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Hi All,
I'm home for a rest and wish to thank everyone for their posts and prayers. I certainly appreciate it. It has been exhausting and at times frightening.
As Del accurately pointed out, Tahlia had a posterior fusion only, from T2 to L3, with a couple of ribs removed as well. She lost a lot of blood during surgery (approx. 1 litre I believe) and had to be given a lot of blood products. From what I understand, this is most likely due to a Factor 12 (clotting) deficiency, which, as those of you who have been following my posts would know, the haemotologist we saw and who did many tests, said it was OK and would not be an issue!!! So much for that!!
Anyway, Tahlia spent the first night in ICU hooked up to the ventilator which came out after about 4ish hours, although was meant to come out earlier, except the doctor was nowhere to be seen. Tahlia was coming too and starting to gag on the tube and OMG, i have never felt so helpless in my life, not being able to soothe her and trying to stop her from yanking it out herself. What a horrible experience it must have been for her, but unfortunately the ICU nurses cannot approve extubation until the Dr. gives the OK.
Next day, she was progressing well and they were discussing moving her to HDA when they did a chest x-ray and found her left lung had collapsed. The physio felt they could just put her on her side and do the breathing exercises to re-inflate the lung but when this didn't work they did a brochiostomy and found fluid and secretions in and around her lung. They ended up draining about 750ml of blood from her lung yesterday afternoon and was put on CPAP to assist with her breathing. She stayed another night in ICU (damn that haemotologist).
Anyway, breathing getting better and signs all good, Tahlia was finally transferred to HDA this morning. She is in pain but using the PCA and is still being fasted but doctors have just said this morning she can start taking sips and if bowel noises are OK she can start with food. When I left this morning, the docs were a little concerned that her chest tube did not appear to be draining (they did the cough and deep breath test!!) and wondered if it might be blocked, but they are going to do a chest x-ray first and see how it goes.
I am exhausted and sleep-deprived and i must say there were moments when i was very very scared for her and really don't know how to describe how I feel at themoment. There were many times when I thought I wish I hadn't put her through this, because ICU and HDA are awful places to be and it is so harrowing as a parent to watch your child go through this. So many tubes and monitors and catheters, etc. etc. They are saying she can sit up tomorrow and possibly go to the wards, all being well. I amnot yet allowing myself to feel relaxed, until she is breathing properly and continuing to progress.
Anyway, thanks all. Please stay in touch. I amheading back in a couple of hours. I have spent both nights with Tahlia in ICU, but don't think I can in HDA, it is very crowdedand noisy.
Thanks again for all your posts. I do read them.
Love Lisa
I'm home for a rest and wish to thank everyone for their posts and prayers. I certainly appreciate it. It has been exhausting and at times frightening.
As Del accurately pointed out, Tahlia had a posterior fusion only, from T2 to L3, with a couple of ribs removed as well. She lost a lot of blood during surgery (approx. 1 litre I believe) and had to be given a lot of blood products. From what I understand, this is most likely due to a Factor 12 (clotting) deficiency, which, as those of you who have been following my posts would know, the haemotologist we saw and who did many tests, said it was OK and would not be an issue!!! So much for that!!
Anyway, Tahlia spent the first night in ICU hooked up to the ventilator which came out after about 4ish hours, although was meant to come out earlier, except the doctor was nowhere to be seen. Tahlia was coming too and starting to gag on the tube and OMG, i have never felt so helpless in my life, not being able to soothe her and trying to stop her from yanking it out herself. What a horrible experience it must have been for her, but unfortunately the ICU nurses cannot approve extubation until the Dr. gives the OK.
Next day, she was progressing well and they were discussing moving her to HDA when they did a chest x-ray and found her left lung had collapsed. The physio felt they could just put her on her side and do the breathing exercises to re-inflate the lung but when this didn't work they did a brochiostomy and found fluid and secretions in and around her lung. They ended up draining about 750ml of blood from her lung yesterday afternoon and was put on CPAP to assist with her breathing. She stayed another night in ICU (damn that haemotologist).
Anyway, breathing getting better and signs all good, Tahlia was finally transferred to HDA this morning. She is in pain but using the PCA and is still being fasted but doctors have just said this morning she can start taking sips and if bowel noises are OK she can start with food. When I left this morning, the docs were a little concerned that her chest tube did not appear to be draining (they did the cough and deep breath test!!) and wondered if it might be blocked, but they are going to do a chest x-ray first and see how it goes.
I am exhausted and sleep-deprived and i must say there were moments when i was very very scared for her and really don't know how to describe how I feel at themoment. There were many times when I thought I wish I hadn't put her through this, because ICU and HDA are awful places to be and it is so harrowing as a parent to watch your child go through this. So many tubes and monitors and catheters, etc. etc. They are saying she can sit up tomorrow and possibly go to the wards, all being well. I amnot yet allowing myself to feel relaxed, until she is breathing properly and continuing to progress.
Anyway, thanks all. Please stay in touch. I amheading back in a couple of hours. I have spent both nights with Tahlia in ICU, but don't think I can in HDA, it is very crowdedand noisy.
Thanks again for all your posts. I do read them.
Love Lisa
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