This is the monitor for the oxygen. The number in the far right corner, 65, is the amount of oxygen they are giving him.
And the number one down from oxygen level is called peep. (15) This number is the amount of pressure it takes to keep the lungs inflated. They had to inflate because the lungs are very sick and when they become that bad they can stick to one another.
The goal is to wean him off the oxygen and turn back the amount that is inflating so he can, once again, breath on his own.
The oxygen number has, from the beginning, fluctuated between 80 to 50. Since he has been on the Rotoprone bed, it has helped the number to decrease some. For the past five or so days, the number has been stuck at 50. Although they try to turn that number down one or two numbers but he has consistently not been able to handle any number below 50.
The peep is pretty much stuck at 15, although they have definitely tried to decrease that number when the oxygen is decreased, his body is not able to handle it.
He is so sick that his metabolism is running extremely high. He needs more nutrition than what they are currently giving him to offset the metabolic rate. But, again, he has not been able to tolerate more.
His metabolism is so high trying to fight off the illness that it puts an amazing amount of stress on his body causing high blood pressure.
All of that to say, they turned back the oxygen to 45 last night and he has maintained that number all day. They also increased his feeding tube from 20 to 35.
So, more food, a little less oxygen; a pretty good day.
They had to put him on a blood pressure medicine. And his lungs are still pretty cloudy.
The inside of his lungs look like Cirrostratus clouds dissipating little by little. Looking at the X-ray each day, it’s hard to see a difference. But there is.
So, in very layman’s terms, that is a little of what’s going on. There are more numbers and other things that also need to improve.
I held my breath walking down the hall this morning in the hospital, crossing my fingers that the oxygen number was still 45. And? It was.
A good day.
His birthday is February 14. Mr. steady, unaltered, constant, religiously the same .... I can’t think of the word I’m looking for.
Always wants the same meal for his birthday. Always. He NEVER deviates. He looks forward to it all year.
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and cherry dump cake.
Oh, but some may say, how can you make such a meal with the allergies he has? Years of practice. It’s healthy, free of a million things AND it tastes good. ;)
I whispered in his ear today that we would put a hold on all birthdays until he is better. But I retracted before I left. ‘On second thought, Mr. slowpoke, we WILL celebrate your birthday and make your favorite things. And if you are not better by then, we will eat it all and not leave any leftovers.’ ‘So, you better just hurry up and get better.’
I was just trying to motivate him a little. I would never follow through.
I envision him home and being waited on and spoiled and loved and gushed over exceedingly and fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cherry dump cake any day he desires.
A good day. A hopeful day.
Thank you so much for your prayers, your support, kind words, gifts,etc.... It means so much to us! We feel cared for and carried through.
Thank you a million times infinity.
Yes, a good day! Thanks for sharing the better news. I always kid David on his birthday as the “old man” because he’s a little bit older than me until June!! Then I catch up. :)
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