Hospital Update #11, June 21, 2023

11:50 am
vomiting again

11:35 pm
Yesterday was a rough day, and today wasn't much better. Several dry heaving episodes, but no actual vomiting, which is a huge improvement. She had solid food for all 3 meals and kept all of it down, although she didn't eat very much of it. 20-30% of her meals, a decrease from a few days ago.

This morning we were talking with the nurses about possibly going home today. It really seemed like a good possibility. Basically, they were saying that they aren't really doing much for her medically anymore, other than the constant IV fluids. For the other stuff (the constant fatigue, the vomiting, the lack of appetite), she may as well deal with that at home. They keep telling us that she knows her own body, she can decide when she's ready to leave...but then they says, well, we should probably get that vomiting under control first. So it's not really up to her when she leaves, is it? They made some more adjustments to her anti-nausea medications.

After lunch, it became apparent that leaving today wasn't going to happen. We're still hoping for tomorrow, but they've also said maybe Friday.

She met with an in-home palliative care team. They're going to be checking in with her periodically after we leave, hopefully they can help find solutions to whatever problems come up at home, including making additional tweaks to her nausea medications and preventing the vomiting.

I think today she's looked the most tired that she has since we've been here. Mostly sleeping. Hard to have a conversation with her.

Last night, Tammi stayed with her, and i went home to set up our brand new bed so it's ready for her, and do some work on the house, so she can come home to a nice, clean home. Tonight, Tammi took our car back to her hotel and i'm staying with Amanda again. Since i parked in a lot that's a bit of a hike and you have to weave a convoluted maze through the hospital to get to, i went get the car, and then Tammi came down to take it from me. In the 5-10 minute window after Tammi left Amanda's room and i got back up there, the other oncologist who we've been waiting to see for a couple weeks, since before the hospitalization, came by to see her. Amanda was not in any sort of condition to have a conversation, and couldn't remember anything they talked about, other than the fact that she was there. Great. Very useful. We've been here for eight days and she showed up at the absolute most inconvenient moment possible.

On the plus side, the hospital helped get her prescription for a wheelchair through, which Medicare is providing at no charge to us. It will be ready for us to take at discharge. That will be nice; at least i can get her outside and walk her around, so she can get a little fresh air a few times a day.

Really hoping to be home soon. But i just want her to feel better.