Love, Loss, and Other Four Letter Words
  • Home
  • About Chordoma
  • Photo Gallery
  • Blog - Madison's Journal

Friday Update

11/20/2015

 
Picture
The big day came and went without a bang... she still has the trach. For now...

We started the day with a doctor appointment in Los Angeles. The goal was to determine how the patch in her throat is healing. The doctor numbed Madi's nose and then ran a camera on a cable through it, and down her throat saying "take slow deep breaths". Madison does great, dad too. Every time we watch that mom and dad both unconsciously taking very slow, very deep breaths too without even thinking about it. Looking back... we do that every time. Anyway, the patch looks "very good", surgeries were one month today!


Another goal today was to have a swallow test performed under x-ray. An assessment would then be made whether the trach can come out. The doctor came in, gave her a bottle of water and asked Madi to take a sip. She did. \\end of swallow test, she passed and didn't need it under x-ray. She is clear to eat soft foods, but the trach cannot come out until we get a handle on the nausea.

Next stop, Woodland Hills to top off her tank (IV fluids) and we ended up having consults, then being able to switch one of the home IV meds to something equally effective, but not prone to prompting nausea. 

Next steps: Given the med suspected of promoting nausea and occasional vomiting will no longer be taken, assumption is she'll be infinitely more comfortable, and with only tolerable nausea if any. She hasn't been able to eat or drink for a month, there's a certain level of atrophy with her throat muscles, so it'll be baby steps to tiny bites. Ahead of that, just swallowing saliva. While you're reading for the next 30 seconds close your mouth and make an effort NOT to swallow, but let the saliva just pool. That's what Madi has been dealing with... for a month now. She just spits in to a paper cup like a redneck and chewing tobacco. It is what it is... was! Did you notice a pool in your mouth? We unconsciously swallow every 8 seconds, once every 5 minutes when we're asleep. It is amazing in fact miracles... all of the things our bodies do instinctively. Madi's allowed to swallow now... you too in fact :-)

This picture is Bailey waiting for Madison to wake up. 


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013

    Picture

    Categories

    All

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.