January 5, 2017: Day +47

Doug's nurse at the hospital called me shortly before 9:00 this morning.  Doug asked her to call me. He had another rough night.  He has not asked to call me since before he was intubated  and so this felt like a big step.  However he had a very rough night last night.  He had not been able to sleep again because he could not get comfortable and he was having some pain. In the morning he continued to have some pain and difficulty getting comfortable. He also was coughing.  I told him I would be at the hospital within the hour.

When I got to the hospital he was still having pain and coughing.  The nurse had been with him much of the morning but was unable to make him comfortable.  She gave him Tylenol and I massaged his legs, arms and back.  We put some music that he likes on the CD player, but he continued to have pain.  He was also thinking about the possible move to new hospital Vibra.  He kept asking when he was moving?  He wanted to move.

Finally around 12:30 the doctor prescribed some morphine.  My sister Kate joined us at the hospital. I had an orthopedic appointment.  Kate stayed with Doug while I was gone.  During that time with the medication he was finally able to get some sleep.

At the doctor I learned that my knee was worse than I expected.  I indeed have meniscus a torn but also the cartilage is very worn, and I have arthritis as well.  The doctor thinks I should have a knee replacement or at the very least have arthroscopic surgery and the meniscus repaired.  He said that would be a short term fix but I would mostly likely later need a knee replacement.  He said that the x-ray did not look bad, it did not show arthritis and so it could be the MRI makes it look worse then what it is.  I told him that there is no way I can have knee replacement at this time and that I could not have the repair to the meniscus for a few weeks. Also the knee replacement does not seem right.  I have never had problems with my knees and my pain level in my knee now is pretty low with the brace. Well, needless to say this was not the news I wanted with all that we have going on.

When I returned to the hospital, Doug was awake and having pain again.  He wanted me to stay right next to him.  He continued to have more distress.  He was having difficulty breathing, with continued coughing.  He told me that he was afraid he was dying.  I assured him that his heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level were all good. This pain may be a good thing.  The good news he is having feeling in his limbs.  The nurse gave him more morphine and he was made more comfortable and was able to rest.

Then the transition person called.  She told me that the insurance had denied the acute care hospital.  That we would have to consider skilled nursing.  I was furious. How in the world can he go to skilled nursing, when it had taken the nurse, doctor, respiratory therapist and I all day to make him comfortable enough to rest for a short time.  She told me that the doctor was going to call the insurance company.  I was quite upset and went to talk to the nurse and also ask her to call the doctor for me.  She agreed that he needs more care than skilled nursing.  The doctor then met with me at 5:00 and also agreed that Doug needs more care.  He said he would call in the morning.  I was very upset by the whole thing, especially after being called by the hospital the last couple days to come to the hosptial and Doug needing so much help and support. The doctor assured me that if the insurance company would not approve the move to Vibra then they would keep him at St. Alphonse.  I felt more assured.

Doug's pain got worse through the evening and then he developed itching all over his body.  This is very tough when you have to depend on someone else to itch for you because you can't move.  The doctor and nurse decided it was caused by the morphine.  They then changed medications and gave him medication for the itching.  To make these changes it took until about 9:30 p.m.  Finally by about 10:00 he fell asleep.  He has a really good nurse tonight.  He said he would keep a close eye on him and would try to make sure that he kept up on the medication to allow Doug to have a good nights sleep.  I was able to leave by 10:30.

My sister Kate stopped by  the hospital around 10:00 to say that she had our Dog Styder and that she was taking him home so that I don't have to worry about him with me being gone  such long hours and not knowing if I will be called back to the hospital in the night.  Doug really does not want to be left right now by me.  It was a pretty rough day on lots of levels. We pray tomorrow will be better.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.  We have so much on our plates right now. Lord we give thanks for the feeling that Doug has throughout his body.  We pray that you will continue to heal him: giving him control over his body and an end to this pain.  We also pray that my knee will continue to heal so that knee replacement will not be necessary.  And we pray that Doug will be accepted to the appropriate hospital to give him optimal care to continue to recover.  In your name we ask it.  Amen