Before I left the hospital last night, one of Titanium Girl’s favorite nurses from our previous floor stopped by to say hi to her. It was a really nice surprise and boosted her mood. DH once again took the night shift, and for the most part it went well. But the pain meds have just really hit Titanium Girl’s belly hard, and it’s something that continues to be an issue. Thankfully, she’s starting to get away from some of the meds, so that should help. When I got to the hospital this morning, DH gave me the overnight update and we spoke with the Dr. B. The Thoracic Surgeon and his resident about the game plan. DH then went home to sleep, and I settled in for what I hoped would be a day of PT and walking.
PT J. came mid-morning, and she got Titanium Girl up and walking out of the room door with each of us supporting her on either side. She circled around the area around her room, then back in the room to sit up for a bit. She said she should sit for 30-60 minutes, and I said 60 sounded good. I made it my mission to be the task master if need be, because I know we need forward progress at this point. Titanium Girl actually took another short walk around the room after PT J. left, then sat in the chair for around an hour before heading back to bed. She’s hitting the pain pump less often and even refusing oral pain meds when she feels she’s doing ok. She’s also off the oxygen, maintaining her levels even when she sleeps, no doubt thanks to the decreased narcotic pain medication.
Dr. B. The Thoracic Surgeon came back to check on Titanium Girl, and he said he wasn’t too worried about where she’s at right now. A nurse friend of ours stopped by and visited just a bit. Dr. C. also called into the room to check on her, and I reported she was walking and sitting up lots, which he was glad to hear. He asked if I’d seen her back, and I told him I’d not gotten a great look, but that her shoulder blade prominence definitely looked better, and that he does beautiful work.
By this point, we were coming up on PT J.’s second visit, and this time she had her walk a bit farther down the hall. Titanium Girl wanted to stop at the nurse’s desk, but I said she could make it a bit farther. When she said, “But you said I could stop here!” I told her, “J. may have said that, but I didn’t, come on.” She made it pretty close to the point I suggested, then we turned around and headed back to her room where she told PT J. that I was being a mean mom. I’m ok with that.
After getting her seated again, they changed out her bed for one that goes lower and will be easier for her to get in and out of. She didn’t want to sit for longer than a half hour, though I told her she needs to sit up for as long as possible. She made it an hour, mostly because she dozed off and I dragged my feet calling the nurse for assistance. Her nurse came in to see if she was ready to move, and we helped her back to her bed. She’s doing much better with walking already, and she even said that walking seems to be easier now. She received a delivery from the gift shop, a gift from S., a coworker of DH’s. It contained a stuffed ape with a hospital gown that says, “Get Well Soon” along with some cards and candy. Having done a lot of work today, she drifted off to some well deserved rest.
