General Update #38

11:20 a.m. - Joyce woke and asked Dusty how he was doing and what had been done to her. Dusty explained that she had a kidney stone removed from her left kidney and she acknowledged that happened. Joyce commented that when they have you under anesthesia "you're just out of it." All sorts of images just go through your mind when you're affected by the anesthesia drugs. That was sort of it yesterday, too, so you just sort of get to sit and experience it. All the images and the thoughts and the stuff that just comes and goes through your mind as you are under the influence of the drugs. Joyce resumed sleeping. 

11:26 a.m. - Room service arrived to take Joyce's lunch order. Joyce stated that she hadn't eaten anything today so that would probably be a good idea. Mac & cheese, green beans, and half banana was ordered with hot tea for beverage. Estimating that they will bring it by around 12:30 p.m. to give Joyce some more time for anesthesia to wear off.

11:45 a.m. - Nurse's aide, Stocker, brought a freshly heated blanket for Joyce and checked Joyce's vitals. Reading was at 97.5 degrees. Blood pressure reading 184/77, deemed high, Stocker departed to let the nurse know.

12:05 p.m. - Joyce asked Dusty if they took out the kidney stone today. Dusty confirmed. Joyce stated that should make her feel better, but she does not feel better in her back. Had anticipated all the pain going away. Dusty reminded Joyce that she has a fractured vertebrae and two fractured ribs and that pain will take a while to go away.

12:10 p.m. - Kandi arrived to take Joyce's blood sugar levels. Joyce reported her pain levels at about 4 out of 10. Joyce informed Kandi that she needed to go to the bathroom. Kandi asked this would be the first time since surgery that Joyce would have been walking around. Dusty confirmed that Joyce hasn't left the bed since the operation. Joyce sat herself up in bed with some effort. Kandi raised the bed up to make it easier for Joyce to stand. Joyce used her purple walker to make it into the bathroom. It was soon discovered that Joyce was not equipped with a diaper, some urine and blood leaked out enroute to bathroom. Kandi got Joyce settled on the toilet and departed to get Joyce new socks and a body fluid cleanup kit. Upon Kandi's return, she cleaned room floor and Joyce. Commented to Joyce that she thought Joyce's mobility was very good. 

12:23 p.m. - Dr. Brown arrived to check on Joyce. Confirmed that Joyce will need to have the stint removed in 7-10 days and that will be scheduled by Dr. Keizur via Gritman staff and coordinated with Good Samaritan to get Joyce over to there. Plan is for Joyce to be transferred to Good Samaritan tomorrow, timeline to be determined, pending Joyce having that elusive bowel movement. Dr. Brown observed Joyce returning from the bathroom with Kandi, asked Dusty if Joyce was always that hunched over when she walks with her walker and Dusty confirmed that is normal behavior. Dr. Brown visited with Joyce as Kandi prepared recliner for Joyce to use, checking on Joyce's overall pain levels and bruises. Dr. Brown was satisfied that Joyce's bruises are healing nicely. Room's computer station appeared to be inoperable so Dr. Brown departed to check on Joyce's file for any updated information. 

12:27 p.m. - Kandi finished setting up Joyce in the recliner. Blood sugar level was taken from Joyce by nurse's aide (student) Chanelle with Kandi overseeing. Reading was 213. Orderlies arrived to sanitize bed and bathroom.

12:34 p.m. - Jackie arrived to check on Joyce. Pain medicine (Tramadol) and blood pressure medicine will be brought in shortly for Joyce. Dusty confirmed with Jackie that hydrocodone is removed from list of medications to give Joyce. Oxygen flow level reduced back to 2 litres. 

12:37 p.m. - Room service arrived with Joyce's lunch.

12:39 p.m. - Nurse's aide, Stocker, arrived to check on Joyce.

12:43 p.m. - Jackie arrived to administer blood pressure medicine, multivitamin, iron supplement, and Tramadol. A lidocaine patch was also applied to Joyce's back. Jackie informed Joyce that Dr. Brown would also like another dose of Relistor (laxative) administered to encourage a bowel movement. Joyce had some Relistor administered earlier today via injection to her gut. Jackie will administer the Relistor to Joyce later on once Joyce has had some food. Joyce stated the green beans were too difficult to eat. Jackie asked if she could provide alternative food. Joyce requested V8 and prune juice. Jackie confirmed she could have that and would bring it in.

12:56 p.m. - Jackie returned with prune juice and V8 for Joyce.

1:04 p.m. - Joyce's lunch was paused while lab technician arrived to collect blood samples. Lunch consumption resumed about 3 minutes later. 

1:07 p.m. - Jackie arrived to administer insulin. Administered Relistor to Joyce's abdomen since it was exposed for insulin injection. Joyce asked what it does and Jackie explained that it blocks some of the receptors in the bowels that prevent fecal matter from moving forward. Jackie touched Joyce's stomach and commented that it is still soft. Jackie asked Joyce if she felt like she needed to have a bowel movement. Joyce stated that she did, but she did not think anything would come out if she tried right now. Jackie said she would check back later on with Joyce. Jackie checked Joyce's blood pressure. Reading now at 166/63.

1:12 p.m. - Joyce indicated she wanted to try to use the bathroom. Jackie and Stocker were summoned and Joyce taken to bathroom.

Message(s) from Joyce:
None. 

Current location:
Gritman Medical Center, Room 202.

Current pain level:
6 out of 10 (1:12 p.m.)

Visiting information:
No change from previous post. Awaiting confirmation from the charge nurse. 
Confirmed with nurse's station shift leader at 11:05 a.m. (on 6/6/2020) - currently only 1 visitor per day for Joyce, no exceptions. Once current visitor departs Joyce's room, no further visits for the rest of the day. No swapping out visitors (example, Dusty cannot remain on hospital grounds while Craig goes to sit with Joyce for an hour and then Dusty returns to room).

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