After lunch, Grandma crawled into bed because she was feeling tired. A friend arrived to visit and my mom told Grandma not to get up. However, she did not feel comfortable staying in bed while entertaining our guest. Shortly after she left, an uncle and an auntie came to see Grandma. Two more visitors came after supper and they stayed till 10:30 pm.
Grandma enjoyed the visits and did not appear to be overly tired despite being up most of the day. She should be able to sleep better tonight. I will let you know if my prediction is correct or not in the morning.
Friday, October 31, 2008
General Discomforts
Grandma experiences some pain which is spasmodic in nature. It comes on suddenly and it is intense, but it does not last long. The doctor prescribed Tylenol #3, which is a strong pain killer and it is constipating. My mom didn't fill the prescription as plain Tylenol seems to be effective for Grandma.
Grandma slept well the first night home, but had trouble falling asleep last night. Since she is not going anywhere, she can take rest periods during the day.
My mom has misinterpreted Grandma's hunger as good appetite. Grandma clarified that she actually does not feel like eating even though she feels hungry. She finds that everything has no taste. My mom will have to improve her cooking skills and to forget about healthy cooking for the time being.
Grandma slept well the first night home, but had trouble falling asleep last night. Since she is not going anywhere, she can take rest periods during the day.
My mom has misinterpreted Grandma's hunger as good appetite. Grandma clarified that she actually does not feel like eating even though she feels hungry. She finds that everything has no taste. My mom will have to improve her cooking skills and to forget about healthy cooking for the time being.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Drainage
Grandma's drains are draining well. Drainage is now clear with no clot. After pressure on the wound was relieved, pain reduced.
Grandma did her exercises this morning. She is now visiting with a friend from church.
Grandma did her exercises this morning. She is now visiting with a friend from church.
Pain
While Grandma was in the hospital, she experienced very little pain and did not require any pain medication. She took a dose of plain Tylenol prior to going home to ensure that the journey home was comfortable. I made it sound like it is a long journey, but it is actually about 15 minutes only.
By bedtime last evening, her pain increased but she didn't tell my mom. She went to bed and slept reasonably well. This morning, it was only upon my mom's inquiry that she mentioned about the pain. My mom checked her wound and drains. The drains were full and they were emptied right away. My mom milked the tubes to make sure that they are patent. She got some clots out and will check on her drainage hourly for now.
Please pray for reduced pain and free flowing drainage. Thank you!
By bedtime last evening, her pain increased but she didn't tell my mom. She went to bed and slept reasonably well. This morning, it was only upon my mom's inquiry that she mentioned about the pain. My mom checked her wound and drains. The drains were full and they were emptied right away. My mom milked the tubes to make sure that they are patent. She got some clots out and will check on her drainage hourly for now.
Please pray for reduced pain and free flowing drainage. Thank you!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Good Appetite
My mom can finally sit down to continue writing. As soon as they arrived home from the hospital at around 2 pm., my mom was kept busy with cooking for Grandma (believe it or not). Grandma ate a banana because the nurse stated that her potassium is on the low side. Then she said she wanted eggs for supper. My mom perceived feeling hungry as a really good sign of recovery, so she was happy to fried two small eggs and two pieces of lok bok cake (蘿蔔糕) for Grandma right away. When Grandma finished eating, she asked for more. This totally surprised my mom and she wished she had cooked more. My mom thought that Grandma might not feel like eating after surgery, so she had made some papaya soup. After serving Grandma a bowl of the soup, it was soon time to prepare supper.
In between cooking, my mom was tied up in making/answering phone calls and sending/responding to e-mails.
In between cooking, my mom was tied up in making/answering phone calls and sending/responding to e-mails.
Coming Home
When my mom arrived at the hospital early this morning, she noted the following progress:
1. Last evening, Grandma was given an injection for dizziness and nausea so that she could drink more fluids. After that she was able to pass water, which was a big relief for her because she was so afraid of catheterization.
2. Grandma is not as dizzy this morning.
3. She is not nauseated any more and tolerated her breakfast and lunch well. She was actually feeling hungry before the breakfast tray arrived. She was wishing for oatmeal, but she got corn flakes. She was nicely surprised by getting pancakes and she enjoyed them.
4. Her oxygen saturation is 100%, so no more oxygen and the uncomfortable tubes sticking into her nose.
5. She is able to get in and out of bed by herself and is totally independent in going to the bathroom.
Dr. Yakimets visited before 7 am. this morning and stated that the surgery went well. He discharged Grandma and would like her to see him on November 6 for removal of the two drains that are left in her wound. My mom has to drain and measure the drainage three time a day.
Grandma was supposed to be discharged this morning. When the nurse changed the dressing, she was a little concerned about an area that forms a skin fold right over the incision line. To be on the safe side, she asked the doctor to take a look at it. A doctor assessed it and she was not sure if it was okay or not. Later, Dr. Yakimets came by the unit and examine the wound. He reassured us that it is fine. As a result of the waiting, Grandma stayed for lunch.
My mom accompanied Grandma to walk around the unit for exercise. They got into the patient lounge. There was a fake staircase for patients to practice stair-climbing. My mom recalled some of the questions Emily asked the night before:
1. Do you need help with taking Grandma home?
2. We have stairs. Will she need to be carried into the house?
3. Who will be strong enough to carry her?
These were all needless worries, as Grandma walked up and down those steps with no problem. There was also a 500-piece puzzle sitting on a table. Grandma and my mom went at it putting in one piece after another. If the nurse didn't come to the lounge to fetch Grandma to remove her IV (intravenous) tubes, they would have stayed and finished that puzzle. Just kidding! They'd rather come home even though they enjoyed working on the puzzle.
1. Last evening, Grandma was given an injection for dizziness and nausea so that she could drink more fluids. After that she was able to pass water, which was a big relief for her because she was so afraid of catheterization.
2. Grandma is not as dizzy this morning.
3. She is not nauseated any more and tolerated her breakfast and lunch well. She was actually feeling hungry before the breakfast tray arrived. She was wishing for oatmeal, but she got corn flakes. She was nicely surprised by getting pancakes and she enjoyed them.
4. Her oxygen saturation is 100%, so no more oxygen and the uncomfortable tubes sticking into her nose.
5. She is able to get in and out of bed by herself and is totally independent in going to the bathroom.
Dr. Yakimets visited before 7 am. this morning and stated that the surgery went well. He discharged Grandma and would like her to see him on November 6 for removal of the two drains that are left in her wound. My mom has to drain and measure the drainage three time a day.
Grandma was supposed to be discharged this morning. When the nurse changed the dressing, she was a little concerned about an area that forms a skin fold right over the incision line. To be on the safe side, she asked the doctor to take a look at it. A doctor assessed it and she was not sure if it was okay or not. Later, Dr. Yakimets came by the unit and examine the wound. He reassured us that it is fine. As a result of the waiting, Grandma stayed for lunch.
My mom accompanied Grandma to walk around the unit for exercise. They got into the patient lounge. There was a fake staircase for patients to practice stair-climbing. My mom recalled some of the questions Emily asked the night before:
1. Do you need help with taking Grandma home?
2. We have stairs. Will she need to be carried into the house?
3. Who will be strong enough to carry her?
These were all needless worries, as Grandma walked up and down those steps with no problem. There was also a 500-piece puzzle sitting on a table. Grandma and my mom went at it putting in one piece after another. If the nurse didn't come to the lounge to fetch Grandma to remove her IV (intravenous) tubes, they would have stayed and finished that puzzle. Just kidding! They'd rather come home even though they enjoyed working on the puzzle.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Post Surgery
My grandma returned to the nursing unit at around 4 pm. She feels very sleepy and has been sleeping soundly since then. It is good that she can get lots of rest. I hope her roommate can tolerate her constant snoring.
My grandma experiences very little pain and has not required any pain medication. She feels fine when she is lying down. However, she feels dizzy and nauseated when she is in an upright position. She was up twice to the bathroom trying to pass water, but was unsuccessful. This worries her as she does not want to have a catheter inserted. Her oxygen saturation is slightly low and is on oxygen.
My mom came home for the night and plans to return to the hospital at 6 am. because the doctors will make rounds between 6 am. and 7 am.
My grandma experiences very little pain and has not required any pain medication. She feels fine when she is lying down. However, she feels dizzy and nauseated when she is in an upright position. She was up twice to the bathroom trying to pass water, but was unsuccessful. This worries her as she does not want to have a catheter inserted. Her oxygen saturation is slightly low and is on oxygen.
My mom came home for the night and plans to return to the hospital at 6 am. because the doctors will make rounds between 6 am. and 7 am.
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