Oma's Still in ICU

Oma's hanging out in the Intensive Care Unit.

Her pain is pretty intense.  Her Dilaudid is flowing at the maximum dose in her epidural.  She's also getting Norco for breakthrough pain.  She's still on 7 liters of oxygen, but we're told that is normal for patients with this kind of abdominal surgery ... they take shallow breaths because of the pain and the pain medication also further relaxes them.  She did get out of bed today and walk to the nurses' station (probably only about 20 feet, but a good start anyways).

She's had some clear liquids so far ... chicken broth, Sprite, apple juice and jello.  Her blood sugars have been running high and she's been getting insulin regularly.  There's no telling yet what the permanent situation will be.  She's running a low fever, but we're told that's expected after this kind of surgery.  She's already draining less fluid from her abdomen than she was yesterday.

She's complaining of the noise in the ICU and that she can't get any rest.  I don't think most of the patients in the ICU are as coherent as she is.  She's been okayed to be moved to a regular room, but a bed wasn't yet available as of this evening.  They were hoping one would open up so she might get a good night's sleep, but no one was really sure.  She should be moved by tomorrow at least.

The nurses have been re-positioning her every two hours to prevent bed sores and Oma doesn't much care for that.  Any movement at all really hurts.

Considering it's only been a day since surgery, she seems to be doing quite well.