I was with Mike yesterday and he looks fantastic. His Pulmonologist came in and reduced his oxygen assist again and said he was doing great. He is starting the paperwork for Medicare requesting a Cough Assist Machine at home. I finally met Dr. Chary, who was supposed to be his Dr all along but was on vacation Mike's first week there. He said "looks like you are about to get out of here" and started talking about some different medications to start getting Mike back to is home meds and doses. He is a little worried about his wound and getting that fixed but we will deal with that a little later after he gets home for a few weeks. It may be wishful thinking but I am hoping for early next week for Mike to be home.
Red
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Mike Update 05/05/11
Mike is doing very well, thank God. He is in and out of his wheelchair every day and seems almost normal accept for the Tracheotomy. His is still on the vent at night, but this is the next step in is total recovery.
I had a one on one meeting with his Dr yesterday and he explained everything in detail. Mike no longer has Pneumonia. He is on the ventilator to help support his breathing because he has been on it so long his lungs have become weak, and especially at night when you sleep your breathing becomes even more relaxed. The vent helps keep his lungs expanded so the left one one start to collapse again. Not due to fluid, but due to it just not being strong enough at this point. When the lung collapses and comes in contact with itself, that is when the mucus forms as a bodily reflex and that is what fills it up.
Mike has chosen to go to the hospital in Washington, DC for the Vent Weaning Program. We aren't sure when he will be transferred, but likely it will be soon. I will let everyone know when it is a definite.
He is having withdrawal from not seeing and Red Sox games and now that he has a new hat courtesy of his Grandparents, he is even more anxious. Check out the new picture.
Red
I had a one on one meeting with his Dr yesterday and he explained everything in detail. Mike no longer has Pneumonia. He is on the ventilator to help support his breathing because he has been on it so long his lungs have become weak, and especially at night when you sleep your breathing becomes even more relaxed. The vent helps keep his lungs expanded so the left one one start to collapse again. Not due to fluid, but due to it just not being strong enough at this point. When the lung collapses and comes in contact with itself, that is when the mucus forms as a bodily reflex and that is what fills it up.
Mike has chosen to go to the hospital in Washington, DC for the Vent Weaning Program. We aren't sure when he will be transferred, but likely it will be soon. I will let everyone know when it is a definite.
He is having withdrawal from not seeing and Red Sox games and now that he has a new hat courtesy of his Grandparents, he is even more anxious. Check out the new picture.
Red
Monday, May 2, 2011
Freinds Can Be the Best medicine
See the new pictures on the right of Mike this past Saturday when a group of freinds paid him a visit in the ICU. He had a steak and cheese from Jerry's too.
THANK YOU all so much for this visit. You can't imagine how much it lifter Mike's spirits.
Red.
THANK YOU all so much for this visit. You can't imagine how much it lifter Mike's spirits.
Red.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Update
Mike continues to maintain his current levels of Vent support and daytime breathing on his own with some oxgen added through his trach. He has been able to decrease the amount of added oxygen in the past two days and still be able to m aintain his minumum of 90% saturation so that is an improvement. Yesterday, thanks to Amanda, Mike had 8 people come to visit him in a group. They got there about 4:30 and stayed until 8PM when his Mom came to visit. They went out and got hjim a steak and cheese which he devoured. He was SO happy to see everyone. I really was probably his best day in a long long time.
Mike had an upset stomach this morning so he didn't eat his breakfast and his back was really bothering him so his nurse was going to see if she could get him a little extra pain meds. Otrherwise he ws doing well.
I went to University Medical Center, U of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore yesterday and it was "OK" I seems as if the care would be close to the same and Johns Hopkins but I beleive the Wound Care at JHU is much better. With Mike's pressure ulcer having regressed from all of the thime he had been in bed, this is one of the three major medical needs he has and will need treatment for. The weaning rate for Vent Weaning is higher than the national average, but less than JMU's nearly 100% rate. Also, the hospital itlself is very hard to get to. Of course this would be the last consideration after the medical things, but is still important because Mike's mental putlook is very important to getting better and being isolated is something we would like to avoid if possible. You need to navigate through the inner city if Baltimore to get to the hospital and the areas you need to travel through are not the safest in the city. It really isnt near the major highways where you can jump on and off.
I am going to see Specialty Hospital Of Washington located on Capitol Hill in DC. A very posh area in town for those of you who know the city. We'll see how it goes there.
There is not definate time for his transfer, but I suspect if his health remains at least at the level it is now, once Mike makes his decision on where he wants to go, it will move fast.
I will be sure to let everyone know a soon as there is a plan in place for a move.
Red.
Mike had an upset stomach this morning so he didn't eat his breakfast and his back was really bothering him so his nurse was going to see if she could get him a little extra pain meds. Otrherwise he ws doing well.
I went to University Medical Center, U of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore yesterday and it was "OK" I seems as if the care would be close to the same and Johns Hopkins but I beleive the Wound Care at JHU is much better. With Mike's pressure ulcer having regressed from all of the thime he had been in bed, this is one of the three major medical needs he has and will need treatment for. The weaning rate for Vent Weaning is higher than the national average, but less than JMU's nearly 100% rate. Also, the hospital itlself is very hard to get to. Of course this would be the last consideration after the medical things, but is still important because Mike's mental putlook is very important to getting better and being isolated is something we would like to avoid if possible. You need to navigate through the inner city if Baltimore to get to the hospital and the areas you need to travel through are not the safest in the city. It really isnt near the major highways where you can jump on and off.
I am going to see Specialty Hospital Of Washington located on Capitol Hill in DC. A very posh area in town for those of you who know the city. We'll see how it goes there.
There is not definate time for his transfer, but I suspect if his health remains at least at the level it is now, once Mike makes his decision on where he wants to go, it will move fast.
I will be sure to let everyone know a soon as there is a plan in place for a move.
Red.
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