DAY 28: Prone
Today did not go well.
Mom's pneumonia is worsening. Her arterial blood gas level dropped to 88 and the doctors decided to turn her prone so that the fluid in her lungs moves to a different area.
Nurse Melanie told me that there are more extreme measures to be taken if proning Mom doesn't increase her oxygen level. Unfortunately, that's where we are. The easy steps have been tried.
Patients on respirators for long periods of time often develop pneumonia. Like most, Mom's was caused by an infection. Her cultures came back from the lab and the doctors were able to target a new antibiotic directly on the bacterium at fault. That, coupled with the proning, should have a positive effect.
One ray of light in this darkness is that her oxygen increased to 100 within minutes of her turning prone. I'm hoping it stays at that level. Beyond that, I'm hoping that she can breathe on her own soon.
Here's to better days.
Mom's pneumonia is worsening. Her arterial blood gas level dropped to 88 and the doctors decided to turn her prone so that the fluid in her lungs moves to a different area.
Nurse Melanie told me that there are more extreme measures to be taken if proning Mom doesn't increase her oxygen level. Unfortunately, that's where we are. The easy steps have been tried.
Patients on respirators for long periods of time often develop pneumonia. Like most, Mom's was caused by an infection. Her cultures came back from the lab and the doctors were able to target a new antibiotic directly on the bacterium at fault. That, coupled with the proning, should have a positive effect.
One ray of light in this darkness is that her oxygen increased to 100 within minutes of her turning prone. I'm hoping it stays at that level. Beyond that, I'm hoping that she can breathe on her own soon.
Here's to better days.
Posted by Jason Kelly | 11:37 PM
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