ICU Update 3

Well, this will be my last update from the Intensive Care Unit! Angela was actually moved to the medical/surgical floor around dinner time, but they don't have a bed available so she is still in ICU, but her level of care has been significantly reduced!

Angela is fully awake! She has been awake and talking, talking, talking  all day long. She has been more awake today than she has been since October 6th.

This morning we were told her EEG showed slightly decreased activity on the right side so they ordered an MRI+MRA. Those tests showed no change from her last scans done in 2007. The doctors had a pow-wow in her room, and the conclusion is she just cannot be on all her meds anymore. Her medication blood levels were within normal ranges but for whatever reason that seems to high for her. This is most likely due to her "sustained release" medications no longer being slow to release when they are crushed and put directly into her stomach via gtube. As I mentioned in a previous post, the neurologist said he has seen this a couple of times over the years, but the ICU staff had never seen it. Nobody has any ideas other than the medications. When asked about the left-sided weakness this morning I was reminded that she has had hemiparesis since she was an infant. Normally the only time its noticeable is when she's swimming. She isn't able to kick her left leg very well, and her left arm doesn't have full range of motion. But this event left her very weak, making that left-sided weakness more apparent.

I am home to help Dean tonight. Now that Angela is awake and mostly herself (she's not walking without help yet) she and I were both comfortable with me going home. She will likely be discharged tomorrow.

Thank you so much everyone for your prayers and support. They mean a lot to us as we navigate this very scary event.

Now, I shall go change out of the pajamas I've been wearing since Saturday evening!