------------------------------------

Out again, out again

We are home again. Released from the viselike grip of Thomas Jefferson Hospital, thank you very much. 3 nights and four days in the pediatric ward and I had reached my tipping point.

Luckily, Ana's o2 levels were really good (like from 97-100%) since yesterday. We just waiting for Lily to bring hers up to a better place. When she slept it would dip down into the 80s without her oxygen on, so they had to turn up her air. But then we started getting caught in a cycle -- she'd be fine all day without oxygen, she'd sleep and her levels would fall. They'd put the oxygen back on.

Because she had the nasal thingies in (how do you spell canula anyway? cannula? kaneulla?) during the day without the air on, they'd get filled with boogers, and her nose would be a crusty mess. So in my mind, it was no wonder her o2 saturation levels went down -- one whole entryway for air was basically blocked by snot and plastic tubing.

Today before her afternoon nap I took off the plasic nose tubes and she went down a-okay. Slept for almost 4 hours with only minor (short) dips.

It all harkens back to the fact that I always remind myself when dealing with hospitals and doctors in general: you have to manage your healthcare. You have to always, always question the reasons behind decisions, especially when they start getting made without your consultation.

And you have to be pushy. Example: today the doctor though Lily was on a much higher concentration of oxygen all last night than she actually was. I made a big stink of it (the nurse told me it was only half a liter) because it meant possibly another night in the hospital. Well the doc went back looked at the notes again, realized she made a mistake and changed her outlook for Lil's release. So I guess the moral of the story is to pay attention and question authority.

Next up on my litany against hospitals: allowing children to sleep with the equivalent of mini-blind cords!

8:10 p.m. 2007-12-14

begin at the beginning - previous - next