Felicity was doing so well yesterday morning and then after changing floors/rooms it all changed. They say the 2nd and 3rd day are when the swelling happens and the pain is at its worst. I thought I was prepared for her surgery and recovery. As it turns out, I was prepared for the physical changes but there's no way I could've been prepared to watch my 4-1/2 month old baby girl be in pain or even the slightest bit of discomfort.
Just as we were changing rooms I overheard her last PICU nurse tell the new nurse that she heard a murmur. This was the first I had heard of this so I obviously became concerned and immediately asked the new nurse to check it. She didn't hear anything but I have requested that they continue to check her for it. Well, it's back. I'm told this is completely normal sometimes after surgery and her numbers are good. So we just moniter her. <fears and tears>
She began to swell and her eyes are now completely shut. This is completely expected and normal after the surgery she had. Once her eyes became swollen shut you could tell it caused confusion and agitation. <fears and tears>
During one of her vital checks, they found she was running a fever (38.6c which is 101.4f); I broke down out of fear. I don't want her to develope an infection. She has orders for 3 options of meds right now; Tylenol, a pain med that has a little bit of Tylenol and Motrin. The Tylenol can help the fever but may not be enough to help the pain like the other one can. The pain med though it has Tylenol might not bring the fever down and can't be taken with the Tylenol. The Motrin isn't supposed to be taken by children younger than 6 months but would mask her fever (her words) and can be taken with the pain med. The nurse recommend the Motrin. I know she's the size of a 6 month old, but she is still only 4-1/2 months old. I inquired as to why they don't want a child under 6 months to not take Motrin and the nurse didn't know, she ended up researching it and consulting with the Pediatrician (not hers but the one on duty) and the Pharmasist. I want her in no pain and with no fever, but I don't want to give her something that she's really not supposed to take and her Pediatrician had previously mentioned she can only have Tylenol. I want to help her immediately but also make sure she'll be okay in the long wrong. The nurse told me to think about it and returned an hour later. She took her temperature and it was normal. <fears and tears>
During a feeding she was given the liquid pain med. It's known to make babies gag because even though it's flavored, it still tastes bad. Well, it didn't just make her gag; she threw up. It's one thing for your baby to spit up but it's entirely different when they are throwing up. <fears and tears>
It was time for her vitals again and the nurses assistant took her temperature but instead of taking it at her arpit, she took it across her forehead. I about came out of my skin. My daughter just had her brow bone reconstructed and her forehead moved over. She's sensitive in that area right now so pressing a thermometer against her forehead and sliding it across is unexceptable to me. <fears and tears>
Yesterday was such a rough, trying, scary, emotional day with helplessness, fear and so many tears.
It's a new day today... Dionne was amazing and really took care of my precious through the night. This morning her temperature and vital signs are normal, her swelling has gone down a bit but her eyes are still swollen shut. She had a moment of choking and then spit up but that could be from laying all night and everything settling. Dr. Moss and Lindsey just stopped in to check on her. He's ordered her the water pill medicine to help bring down the swelling. He also encouraged the Motrin. Turns out he is the one that wrote the orders for it, not the on call doctor like yesterday's nurse had implied. So now I feel awful that I didn't give it to her yesterday but I didn't know and didn't want her to take something that normally isn't for a baby her age, ordered by someone that isn't her personal doctor. So we'll be alternating between Tylenol and Motrin. So far her new nurse has been great though I do miss Dionne. I'm hoping today we turn the corner.
