My mom was brought into the Fairmont Mayo ER on Sunday, July 5th with what turned out to be a gallstones and infected gallbladder. She was admitted that night for antibiotics and monitoring pending a possible surgery.
On Monday morning I received a call that she needed surgery and would be transferred to a larger hospital that was able to perform the procedure she was needing. She made the decision to go to Sanford in Sioux Falls, SD. After being admitted through the ER there they found that she was already septic from the infection and she was admitted until they could get the infection under control. Several lab tests were done and it was found that her heart, liver and kidney levels were all elevated and her oxygen level started becoming an issue as it was dropping. I met her there and was able to stay a few days with her through a lot of what was happening at first. with the need for oxygen increasing she was transferred down to the pulmonary floor on Wednesday of that week. Her liver and heart functions were not great but had began decreasing...a move in the right direction. However still being septic from the infection and her kidney levels increasing, doubling overnight and going up, it was determined that she was in acute stage 4 kidney failure. The good news, after some more testing is that they think some kidney function will return and some of this is due to her kidneys hanging on to the contrast that she recieved during a couple of CT scans. Several medication changes and oxygen levels and breathing treatments and measures later she was for the most part stable on Friday afternoon. After determining that we were basically in a holding pattern of monitoring and trying to get her kidney levels and breathing issues under control. It was determined that the gallstone themselves had moved but the remaining sludge and infection was persistent in staying but the pending procedure was not recommended due to the instability of her breathing. I left Sioux Falls Friday evening after celebrating her birthday as best we could in the hospital.
Things had remained relatively stable other than an increased need for oxygen on Saturday and more use of the IPap machine for her breathing as she had some fluid building in her lungs as her kidneys were not functioning to diurise.
Last night, Sunday, at approximately 7:30 pm I recieved a call from her nurse followed by the attending Physician's Assistant. My mom had a persistent bloody nose yesterday on and off all day, which is not uncommon for her, especially given the use of oxygen and Ipap machine. Unfortunately it became uncontrollable and her oxygen dropped and she went into a full code. They had difficulty stopping the bleeding and called in an ENT to do a scope to find and stop the bleeding after they got her intubated and sedated. This earned her transfer to the ICU. Her ICU nurse called at approximately 10 pm last night and updated me that they had done a chest xray to double check the placement of her intubation and to check her lungs. Finding that her lungs had a significant amount of blood in them, they suggested a Bronchial scope to go in and clear her lungs of blood and fluid. I gave my permission for that and they proceeded. Just after midnight this morning, I got the report that the Bronch had gone well, they were able to clear and flush her lungs and that she was resting as comfortably as they can get her. We are now waiting on several tests and cultures to come back from the fluids removed from her lungs to make sure there is nothing else going on, no bacterial growth, etc. Some of these tests will take a couple of days.
Upon last check in this morning, she is still septic and antibiotics continue. She was passing clots into her catheter, but it was determined the procedure for that is not a good idea at this time as it has slowed and given her current state. Her kidney levels have not improved but the teams are hopeful for its return. The gallbladder sludge is still an issue but not priority at the moment. At this time she will remain sedated and intubated on the ventilator for the next couple of days for sure, possibly longer pending how things go.
I will update more here as I have information. Please say some prayers and send positive healing thoughts. My plate is extremely full with this and my own medical issues, the medical issues of my girls and other life factors. As much as I would like to converse and generally love the interaction...I also need to focus on the many other things going on. Feel free to share and leave comments here or Facebook. Just know that if you send messages or call, I may not be available to chat. I need to also be able to take care of me so I can continue taking care of the vast multitude of other things hopefully without landing myself in a hospital. Thank you for all the love and support we have received so far. It truly means a lot.
Thank you to everyone who attended the visitation and funeral services for my mom, has sent cards, called, texted, or sent messages/flowers/food. The girls and I have been deeply touched by the out pouring of love, stories and memories shared with us. We grately appreciate the support everyone has shown not only the last week, but the last several months as my mom has battled against all the medical odds.
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