Bentley is still at it. Driving her mom and dad crazy.
On Friday Bentley spent the day on the ventilator. She was bronch’d again with nothing significant found. Friday night she decided to pop spontaneous pneumothoraxes (sp) in both lungs. This resulted in chest tubes being placed on both sides, again. From what patients tell me, chest tubes are rather painful and uncomfortable. So we have added some pain medicine to her schedule to help with the discomfort. She also received a PICC line for a more sustained IV access. Pulmonology was brought on board to help with the brainstorming as to why she is having so much trouble respiratory-wise, and to help as we prepare a long term plan for B. She has played with some noise making toys today, but she has not had much activity otherwise. On an up note, Ally came by to visit today, Bentley’s sister. She has been with Mimi and Pop for the last week. Still cute as a button, fat, and happy. Bentley still doesn’t care much for her, so we left her in the waiting room and rotated through. I took a nap with her this afternoon.
On Friday Bentley spent the day on the ventilator. She was bronch’d again with nothing significant found. Friday night she decided to pop spontaneous pneumothoraxes (sp) in both lungs. This resulted in chest tubes being placed on both sides, again. From what patients tell me, chest tubes are rather painful and uncomfortable. So we have added some pain medicine to her schedule to help with the discomfort. She also received a PICC line for a more sustained IV access. Pulmonology was brought on board to help with the brainstorming as to why she is having so much trouble respiratory-wise, and to help as we prepare a long term plan for B. She has played with some noise making toys today, but she has not had much activity otherwise. On an up note, Ally came by to visit today, Bentley’s sister. She has been with Mimi and Pop for the last week. Still cute as a button, fat, and happy. Bentley still doesn’t care much for her, so we left her in the waiting room and rotated through. I took a nap with her this afternoon.
It is obvious Bentley has trouble finding a comfortable position. She is also getting somewhat resistant to anyone or anything touching her. So many stimuli have been painful lately, she winces in anticipation when I try to hold her hand or rub her leg. Keeping her ears on would probably help, as we could all talk to her before we touch her, but keeping them on in this bed is not the easiest thing. In addition, the noise on an ICU is not always “clean” noise. There is lots of commotion, hisses, rattles, bells, and talking which is not something she usually enjoys hearing for long periods of time. We have done a pretty terrible job of letting her know what is about to come, mostly because we haven’t kept her ears on. Everyone has been pretty good at talking to her as they work with her. Mom and Dad just need to be more consistent with letting her hear.
Please pray for all of us, nurses, doctors, techs, therapists, mom and dad, to be more aware of ways to improve the sensations and environment of Bentley’s room. I can only imagine having so much negative stimuli will begin to take its toll.
Please pray for all of us, nurses, doctors, techs, therapists, mom and dad, to be more aware of ways to improve the sensations and environment of Bentley’s room. I can only imagine having so much negative stimuli will begin to take its toll.
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