It's almost here!!!

[LynnMarie74]

Chris- thanks for the post! My husband was in your shoes not too long ago....your strength, support and love will help her the most. Its a long ride, but like everyone said, this is the hard part. In a few weeks, she will be feeling good! Good luck to her w/the bone test-fingers crossed! keep us all updated on her progress!



Lynn

[doodie]

Pain management

Thank you all. Her biggest problem right now is pain managment and sleep. Her PCA allows her a dose every 6 minutes but if she falls asleep for a little while she wakes up in pain and has to catch up again.

Is that the standard pain management?

[theizzard]

Having just had surgery and the pca pump i can tell you this. First off they can increase the amount that she gets every 6 minutes and they can also set it to run without her having to push the button because of instances like falling asleep. They can also change the med if it's not doing enough for her. i had dilaudid which they kept telling me was a heavy dose but in fact was not. i actually got better pain management when put on pills because I got them every 2 hours and they were intent on reducing the pain so they were open to anything I said. My only complaint was that they didn't change the drugs I received instead they would increase the dose. they maxed me out on oxycontin and i wish i had the presence of mind to ask them to change it to mscontin at a low dose. there is always something they can do to help reduce her pain.
good luck to her.
avis

[LynnMarie74]

Mine was available for me to push myself every 15 mins....there was no automatic set up unfortunatly. And I completely understand the falling asleep for a short time to be awoke by severe pain becuz your time is up. I asked if someone else could push it for me, they said "no". I tried!

[Singer]

I had a private nurse at night to wake me up every three hours to give me meds...most of the time I was awake anyway!! Unfortunately, waking up in pain is just part of the deal at first. It gets better!

[doodie]

pain update

The last 3 hours were pretty bad. I have been through 3 surgeries with her and this is the worst I have seen her. She was on 20mcg Fentanyl and they upped it to 30 with a few boosters and it didnt seem to make a difference.

They switched her to hydromorphine (diladid) and we moved her to her side . (she was complaining of tremendous burning in her lower back). She seems to be doing a little better now.

The will not do an automatic dosage and wont switch her to orals until she has passed some wind first.

They are going to move her from ICU to a regular room tonight.

I have passed on all your information and well wishes.

thanks again.

[always smilin']

THanks for the updates. I will continue to pray that her recovery goes well. Hang in there! You have many well -wishers on your side!