Day 6 Post-op Updates

We're approaching one week, tomorrow, post-op. I can't believe it's been a week today since we got the call that an offer was accepted!

9:09pm update:
Job recovered nicely from his PICC placement. He got a "bath" and total line change. I had to take a picture because it's so amazing:

3:00pm update:
Job is in the OR with Interventional Radiology (IR) getting his PICC line in. It's so wonderful that they were able to fit him in to a cancellation spot today while he is still on the ventilator because if they didn't have that cancellation he would have had to wait to get his PICC tomorrow or the next day and then would have had to be reintubated for the procedure and then exubated again.

His room looks so empty but I'm going to try to get a nap in before he comes back.

1:00pm update:
Fantastic news! There is no fistula!

There is only a clot in the vessels in his left calf. Where did it come from and when? They're not sure (yet?), but he's already on heparin (an anticoagulant) because that's standard post-op care so he's ok for now. They will continue to watch closely but he is getting blood to his foot, just more slowly than his right foot is being profused.

We'll eventually transition to lovenox injections twice a day at home. I hated giving him shots before but I know I can do it again.

9:50am update:
Rounds were hopeful! "Job is hemodynamically stable and we are working towards extubation." Hooray!

We're working on decreasing meds to be able to extubate. The thing that might hold us up is when the IR team can place a PICC line, because usually that does necessitate being on the ventilator. If they're really busy today and can't place the line then Job may need to stay on the ventilator until they are able to place the line.

And, of course, he has to be able to pass his ERT (Extubation Readiness Trial), showing us that he can breathe (some pressure support allowed) well enough without the ventilator.

His feeds were stopped because he's constipated, so they're starting a constipation bowel regimen of glycerin suppositories and Miralax.

His left leg is noticeably cooler than his right leg so there's concern he has a fistula (resulting from so many pokes from his caths) and ultrasound is on their way up to assess. If he does indeed have a fistula (as shown in last night's ultrasound) then he would need that fistula connection repaired in the OR next week. We don't want his blood mixing in his leg (though last year we needed that in his arm).