How do you like my pink casts???
Monday, September 20, 2010
Head to toe
Well she's done. SHe is resting peacefully in ICU (is that an oxymoron?). Everything went fine.
THe Orthopedic Surgeon said he made on small incision behine her ankle and released (cut and extended) 2 tendons there and another incision on the top of her foot. It didn't sound like either incision was more then an inch or two. He said it is laying nicely now. her heel is still a little turned in. But it would require a lot of surgery and where she doesn't walk, it wouldn't be worth it. We should be able to get braces on her and get her back in her stander with the releases that he did.
They had to put her bi-pap mask on while she is coming out of sedation. She was only breathing 7 breaths/minute (which actually isn't that much lower then her normal). BUt why not giver her a break. SHe is really sleepy still.
Her L ear is bloody.
Her casts on both of her feet are bright pink. Which is AWESOME!!! They will match her wheelchair (which is pink zebra).
SHe is cold---surprise surprise. 34.5 C.
Her heartrate was up in the 90's (high for her). So they gave her some morphine.
Both Dr.'s said if she wakes up and is doing fine she can go home today. THat would truly be a first. I don't think she has ever come home bore the estimated time (they had told me tomorrow). Usually if it varies from the proposed it is longer by a day or two or more.
Oh--I just saw some peepers and she has started smacking her lips. SHe is waking up a little.
THe Orthopedic Surgeon said he made on small incision behine her ankle and released (cut and extended) 2 tendons there and another incision on the top of her foot. It didn't sound like either incision was more then an inch or two. He said it is laying nicely now. her heel is still a little turned in. But it would require a lot of surgery and where she doesn't walk, it wouldn't be worth it. We should be able to get braces on her and get her back in her stander with the releases that he did.
They had to put her bi-pap mask on while she is coming out of sedation. She was only breathing 7 breaths/minute (which actually isn't that much lower then her normal). BUt why not giver her a break. SHe is really sleepy still.
Her L ear is bloody.
Her casts on both of her feet are bright pink. Which is AWESOME!!! They will match her wheelchair (which is pink zebra).
SHe is cold---surprise surprise. 34.5 C.
Her heartrate was up in the 90's (high for her). So they gave her some morphine.
Both Dr.'s said if she wakes up and is doing fine she can go home today. THat would truly be a first. I don't think she has ever come home bore the estimated time (they had told me tomorrow). Usually if it varies from the proposed it is longer by a day or two or more.
Oh--I just saw some peepers and she has started smacking her lips. SHe is waking up a little.
FIrst SUrgery done
ENT is done. He said her sinus were clear and open. He said maybe the amoxicillan was doing it's job. THere really wasn't even anything to culture. Hmmmmmmm...
The left ear was bulging. Tubes were put in both ears.
He wants to see us in about a month to check her ears.
On to the feet.....
The left ear was bulging. Tubes were put in both ears.
He wants to see us in about a month to check her ears.
On to the feet.....
She's in
THe surgery is still on. She has been taken back to the OR. THe anestesiologist said that even if we postponed it 6 weeks, she could still be in the same situation then (with a sinus infection). WHich is really a valid point. He said that she might still be intubated after (in the ICU). WHich I wasn't counting on. ALthough I really hate seeing her intubated (it reminds me af really scary---dark times). But we can do it for a day or so.
Dr. Park (ENT) is first. He is doing her tubes in her ears and sinus cleanout. He thought his portion would take about an hour. THey took her back about 7:30 or 7:45. BUt of course it takes time to prep her and hook her up to monitors and get her to sleep.
THen Dr. Santora is doing her feet. Only surgery on the Left one. But there will be casts on both. He thought he would take an hour and a half. After the surgery he is going to mold her feet for new braces. THen but the casts on. SHe will need her cast on the left foot for about 6 weeks. THey will probably change it out at about 1 or 2 weeks for swelling. I don't know how long the cast will be on her right foot. WIth her other serial casting what they say is that if you gain 5 degrees in a week then they will keep going. But as soon as you stop gaining range of motion then they stop the casting process. I don't know if they will follow that same protocol or not.
I feel calm and good that they went ahead with the surgery. It will all turn out fine and will hopefuilly help her a lot.
Dr. Park (ENT) is first. He is doing her tubes in her ears and sinus cleanout. He thought his portion would take about an hour. THey took her back about 7:30 or 7:45. BUt of course it takes time to prep her and hook her up to monitors and get her to sleep.
THen Dr. Santora is doing her feet. Only surgery on the Left one. But there will be casts on both. He thought he would take an hour and a half. After the surgery he is going to mold her feet for new braces. THen but the casts on. SHe will need her cast on the left foot for about 6 weeks. THey will probably change it out at about 1 or 2 weeks for swelling. I don't know how long the cast will be on her right foot. WIth her other serial casting what they say is that if you gain 5 degrees in a week then they will keep going. But as soon as you stop gaining range of motion then they stop the casting process. I don't know if they will follow that same protocol or not.
I feel calm and good that they went ahead with the surgery. It will all turn out fine and will hopefuilly help her a lot.
Photos
They are going to lengthen the tendon on her Left foot (the right foot in the picture). You can see how much it turns in. They are also going to put a cast on the other foot to stretch it out---but no surgery
Sats
Well we have met with the nurse practicioner. She said her lungs sound clear. The only hang-up is her oxygen saturation. Laying down she was hanging out at 91-93. Sitting up she is at 93-94%. THey are sending in the anesthesiologist. Normally (when healthy) she sits at about 96-97%. SO yes, it is down a little. My gut says they will still go ahead with it. SHe still doesn't have a fever. ANd the secretions aren't green.
The waiting game
We have checked in and are waiting to be called back.
We gave her a blessing last night. I feel like her cough (junkiness/drainage) is better than it has been this whole week. But it is still there.
I don't want to risk the surgery if it won't be safe. But on the other hand we have waited 6 months for this surgery. Normally you might only have to wait 3 months. But there was a mix-up and they didn't schedule anything for 3 months, so then we had to wait another 3 months to get in.
We gave her a blessing last night. I feel like her cough (junkiness/drainage) is better than it has been this whole week. But it is still there.
I don't want to risk the surgery if it won't be safe. But on the other hand we have waited 6 months for this surgery. Normally you might only have to wait 3 months. But there was a mix-up and they didn't schedule anything for 3 months, so then we had to wait another 3 months to get in.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Foot surgery, but wait...there's more
Tomorrow (Monday) Ellie goes in to Primary's for foot surgery. Her foot twists in so much that we can't fit braces on it any more. So they are going to go in and lengthen the tendons. She needs to have her foot straight in order to wear the braces. She needs to wear the braces so that she can to weight bearing in her stander. She needs to be able to stand so that her hips develop right. If her hip sockets don't form correctly then her hips will come out and then she will need hip surgery (which is a really big surgery). Her hips are already coming out, so really this will just prolong the inevitable. THey will for sure do her Left foot and might do both. Afterwards she will need a series of casts to help it heal correctly (serial casting).
While she is out they will also be cleaning out her sinus' and putting tubes in her ears. She gets sinus infections about avery 6 weeks. And gets ear infections probably every other or every third month. SO she is on antibiotics ALOT. WHich is bad because then you become immune to antibiotics and then you are more likely to get a "super bug".
Needless to say she is slated to go to ICU after surgery and should supposedly come home on Tuesday. I'm not keeping my fingers crossed. I would be happy if she makes it home Wed or THurs.
The only kicker is that she currently has a sinus infection clearing out. So she has a junky cough. It is not in her lungs, it is all upper respiratory. I talked to outpatient surgery and ENT on Friday about it. THey said if she doesn't get a fever and the secretions stay clear or white (vs green or brown) then she will probably be OK to go ahead with the surgery. SHe has been on antibiotics for 7 days which they said was good. We'll see. Maybe they'll see her in the morning and decide to postpone.
THe one other thing going against her is that she got her botox/phenol injections on Thurs for her tight arms/hands/shoulders. So she is in pain for that. SO we have been giving her acetaminophen. Which I suppose could be masking a fever. I gave her meds at 8:30 AM this morning and didn't give her more until 9 PM tonight and she didn't have a fever. But she was crying (I'm assuming from pain).
I am more nervous for this surgery than I am usually #1 since she is sick #2 becuase this is the 1st surgery since we almost lost her last winter. It really made me realize how fragile she is and how precious life is.
We check in at 6 AM and surgery is scheduled for 7:30 AM. I'm not sure how long the surgery will last, I will find out in the morning.
Ellie, me and our family would love prayers of comfort and peace.
While she is out they will also be cleaning out her sinus' and putting tubes in her ears. She gets sinus infections about avery 6 weeks. And gets ear infections probably every other or every third month. SO she is on antibiotics ALOT. WHich is bad because then you become immune to antibiotics and then you are more likely to get a "super bug".
Needless to say she is slated to go to ICU after surgery and should supposedly come home on Tuesday. I'm not keeping my fingers crossed. I would be happy if she makes it home Wed or THurs.
The only kicker is that she currently has a sinus infection clearing out. So she has a junky cough. It is not in her lungs, it is all upper respiratory. I talked to outpatient surgery and ENT on Friday about it. THey said if she doesn't get a fever and the secretions stay clear or white (vs green or brown) then she will probably be OK to go ahead with the surgery. SHe has been on antibiotics for 7 days which they said was good. We'll see. Maybe they'll see her in the morning and decide to postpone.
THe one other thing going against her is that she got her botox/phenol injections on Thurs for her tight arms/hands/shoulders. So she is in pain for that. SO we have been giving her acetaminophen. Which I suppose could be masking a fever. I gave her meds at 8:30 AM this morning and didn't give her more until 9 PM tonight and she didn't have a fever. But she was crying (I'm assuming from pain).
I am more nervous for this surgery than I am usually #1 since she is sick #2 becuase this is the 1st surgery since we almost lost her last winter. It really made me realize how fragile she is and how precious life is.
We check in at 6 AM and surgery is scheduled for 7:30 AM. I'm not sure how long the surgery will last, I will find out in the morning.
Ellie, me and our family would love prayers of comfort and peace.
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