So much for Lucy's heparin staying in the therapeutic range. She has had two adjustments and boluses today and will have a re-test at 9:30 pm tonight. It sounds like she is close to where they want her. The tricky part is having her stay in the therapeutic range for a couple days.
Her nosebleeds have stopped, but Dr. Thurmes is very reluctant to run a TPA catheter in her leg. The TPA would speed up getting rid of the thigh clot. Right now she has to stay the course. Perhaps that could change the longer she goes without a nosebleed. Right now she is dabbing saline gel in her nostrils every four hours and that seems to be working.
The two unit transfusion helped a little, but Lucy's hemoglobin was only at 7.9 today. More than likely she will need a transfusion tomorrow or Wednesday. We have not heard how her white count or platelet count were faring.
She has still been having fever spikes today. Her worst one was 102.8° which was taken down with Tylenol and cool washcloths on the forehead. There is still no indication of an infection. The fevers break within 30 minutes.
One nice thing was she got to use a shower today. The disposable washcloths are nice, but having some independence is nicer. She also got a birthday rose from one of the floral shops today. That was a nice present.
It's still wait and see. A lot depends on how fast her body starts wearing down that clot in the thigh. We have no idea how soon she will be going home. It's frustrating, but it is what it is.
Thank you so much for caring! Your comments are like her getting a Get Well card without having to wait for mail delivery.
Lucy, Dear Cousin, I read all of Ken's posts with keen interest and loving compassion. If there were something I could think of to do to help you through this frustrating time, I would do it. I'm helpless to do anything but pray for you, which I do regularly. You are a strong woman.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of a prayer that my Mom cross-stitched, that was hanging in her hallway above the stairs - maybe you remember seeing it:
"Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that, together, You and I can't handle." She lived it. I try to, too.