Set Back

I'm feeling defeated, I don't even want to think about how Jerry's feeling right now, this is all so frustrating. Jerry's breathing test began a little before 8:30 am, he started strong he was breathing on his own comfortably, the pressure test went well, his secretions were down. Doctors were beginning to talk about extubating today, all they needed was one last assurance, do a blood draw and check the CO2 levels in his blood, if all came back good it was a go, pull the tubes and get him off the vent. Jerry's nurse went on brake before she had a chance to do the blood draw, in my heart I felt like every minute counts, I was afraid something would happen while she was gone that would delay the extubation. I just wanted the blood drawn and sent off now so the results would come back faster before something else happened. I began to get anxious so I asked one of the other nurses to do the draw, while she was looking at his records Jerry's nurse came back and was very accommodating to do the draw right away. The results of the blood draw were expected to take about 15 minutes and then low and behold the set back reared it's ugly head. Jerry's been running a fever that has gone as high as 103.4 but for the most part is been in the 101 range, it comes and goes but has not peaked that high for a few days. Jerry's temperature climbed to the 103 range and within 15 minutes he was at 103.6. Jerry's CO2 results came back perfect but at this point it didn't matter, his temperature trumped ...game over, extubation called off, try again tomorrow. Day 7 in the ICU, it's so discouraging and so heart breaking watching Jerry struggle to communicate with all the crap down his throat. The mystery fever that just won't go away or tell us why it's here, it just rears it's ugly head at the most inopportune time. Jerry is on two very heavy IV antibiotics and has been for the past week however it hasn't seemed to kill the bug that ails him. Despite the efforts of he doctors they cannot seem to pin point the source of the infection. The doctor has called for the infectious disease team to come and assess the situation. So now we wait and pray tomorrow will be extubation day.

Katie