We Gotta Get Out Of This Place

We gotta get out of this place!
If it's the last thing we ever do ...
We gotta get out of this place,
'cause girl, there's a better life ... for me and you.

It's been 4 days and counting since Katheryn was admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately, the oral medication that Katheryn was given on Saturday didn't come close to dealing with the pain, so she was put back on the IV administered meds. As of Sunday morning nothing had changed. It was clear that she was not going home that day.

Fortunately, sometime Sunday, Katheryn did pass some stone fragments, and the severity and frequency of her pain started to diminish. But, there was another problem. Due to her lack of movement, being pregnant, and on fluids for three days, Katheryn's legs and feet had swelled... I mean really swelled.

We mentioned this to the nurses on Saturday evening, but they said it was common for women in her condition. By Sunday evening, though, Katheryn was having trouble even bending her legs they were so tight, and she was finding it hard to breathe. I think the breathing issue convinced the nurses they should perhaps call the resident doctor.

When the doctor arrived, he put Katheryn on a scale. She had retained 30 pounds of fluid since being admitted... 30 pounds!! (She hasn't gained 30 pounds since the start of her pregnancy) There was also concern that fluid might be retained in her chest, causing her labored breathing.

In short order, they had her on oxygen, a plan for removing her from the IV and limiting her fluids, a drug to help expel fluid from the body, ordered a CT-scan to check for blood clots, and a cardio-sonogram. (This is all happening at 1 in the morning, mind you. Why they didn't show this level of concern earlier left me more than frustrated. Plus, all the commotion was just a little frightening.) The tests showed everything was fine, for the most part. There was some fluid next to her lungs as they suspected, but not enough for great concern.

Monday morning, Katheryn was finally removed from the IV and was taking oral meds for pain; a very good sign. It seems the severity and frequency of the pain at this point were manageable with just the oral meds. I inquired about her going home that day, but there was still much concern from the doctors about the swelling.

Katheryn was finally able to get some much needed sleep on Monday afternoon thanks to the absence of the IV equipment, monitors, and a general lack of interruption, and she is now doing much better. She's more coherent, the pain is easing off considerably, and her appetite is gradually starting to return.

As of Monday evening, Katheryn and I are periodically taking walks around the 6th floor of the hospital, getting her muscles moving to hopefully reduce the swelling; something she wasn't capable of doing 24 hours ago due to exhaustion, medication, and pain.

I'm fairly confident that Tuesday is the day we go home. I can't imagine why they would want her here much longer, but when you have dozens of nurses and doctors over the course of 4 days, its hard to get a consistent answer. Coincidentally, we have our third birthing and homecoming class on Tuesday evening, here at the hospital. We're supposed to tour the birthing center... not sure we'll be making that one.