Megan: On the road to Recovery

Megan did not "spring" back, but she is doing ok and improving. Going to the bathroom is very painful for her still. Monday we were dealing with pain (belly, incision, bladder, headache from a fever). Tuesday we were dealing with lack of appetite and vomiting, although her pain was controlled and she was hurting when she moved certain ways but was much improved. Hopefully today (Wednesday), we'll be dealing with going-home procedures. But, first she has to drink more, eat some, and get up and walk around- none of which she has been interested in at all.

I've been really frustrated with the nursing staff. They are as sweet as sugar and really good with the patients, but I have struggled with communication between what the doctor has told me and what the nurses are doing; when to give what medications, etc. They have tried to be reassuring "Oh, it's normal for a patient to be vomiting all over on the second day after surgery. She'll be fine". NOT what I want to hear. That approach may seem find with them, but it sounds as if they are dismissing my concerns. I haven't spoken to a supervisor yet, and I'm not sure if I even should. Maybe it's just my sleep deprivation and my worry about Megan that's making me more sensitive.

I am also upset that they seem to ignore my requests for certain things- please can she have the stool softener? she's on narcotics (which slow down the bowel) and it HURTS to bear down. Please, can she have some Zofran (anti-nausea medication) because she didn't keep down the 5 bites of food she had this afternoon, nor the sips of water, nor the medication you gave her (that she hates taking!). Please, can you call me when she wakes up- I have to get some sleep, but I will come right over if she is crying or wakes up.

Nada. I had to talk to the Fellow (physician in final training; who is awesome by the way- she said the right things in the right way to reassure me and explain how Megan's recover is right within what is expected, and she could still go home if she met certain criteria on Wednesday).

I even came back from the Ronald McDonald House this morning, after getting about 3.5 to 4 hours of sleep and I walk into the room. The mom of our roommate said Megan had woken up crying and upset, that she'd been asking for me, but she was fine now and watching a movie.

Uh, WHAT HAPPENED!?!

I found Megan's nurse and asked her how Megan was doing. She said she'd woken up and had wet the bed and was crying, so she got her up to the bathroom and got her bed changed and got her settled in with a movie. I asked if she'd received the message to call me if/when Megan woke up and/or asked for me. Uh, no. She didn't get that message.

WHAT THE HAT!?!? (that's a Miranda-ism)

I'm almost in tears again. It has been really hard to be here alone- to not have somebody sitting at every moment with my little girl who is hurting, throwing up, doesn't want to walk or move or eat or do much of anything. I don't like leaving the room to even go get something to eat! It was really hard for me to leave her last night after she feel asleep at 11pm and go get a much-needed shower and a few hours of sleep. I had to sleep so that I wouldn't be a total basket case, and yet when I come back and hear she's been crying and asking for me, I feel terrible! She's only FIVE years old, and she's in a strange place surrounded by strange people, feeling strange things in her body, getting strange medicine, and hurting. I feel like I can't leave her side for more than the few minutes it takes for me to go to the bathroom.

Our roommate has been sweet. She gave Megan a movie to watch that helped calm her down this morning. She encouraged Megan to take some of the medicine, telling her it didn't taste bad and that it was ok to drink. Megan is really good about taking medicine for the most part, but there is one that every time a nurse comes at her with a syringe with a blue cap, you'd think she was holding a needle 10-inches long! It's been tough to get her to swallow the elixirs. I am really REALLY hoping that we can be discharged with pills instead. Less messy and Megan does so much better with them.

Well, it's felt good to vent a little. Megan is doing ok. I'm doing ok. We both really want to go home. I hope she's feeling well enough that she can go home today. If not, well, at least we are in the place we need to be to help her get better.