaction to percoset, but was given other meds instead and they helped tremendously.
wishing kenny a continued smooth and easy recovery. please try and get some rest yourself.
be well, sylvia
thanks for letting us know how well kenny is doing.
you must be so happy that the worst is behind you. now it's just a matter of resting, breathing and walking a bit. also, about the pain meds... everyone is right, take them!!!! joey had a bad reaction to percoset, but was given other meds instead and they helped tremendously.
wishing kenny a continued smooth and easy recovery. please try and get some rest yourself.
be well, sylvia
M
medtronic of borg
postings
postings
Iguess I will check back in tomarrow.
Med
postings
Iguess I will check back in tomarrow.
Med
Hi Diana
Hi Diana
I bet Kenny will come home Friday...Why stay on weekend..if he is not having any problems. Get the recliner ready and a lot of pampering.. Hubby's love that..and remember no visitors over weekend. Both of you just need the time to get him settled...He will tire out very easy..MAKE him take his pain meds..early....and have him up walking around the room, to bathroom, back. That's all he needs for weekend. Day by Day..week by week month by month. Plenty of time for others next week. Bonnie
Hi Diana
I bet Kenny will come home Friday...Why stay on weekend..if he is not having any problems. Get the recliner ready and a lot of pampering..
Hubby's love that..and remember no visitors over weekend. Both of you just need the time to get him settled...He will tire out very easy..MAKE him take his pain meds..early....and have him up walking around the room, to bathroom, back. That's all he needs for weekend. Day by Day..week by week month by month. Plenty of time for others next week. Bonnie
Diana:
I agree with Evelyn and several others -- take the meds! I let the pain get ahead of me and it was soooo hard to get a handle on it. When you hurt, you can't get up and walk, do your breathing exercises, etc.
Tell Kenny he's doing just great!
Will keep y'all in my prayers.
I agree with Evelyn and several others -- take the meds! I let the pain get ahead of me and it was soooo hard to get a handle on it. When you hurt, you can't get up and walk, do your breathing exercises, etc.
Tell Kenny he's doing just great!
Will keep y'all in my prayers.
