Tubes go away, tubes come back...

As expected from conversations yesterday Muriel was given a new chest tube drain this morning.  She instantly gave up nearly 400ml of fluid form her chest cavity, which is a shocking amount.  Imagine half a quart of liquid squeezed into her chest cavity... not her stomach area, mind you - just the chest!  Her left lung, collapsed as of yesterday from all this pressure, immediately popped open again.  Her breathing is clearly better, and speculation is that she *feels* better (though she can't tell us of course).  She hasn't had much time to prove that, though, because roughly two hours behind that operation - just as she was waking up from sedation - the vascular team arrived to put in her new PICC line.  That meant more sedation and pain meds - her now familiar Versed and Fentanyl.  We just left her bedside so they could get the line in.  As compensation we are expecting the triple venous line to be removed today, perhaps later in the afternoon.  There was some concern about being able to draw or give medication through one or the other that I didn't completely follow, so there is still a chance that it will stay for now.

Still uncertain about further surgery, though it seems likely.  We spoke with one of the surgeons this morning who seems in favor.  Dr. Ilbawi's opinion is still desired by the team, and he is out of town this weekend.  All want to see how she does over the next 24 hours anyway, to see if the removal of the fluid will have any effect on the pressure gradient between her atriums.  Atria?  Will need to look that up!  It won't be Monday at any rate.  If surgery is decided to be the best course it would earliest be Thursday *I think*.  Certainly I will update here when we know.

We got permission for her sisters to visit today, which at first threw mom for a loop.  The normal rules as we understood them were no underage visitors in the ICU except for the *very* sick.  Had they upgraded her status?  We were reassured that they also make exceptions for those patients with extended stays, which at two weeks qualifies her.  They should be here later this afternoon.  We will try to do another wagon ride when they get here.

We were ordered to leave the hospital last night and see a movie.  Dr. Van Burgen even printed a movie list for the local theater and suggested that we have a visit to "a local watering hole" as well.  We followed orders and saw "The Family" which was a decent comedy.  The theater was amazing - one of the new AMC theaters with full poofy leather reclining seats and beer.  It was needed, and we managed to enjoy ourselves if only for a few hours.  I think we both feel better today.