Saturday Morning

Posted on July 23, 2005

Tagged brad : bad Saturday morning

Brad has gone from deep, dark depression to feeling pretty good. This morning, Brad couldn't do anything but lay there and press the pain button. He only got 1mg of morphine with each press 8 minutes apart, and his ribs and arms were killing him. In my expert medical opinion, he was suffering depression also. Tracy, the new nurse, couldn't do much with him and breathing exercises were out of the question. Johnny and Liz (Rhonda's grandparents) were visiting and Tracy told them that when they left, she was going to get very mean with Brad for his own good. They eased out to the waiting room and stayed a while, then left.

The doctor on call from Dr. Koury's office (I can't think of his name now) came by and heard all that was going on. He decided to work on the pain problem first, to leave the catheter in instead of trying to work on the pee problem, and to try to get some physical therapists on the job. He doubled the pain medicine so that Brad could think about something besides the pain.

About 11:40, Tracy got three big guys to come in and lift Brad out of the bed (after removing Rhonda from the room). They put him in a chair so quickly you wouldn't believe it. I think they *really, really made a big difference* in Brad's recovery. After complaining about sitting in the chair a while, he got used to it, but was still just sitting there. The chair isn't comfortable at all, especially with his kyphosis. He wasn't interested in PSP, TV or anything. Rhonda came back in and he put her to work, scratching his itches and having her jump everytime he gave a command. Just as he was wanting to get back in bed, a physical therapist came in to work with him. Rhonda and Tracy left the room and the guy started working with his arms and legs. That kinda distracted him and they worked together for a while. The PT was intending to help him walk back around and get in bed when Brad decided he wanted to sit on the couch. At that point, he began to get back to the old Brad a little bit. He asked for his PSP and started playing games. I noticed he rarely hit the pain button.

A respiratory therapist came in with some breathing stuff for him. After he did what she asked, she told him that the medicine might loosen stuff in his lungs and get him to coughing a little. She was a no-nonsense lady, exactly what he needs right now.

After a while, lunch came and I started eating on it since he hasn't been eating anything. Rhonda came back in and aked if he wanted the mashed potatoes. He ate about half of the serving, then ate some apple pie. She then went downstairs and got a $4 peach milk shake from Seattle Express. He's now drank almost all of that. He sat up from 11:40 until 1:45, then suddenly got very sleepy. We called for the guys to come back, but he was ready for bed right way. Tracy and I let him pull himself up on us and walk to the bed. We got him sitting in the right place on the bed so that all he had to do was swing his legs up to be sitting correctly in bed. Two squirts of medicine and he's out like a light.

This was a huge swing from this morning. He went from not being able to lift his arms and scratch to playing the Play Station Personal for 2 hours. Rhonda has gone home to shower and let the dawgs out, so I think I'll nap a little myself.

Thanks for your prayers.