Advice please - post- tonsils
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Advice please - post- tonsils
I don't remember a lot of what it was like taking care of Jeff after his tonsilectomy. Jen is not a little kid anymore, so I don't know if this will make a difference.
This has been so much worse than I could ever have anticipated. After the med changes Thurs., we THOUGHT we had turned the corner. Yesterday morning she sounded much better, drank a small Danon smoothie and took her meds. Noon, drank a cup of soup and took her meds. 1:30 comes, she is going to vomit again. 3:00 she uses the Phenergan suppository. 4:00 she begins vomiting. 6, uses ANOTHER Phenergan.
Remember that B/F's mom is taking care of her because I *had* to work. When I last spoke with her @ noon, she was doing great. Now it is 5 PM and I find all this out, so I immediately call in the refill on the Phenergan to CVS, wait for it to be ready, and in between talk to B/F and it continues to worsen. Also had called the Dr. after hours and he was a jerk, telling me to push the fluids, she will dehydrate, and we are doing the same circle dance about *she can't keep them down* and him telling me she has to drink, and me telling him everything she swallows comes right back up, I don't get it, this man was not HEARING me, and he was very abrupt and rude. I don't understand how someone who is so wonderful in the office setting can be such a (*&^ otherwise. I apologized for bothering him even, and he was just a )(*&(*^(*&^. So I picked up the Rx, drove to their house, took one look at her, and made the decision to go to the ER. She was white as a ghost, shaking, shivering, eyes rolling around, can't stand up by herself. It just cut me to the core - only one other time in her life have I seen her look that bad, and that was when she was under 2 y/o, and had a temp of 106 from a UTI.
Now - I had called the hospital where she had the surgery on the way to get her, in case going to the ER was necessary, and had to tell the whole story to 3 people, and the 3rd one I spoke with in the ER kept telling me to call the doctor and *do what he says*. I kept telling her we have BEEN doing that - for TWO DAYS. Something is WRONG here! And then she tells me, in a roundabout way, not to come here, we are too busy, follow the Dr.'s instructions! I figured that would be the place to go since the Dr. is on staff there!!! So I told her *fine, we will go to another hospital, my money is good anywhere*.
Back to Jen, I brought her to the hospital where I thought we'd have the shortest wait time. NOTE - New Orleans area is very short on medical facilities since Katrina, particularly in Orleans and St. Bernard & Plaquemines parishes, so they all have to go to Jefferson or further west where we live. So we go, and 4 hours later actually see a doctor. I'm ready to kiss his shoes at this point.
They immediately start an IV, and then give her Zofran for the nausea in it - at this point, she cannot swallow the little bit of spit in her mouth - we are toting a small trashcan with us for her to spit/vomit in. They draw blood, and a while later give her some Demerol in the IV. They end up running 2 liters of fluids in her in an hour, and once the pain meds kicked in, she drank a can of Gatorade. They wanted a urine sample, and it was 2 AM this morning before she could even pee - another sign of dehydration. Plus, due to the bleeding ulcer she had a few years ago, the acid reflux is really bothering her, I guess the vomiting and the inability to drink something afterwards to wash all the bile down made it just burn everything from her mouth to her tummy. So they give her something for that in the IV too.
So they wrote a Rx for Zofran, send the urine sample we finally got to the lab, and @ 4 AM discharged her, they gave us the lab reports from the bloodwork and urinalysis, and it proved she was dehydrated, which I KNEW!!!! Doc told her to show those to the ENT when she sees him on Tues and tell them they had to give her several liters of fluid by IV before she could urinate. Tells me that if the Zofran doesn't do the trick, then she needs to be admitted. I was half hoping they would just go ahead and do it.
So we come home, feeling slightly hopeful, I get her to bed, set my clock, feeling optimistic that I'll get a few hours of sleep before the pharmacy opens to get the Zofran fill, plus get the chewable Pepsid AC he said to get for the acid reflux. Needless to say, Mom didn't sleep. I went to CVS @ 8:30 with the RX, then stopped at the grocery to pick up broth, saltines, Gatorade, juice and it hits me, BABY FOOD!!! So I get several jars, and I come home and wake her to take meds, and she is truly suffering. Gave her the Zofran, which dissolves in her mouth, then get her to try a few spoonfulls of baby food banana, then she takes the pain meds. Takes a few sips of water, and she is about to jump off the bed it's hurting so much. The good news is, she had to pee.
I made an ice collar with crushed ice in a large Ziplock bag for her neck, and she is lying in bed trying to relax. But I am SCARED! This is where I need advice. She can't swallow her own spit now. If she can't swallow, she can't drink liquids, we are going to be right back where we were yesterday! I am so worried and frustrated!!!!!
The ER doc said *if this doesn't do the trick, she needs to be admitted*. I'm worrying we will have to go back, and if we do, I am going to just insist they admit her with an IV to keep her hydrated and they can give meds in the IV.
I know you guys are sick to death of hearing about this, but I could use some advice or suggestions. I don't feel real confident right now, which is something new for me, after dealing with 4 kids and some pretty serious illnesses, I am not thinking clearly, because I have been up all night, and I don't know what to try next.
So please, any of you that have been through this, throw me some suggestions and ideas, what to do for her, what to try, how to get her to *eat*. Because I am really afraid we are going to end up back at the ER.
I really don't mean to whine here, I thought I'd know what to do, and things would gradually get better. But I am at a total loss here. Please - and especially if there are any *medical* people onboard this morning, give me some input!!!
Thanks - from the bottom of my heart.
Oh Karen! I am afraid I can't help you as I have no experience at all, but I just can't believe what you and Jen are going thru!! I'm so sorry! You're not whining...this is a true medical issue and the components keep changing! I hope you get some good advice from someone else on here. Good luck and keep following your instincts....if you think she needs the ER again, then just take her.
Karen, I am in tears after reading your post. I am so sorry your Jen is suffering so. I feel so badly for her. And you are doing such a wonderful job of holding it all together, and looking out for her.
I wish I had some advice. I hope, even being the weekend, someone will be here to help you. I'm praying for you and Jen. I so hope she'll get some relief today. If you can, please let us know how it's going.
I haven't BTDT with tonsils or the kind of treatment you're getting from the ENT but I think I'd take her back in to the ER. The chances of her getting dehydrated are just too high with the amount of pain she's in. Is the Zofran working to keep her from being nauseated but she's in too much pain to swallow? I know she's on pain meds but is there anything else she can use for inflammation or a topical anesthesia (I'm thinking of something along the lines of Rx-strength Chloroseptic spray) so that she can get some fluids down? What about ice chips or popsicles? I think the salt in a broth would be painful if her throat is so raw and sore but maybe warm liquid Jello?
I don't think I'm much help but I can tell how tired and helpless you must be feeling and thought I'd throw out what few suggestions I had. {{{Karen and Jen}}}
Oh Karen!!! {{{{Karen}}}{{{Jen}}}
Karen, if the pain meds have not eased things up so that she can drink, I think you have to seriously think about taking her back to the ER, and better to do it on a Saturday afternoon than after dark, when ERs really get terribly, terribly busy.
If it were me, I would stay entirely away from anything other than liquids, cool or cold. Gatorade, non-diet soda, weak iced tea with plenty of sugar, ice cream, and maybe, just maybe, jello. Even baby food is harder to swallow than liquids. If you are worried about nutrition - and I can understand that you are - how about some of those liquid food alternatives/supplements, chilled. Dehydration is a much greater worry than malnutrition at this point, and dehydration, as you know, comes on very fast. Malnutrition takes a long time and is by no means an immediate concern. She is NOT going to starve to death in 3-4 days, especially if she is getting liquids with any calories in them.
But do think seriously about whether she needs to go back to the ER. You don't want to have her wind up as bad as she was before you went the first time, and if you get there after 7 or 8 on a Saturday night you may have a 4-6 hour wait before she is even seen.
Karen, I'm just now reading this, but I called my DD, who is an ER nurse, and she said GO! Run, don't walk.. to the ER, and INSIST that they admit her!!!! Deb says that something is very wrong. She should NOT be in this much pain THIS LONG!! It is summer everywhere, but where you are is especially hot. Dehydration can be fatal, as your electrolytes go out of balance. Potassium levels drop, and potassium regulates heart rythmn. YOU are the patient's advocate, as well as her dear Mom, so stand your ground with the hospital. Deb says that people make a much bigger fuss about things in the ER, when it isn't even a serious problem like yours, so don't be afraid of being a real thorn in their side. She is YOUR baby, and she needs you to advocate for her. Deb said that maybe there is a problem with the incisions in the back of her throat. She reminded ME of the time she had her wisdom teeth out as a teen. She kept complaining about a lot of pain on one side. The oral surgeon kept giving us the old, "Wait it out" routine. Well, finally I took her in, unannounced, and INSISTED that they see her. Turns out, the same oral surgeon had sewed one stitch to the inside of her cheek!!!! I had forgotten about that, but she hasn't. She said to just refuse to leave until they admit Jen. They can put EVERYTHING through the IV...pain meds, nausea meds, nourishment and antibiotics, if it turns out she has an infection. Deb asked me if she had a fever? THAT would make the dehydration worse.
Hopefully, you are at the ER now. Please let us know what happens. Be a mother LION! FIGHT them until they give her the proper care. All of the health care providers are so afraid of the insurance companies. Well, too bad. ((HUGS))
Karen, I am so sorry. Many prayers go out to all of you.
My grandmother had this but it was during the mid 70's. I can remember my grandfather being at that point. The only thing my grandmother could eat was baby food applesauce.
She was admitted and there for almost a week with IV's in her.
I have no advice. I agree with Ginny, in the next few hours if nothing changes take her in.
I was dehydrated when I was 9 months pregnant with Alyssa and didn't even know it. I was so huge I never thought of dehydration. She was a week past due and it felt like I was sitting on her. So I literally couldn't eat or drink anything due to how I felt.
I was hooked up to 4 IV's while having her and didn't stop going to the bathroom for 24 hours.
Many hugs and prayers.
(((((((hugs)))))))) Oh my. :0 I cannot believe that Dr. I feel so bad for all of you and I will pray. I think maybe another trip to the ER may have to be considered as Ginny said above. Also, Gatorade may help to re-hydrate. You can also try to make Gatorade ice pops. Good Luck, Sweetie! (((((hugs)))))
Maybe you are at the hospital with Jen, now.
Saying prayers.
Ditto Ginny-Something doesn't sound right.It's you're mommy instinct kicking in.Do like you've told us,if you're not sure,take her in.I truly hope you go to E.R and let them monitor her and it can give you some piece of mind.I'm so sorry you're going through this ((Karen & Jen))
I agree, with going back to the ER. It does seem a bit long to be that uncomfortable. My friend's DH had his tonsils out as an adult and I don't recall him being uncomfortable for that long afterwards. It was a while back, though.
I only know that when the scabs fall off, you have an increase in discomfort, but people had already mentioned that. This seems way above and beyond normal discomfort.
Karen emailed me abut half an hour ago - things are, for the moment, looking up a bit. Jen has been able to take several doses of pain meds and is taking some liquids and sucking on ice chips. Karen, of course, is exhausted.
Thanks for letting us know, Ginny. I'm so glad that things are on an upswing.
Thanks for the update, Ginny  {{{Karen and Jen}}} Hang in there! We'll keep you in our prayers
That's good. Thanks again, for the update!
Ditto on {{{Karen and Jen!}}}
Thats good to hear. I feel so bad for both of them. I am keeping you guys in my prayers.
((HUGS))
As of a 10:15 email Jen's pain was getting a bit worse, but she was still keeping down liquids and was able to take more pain meds and keep them down. Karen said the bf is spending the night to take care of Jen so Karen can get some sleep. Karen is exhausted, and threw her back out a few days ago - which wasn't helped by spending the night in the ER with Jen and sitting up with her.
If Karen doesn't post and does email me, I will keep y'all up to date (Karen was the one who taught me the Southern way of spelling you all.)
Thanks Ginny, for updating for me. I got 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep! Woo Hoo!
I would still be sleeping but Jen came and woke me up. Things are the same, I think she has hit the 6 day spike everyone has told us to expect, because she said it feels like a bee sting when she swallows, even her meds. But no more vomiting, keeping fluids in, taking the Zofran and Demerol, so I am taking this a positive.
Last night she asked me to soft boil 2 eggs for her, so I did, and mashed/chopped them up really small. She ate all of it. Though later on, she said it was probably a mistake, because she hurt more after, but she got protein in and KEPT it in. I have broth here for her, which we will stick too today.
Thanks for all the support, I was very near taking her back to the hospital yesterday, but she said she thought she'd be alright, when the day before, she *wanted* to go. I am keeping a close eye on her fluid intake, and if it drops, or the nausea returns, we will head back before she gets to the point she was at 2 days ago.
You both are in my thought and prayers!
So glad to hear she had a reasonably decent night, and is still not in the hospital. And really glad you got a good night's sleep.
I agree, stick to llquids for today. And while you watch the input, watch the output too.
Here's hoping it's uphill from here on.
Ditto Ginny-(((HUGS)))
(((HUGS)))
I hope she continues to improve. Poor thing...what a horrible experience. Keep us posted. (((HUG)))
(((hugs)))
Well, at least she has realized that there is *no* way she can go to classes tomorrow. LOL We called her instructor, and told her she *might* return on Friday. She sees the ENT Tuesday morning. She had most of a cup of clear chicken broth, and is still doing ice chips. So far so good!!!!
That day #6 is the absolute worst! I remember thinking "Ohh, this is so awful!" Those first several days. And then day 6 hit. I was in tears. Poor DD was at her worst and there was nothing I could do.
She felt the pits all the way to day 12. Then she was magically healed.
Hang in there, Karen! {{{{HUGS}}} to you and Jen. I don't think I'm ever going to let anyone touch my tonsils!
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