Jadyn's surgery

I had mentioned that Jadyn had an upcoming surgery for a shunt revision. Her head has been growing at a really fast rate even though she has a shunt with a lower pressure setting to drain fluid faster already. So her neurosurgeon was going to operate to see if he could find a problem, and to make the catheter that goes into her heart bigger... so that more fluid would be able to drain. Everything didn't go as smoothly as anticipated... I didn't find out until surgery was almost through, but it turns out that she had a pretty bad asthma attack as she was being put under. They called in some other doctors or RTs or something to help with this, I don't remember exactly what he said... but they got it under control eventually, and then surgery was able to start. Then I guess for whatever reason, he had trouble getting into the jugular vein? Again, I don't remember exactly what he said, but he said he had to call in someone to help because he had problems with something. What they told me would be an hour long surgery turned into 4 HOURS... and no one really came to tell me anything until she was being "closed up" as he put it. I was pretty worried for awhile. Anyway though, they did find out what was wrong. An old suture was tied tightly around the shunt catheter, blocking a good part of the flow... all I can think is HOW the HECK would something like that happen? Is her old neurosurgeon that caused so many problems before responsible for THIS also? I really don't know. I plan to inquire further though... she has a couple follow up appointments coming up... I'll definitely be writing down questions until then. So they put in a new catheter. Her doctor said that it really wasn't draining well at all with the suture so tightly around the catheter, and that quite a bit more fluid is probably making it through now, so to keep her flat for awhile... if too much fluid comes out at once, there could be a bleed in the brain... this has happened to her once before. All I can think is that this has been going on since she was ELEVEN MONTHS OLD... her head has been growing and there has been pressure on her brain because the shunt hasn't been working for a year and a half. The incision is right next to her trach, and it goes right into her jugular and a tube leads into her heart RIGHT under that incision, which scares the CRAP out of me being right next to her trach full of secretions and right under her trach ties. I am soooo scared of infection, and I just can't wait until this thing heals up enough to where I don't have to be SO worried about the trach being the cause of infection... her dressings need to be changed daily, and it's so hard to do that with them being right under the trach ties... she is very irritable on and off about it, and she keeps grabbing at the bandages, and I'm so worried she's going to rip it open somehow... I'm keeping arm guards (no no's) on her... she hates it, but I guess it's better than her ripping her dressings off continually. She really doesn't seem to feel good, and I don't remember her other revisions having too much of an effect on the way she acted... and right now she won't even cough out her own secretions, which is so unusual for her. I'm having to suction constantly, and usually I only do it once or twice a day. So that is what is going on... I hope that we get through this next few weeks without any problems, and that the new catheter helps... who knows what could have been caused by having that not functioning well for so long ::sigh::

[sandra]

That is very scary. I'm sorry that things didn't go easy for Jadyn. Hopefully, her recovery does!

[T-bone]

Oh, Amanda, I am so sorry that you and Jadyn are going through such a horrbile time. I am praying for a speedy recovery and that she keeps her hands off the bandages. Poor little lamb. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Teresa
________
MASTURBATION SPANISH

[Alethia]

Amanda, your poor little darling! I'm not surprised you're upset and angry - I would be too. I'll send all my best wishes for a rapid recovery and hope that JAdyn feels much better now that the fluid is draining better. It must feel weird for her just now as her ICP slowly reduces, but as long as it's gradual she should feel a lot better once it's all equalised. No doubt you will too.

Lots of love,

Kate

Well I'm kinda worried about her today... she won't eat much, and she's throwing up... she's just not acting herself... I'm still hoping that it's just because of the surgery itself, and not anything wrong...

[annettevz]

Amanda,

That's scary stuff. I'm sorry you and Jayden are having such a rough time. I'm praying that she gets better soon!!!!

(((HUGS)))

Annette

[Whitney]

Amanda

I hope Jadyn improves quickly. Keep us posted. Sending extra prayers to your family and to Jadyn.

[Zoe's Mom]

Amanda,
I hope Jadyn is feeling better now. I am sorry you two had such a scary week.
Hang in there,
Lora

[McKenna&clan]

Sweet Jadyn love....
I just want to love her. I hope it heals fast and she gets back to her smiling self soon. That is sooo stressful for you! Is she getting enough pain control? Is she still in the cootie factory...aka hospital? Sending you good vibes for little miss.
Janet