Sigh
Something really really good must be coming our way, because once again, we're having a bit of a tough time.
Nate spent Saturday throwing his guts up and hurting a lot. We called our doctor in the evening and they told us to head to the ER to get some fluids back in him so he could kick whatever was bugging him. One of my visiting teachers came over after we put Addison down and we headed up to McKay-Dee in Ogden. We only had to wait about an hour and a half to be seen, and they were quick about giving Nate a fabulous hospital gown, morphine, anti-nausea stuff, an iv full of saline, and a barf bag. We talked to a doctor shortly thereafter and explained about Nate's Crohn's Disease and they decided to do a CT scan of his intestines. There was a 2 hour prep where he had to drink two giant cups of disgustingness and the x-ray was scheduled for 1:30 a.m. We sat around, read, chatted, and tried to ignore the noise coming through our shower curtain that served as a door.
Then at about 1:15 it became really obvious that there was a new trauma patient right next door to us. Doctors and nurses hollered (chest x-ray! pelvic x-ray! right femur x-ray! I need at least four bags of blood!) and the poor guy (who had been in a car accident) screamed as they set about 600 broken bones. It was horrifying. And our CT scan got pushed back an hour. To make a long story short, at about 5 a.m. they told us that Nate had two obstructions and would have to stay in the hospital.
He's been doing really well and hasn't been on any pain or nausea medication for several days. He also started on a clear liquid diet yesterday, which is a lot better than a diet of nothing, which he's been on since Friday night. He's still hooked up to an iv giving him nutrients and a steroid called Remicade, which is helping to get the inflammation in his small intestine under control. Yesterday the doctor said he might be able to come home this morning!
But alas, he had a small bowel follow-through yesterday, which is where he has to drink a lot of barium (which apparently tastes like chalk) and walk around a lot and have x-rays every 15 minutes to see its progress through the intestines. This morning Addison and I came for our normal visit with a sack full of clothes for Nate's grand getaway. And then the surgeon came in and said that the test showed that somehow the end of his small intestine is hooked to the end of his large intestine, meaning that food goes through the small intestine, skips the colon, and is out. Awesome. Translation: surgery tomorrow and at least a week in the hospital for recovery. My main worry (other than Nate being bored out of his mind and finding a babysitter every day) is his intestine healing without becoming obstructed again because of his Crohn's.
Anyway, this is a tough time for us and we really could use your prayers. We'll keep you posted.
Nate spent Saturday throwing his guts up and hurting a lot. We called our doctor in the evening and they told us to head to the ER to get some fluids back in him so he could kick whatever was bugging him. One of my visiting teachers came over after we put Addison down and we headed up to McKay-Dee in Ogden. We only had to wait about an hour and a half to be seen, and they were quick about giving Nate a fabulous hospital gown, morphine, anti-nausea stuff, an iv full of saline, and a barf bag. We talked to a doctor shortly thereafter and explained about Nate's Crohn's Disease and they decided to do a CT scan of his intestines. There was a 2 hour prep where he had to drink two giant cups of disgustingness and the x-ray was scheduled for 1:30 a.m. We sat around, read, chatted, and tried to ignore the noise coming through our shower curtain that served as a door.
Then at about 1:15 it became really obvious that there was a new trauma patient right next door to us. Doctors and nurses hollered (chest x-ray! pelvic x-ray! right femur x-ray! I need at least four bags of blood!) and the poor guy (who had been in a car accident) screamed as they set about 600 broken bones. It was horrifying. And our CT scan got pushed back an hour. To make a long story short, at about 5 a.m. they told us that Nate had two obstructions and would have to stay in the hospital.
He's been doing really well and hasn't been on any pain or nausea medication for several days. He also started on a clear liquid diet yesterday, which is a lot better than a diet of nothing, which he's been on since Friday night. He's still hooked up to an iv giving him nutrients and a steroid called Remicade, which is helping to get the inflammation in his small intestine under control. Yesterday the doctor said he might be able to come home this morning!
But alas, he had a small bowel follow-through yesterday, which is where he has to drink a lot of barium (which apparently tastes like chalk) and walk around a lot and have x-rays every 15 minutes to see its progress through the intestines. This morning Addison and I came for our normal visit with a sack full of clothes for Nate's grand getaway. And then the surgeon came in and said that the test showed that somehow the end of his small intestine is hooked to the end of his large intestine, meaning that food goes through the small intestine, skips the colon, and is out. Awesome. Translation: surgery tomorrow and at least a week in the hospital for recovery. My main worry (other than Nate being bored out of his mind and finding a babysitter every day) is his intestine healing without becoming obstructed again because of his Crohn's.
Anyway, this is a tough time for us and we really could use your prayers. We'll keep you posted.
I'm sorry to hear about Nate, that is not fun at all. I wish I lived closer I'd definitely help you out with Addison. We'll keep you guys in our prayers for sure! Good luck with everything.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that, too. Hope surgery and recovery goes well. Our thoughts are with you!
ReplyDeleteWow! Sounds pretty serious! Having just had a c-section a little over two weeks ago, I remember being on the "clear liquids diet", and it's just more jello and popsicles than any one person was ever meant to consume! Sorry.... We're also waiting for surgery on our little girl, so similar boat. No fun. I hope all goes well with recovery! You'll be in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteOh, Michelle, if I was close by you know I would take Addison every day for you. He might even come to like me... lol. I am so sorry for Nate for what he must be going through, and for you with the worry you are experiencing. We have added you to our list of those to pray for! Know that we're thinking of you and we love you guys a lot!
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how sorry I am that you have to deal with this! Our little trip to the hospital for an appendix seems like cake compared to this! Best wishes to all of you; I'll keep you in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteI'm tellin' ya, sissy, ship that boy out to Pennsylvania so I can spoil him rotten for you! You're all in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry - he is definitely in our prayers. Tell him his favorite cousin is thinking about him!
ReplyDeletePrayers said. Wow, Michelle (and Nate), that is rough! Things will get better, and everything will work out. I agree, you've got something great coming right around the corner :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle, if you ever need us for babysitting or other things let us know and we will be there. We will be praying for your family!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, we're so sorry! Let us know if you need anything- anything at all- meals, babysitting, whatever. You're in our prayers. Love you both.
ReplyDeletehang in there Nate! Crohn's is not fun. We know all too well what it can do. But look on the bright side ... at least you aren't stuck in a hand-cart somewhere in the middle of nowhere. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow... I know this must be hard 4 you guys. I'll keep you guys in my prayers. I hope things get better soon! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteLiving with Crohn's is what you do...LIVE! Plan your calendar as you always do. You will recover and the Atonement will become much more personal and sweet to you than you have ever imagined! I love you and KNOW just what you are going through.
ReplyDeleteAll my love,
Aunt Jana