We made it back home and boy does it feel good! It usually takes me a few days to realize how good home feels. While we're in the hospital my brain flips a switch and doesn't crave or 'long' to be back home. I guess my body focuses on the task at hand and adapts to whatever situation we are put in.
Hospital discharge was much more smooth this go 'round. A persistent issue is not being able to get the meds we need from the pharmacy. Thankfully the hospital called in advance for the antibiotics, however NO ONE has Vitamin K around here! It took me from Friday until Tuesday to get it. So Ty missed his Friday and Monday dose. This is definitely one to remember the next time we're released.
Ty is doing an AWESOME job with doing his meds and treatments this time! Wow!! I could not ask for anything more! It makes it so much easier when he does what he is supposed to do. I could get used to this!
Hospital discharge was much more smooth this go 'round. A persistent issue is not being able to get the meds we need from the pharmacy. Thankfully the hospital called in advance for the antibiotics, however NO ONE has Vitamin K around here! It took me from Friday until Tuesday to get it. So Ty missed his Friday and Monday dose. This is definitely one to remember the next time we're released.
Ty is doing an AWESOME job with doing his meds and treatments this time! Wow!! I could not ask for anything more! It makes it so much easier when he does what he is supposed to do. I could get used to this!
PICC Line Issues
Today the home health nurse attempted to draw blood from Ty's PICC line for levels related to the Tobramycin with no avail. She tried flushing it with Heparin several times but nothing worked. She ended up having to stick him for the blood work.
The 1st stick didn't take so he opted to have his finger pricked.
The finger prick worked well but didn't produce enough blood.
Ty agreed to another needle stick and this time: SUCCESS!!
Tomorrow we're headed back to UNC to have the PICC team clear the line.
One Question about the Nurse and the PICC line.
ReplyDeleteWhy was she flushing it with Heparin and not the saline flush?
Heparin is an anticoagulant which keeps the blood from clotting and is what keeps the line open.
She flushed with saline and also tried the Heparin to see if it would clear the line. The line wasn't 100% blocked but it was blocked enough that we couldn't get a blood return. We went to UNC and had them put another flush in the line. I'm not sure what they used because I forgot to ask! Ugh!! We had to wait for 2 hours for it to work and thankfully it did. We're back home and have the IVs running again. ☺
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