Slow Progress

The news gets more positive — keep reading. 🙂

Kristi has had a rough few days to say the least; today isn’t any exception.  While there has been some slight improvement in her gut, the lack of nutrition (not eating) is burdensome. She is VERY weak and was somewhat delirious at times today.  While it seemed slightly comical at first, it is indicative of the stress her mind and body are experiencing. While she does seem to finally sleep a little, it’s only after some hours of misery. 

Since Kristi hasn’t been able to eat or drink for several days, the doctors are starting (at 9:00PM) something called TPN, which stands for Total Parenteral Nutrition. It’s basically complete nutrition through an IV. Instead of going through her stomach and intestines, the nutrients go straight into her bloodstream through her port.

Each bag is custom-made and contains everything she needs — fluids, calories, protein, fats, vitamins, and electrolytes — all carefully balanced and adjusted based on her lab results.

This will help keep her strength up, prevent dehydration, and support healing while her intestines rest and recover from the obstruction. Nurses will monitor her closely, and the doctors will tweak the formula daily to make sure her body is getting exactly what it needs.

Kristi’s X-rays this morning looked encouraging — some of the contrast dye made it all the way through her intestines, which means the blockage is improving.

Her NG (nasogastric) tube is still draining, but only slightly less than before. And, she’s passed some gas — they want her to fart a lot!  That’s one of the best signs of progress. Her stomach hasn’t been very swollen, either.

Starting IV nutrition tonight should help her get some strength back as well as clear up the cognitive issues — fingers crossed. 

The main point is that things seem to be slowly moving in the right direction AND I have a feeling she’s going to be here at least a few more days. 

Just as I am finishing up this post I cracked a joke — as I have been doing for the last few days to try to lighten the mood — and she smiled, kinda, for the first time since Sunday.  

And then, she was even up for a very short walk using the Iron Man suit!  That’s Mary — maybe one of our favorite nurses ever.