Jerry was scheduled to get his trach out this morning however before the procedure started we were notified by Santa Clara Valley Medical that Jerry had been accepted and they wanted to transport him at noon. I was faced with the decision to stay at Kindred and get the trach out or move to VM. If we stayed to get the trach out Jerry would have stay through the weekend to be monitored and could lose his bed at VM or have to be reevaluated when he was ready to go. I was told that VM would complete the weaning process and decannulate him. I feared losing the opportunity to get him into VM so I opted to move him. We arrived at VM around 2:30, from the time we arrived till 11:30 tonight Jerry has had a constant flow of people bothering him. The nurse came in to do an evaluation, then the physical therapist came into evaluate followed by two doctors and the respiratory therapist. He's had blood draws, xrays, bowel treatment, bed bath, he's been turned and jostled a dozen times . Originally we were put in a room with two other people, between all the activity and the noise from the other patients, Jerry was so overwhelmed he had a melt down and went into a state of mind that is generally reserved for the middle of the night. He was ranting, not making any sense, confused, hyperventilating, and worked himself into a state of delirium. I spoke with the nurse and voiced my concern that being in a room with others would be difficult on Jerry's mental status as well as very disruptive to the other patients. The nurse moved him immediately into another room. The new room has beds for 3 other patients however for now we get it for our own private room. It took a lot to get Jerry to calm down he believed he was seeing a girl in the room that was not human and was begging me to get her out. Once Jerry's meds kicked in he calmed down, returned to a more normal state of mind, then respiratory came in and started breathing treatments and using a coughalator and got him all worked up again. This is going to be very difficult, the nurses come in and bother him 9pm, 12am & 5am, breakfast is at 8am, therapy is 10 to noon and 1 to 3. Jerry was admitted to the spinal cord injury rehab not the brain injury rehab which I was upset about, the purpose of being here is for the brain injury rehab not the spinal cord injury. I was assured that Jerry will receive the same care regardless of what unit he's in however the spinal cord unit was better equipped to handle the spinal cord injury care.
I'm having second thoughts about moving before the trach was removed. This move has been overwhelming, I feel the tracheotomy weaning will suffer a huge set back here. The protocols at VM are different and far less aggressive. Jerry has handled having the red cap around the clock for 6 days, here they only want him to have it in the day but nights they want him on oxygen through the trach. The doctor intends to change the trach back to one that has the inner cuff, they don't feel he's anywhere near being ready to be decannulated, they're taking steps backward and it's freaking me out.
Tomorrow morning will come way to early, that's all for now, I need sleep.
Katie
4 comments:
First day in new place and all the kinks - exhausting for the two of you :( Prayers for continued strength,and sleep, for both of you.
Hopefully in the next few days things well fall into an acceptable routine and Jerry's needs will be met to your satisfaction....which means forward progress...The two of you are closer to home. I am so sorry the two of you had such a bad day. We know what to pray for, so you know Jerry's MANY followers will all be praying for quick successful weaning off that trach, and the services of the Brain Injury Unit, even if his bed isn't there!
SFerry
Breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out. You are where you are meant to be. If feels like backward movement. You've done everything right; you know Jer, you got him into a better room. This move is HUGE! New room, new nurses, new routine, new schedule, new stressors, new fears, new benchmarks, and different protocols.
I know you know this - just wanted to reassure you, too. Your efforts have gotten him here. Some other perks, they know Jer, you're closer to home, closer for people to come support and break you, familiar with the territory - inside and outside of VMC, getting quality care for Jer and it's going to take a few days to settle in. Breath in, breath out - kinda like, "wax on, wax off."
Love you!
Trish
It sounds exhausting. I pray that things will calm down today. I know how frustrating this is. Its like a roller coaster. Up one minute and down the next. I'm sure God has his hands working. Looking back on this whole process I've seen things work out even when we thought they couldn't. I pray that you and Jerry have a good day today. I pray that Jerry gets the trach out soon.
Love Grandma
Praying for peace, rest, assurance and healing. You are where you need to be, don't doubt that for a minute!
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