Blogging about life in Minnesota, raising our six kids with Down syndrome while battling Breast Cancer.

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning the devil says, "Oh shit! She's up!"

Monday, November 02, 2015

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! 

5 comments:

Sara P. said...

I'm a long time lurker just dropping in to say how happy I am to hear such good news! Please let Angela know there are people cheering her on for a quick recovery.

eliz said...

Praise God! (((HUG))))

Tink said...

Lolol...I'm a long time lurker too.....so much love sent to you....tell Angela everyone at Tinks house is so happy she is back!!

Kristin Reed said...

So thankful that Angela is improving. I have been reading your blog for a long time, but this is my first time writing a comment. I had this odd feeling this afternoon that I really really needed to catch up on your blog. I guess it was God saying your family needed extra prayers.

Unknown said...

Great news!!! So excited to see you again Angela!