On the Mend

Hey Y'all,
Well, Kim is finally on the mend from her surgery. Wednesday and Thursday were very tough days for her but she seems more herself today. Things are done so differently at this hospital. If you want to be fed you must find out what type of diet they have you on (they do not tell you), where to call to order your meal, then place your order! There aren't any 'meal wagons' like we are use to where everyone gets basically the same meal with diet allowances. Kim didn't have anything to eat for two days because no one told her to order food and she just thought that's what her doctor wanted! Her husband said that when they brought her up to her room from recovery that they explained the system but Kim was not even coherent at that time.
They started the 'tube' feedings yesterday afternoon. Each 'feeding' takes twelve hours and is usually done from 7pm to 7am. Kim will also have to be hooked up for fluids daily and they take an additional 2 hours. This seems excessive but Kim desperately needs this nutrition-she must gain at least 10 pounds before she will be strong enough to start 'living' again. She can supplement the feeding with small amounts of real food that is basically for taste and chewing sensations, she can no longer eat for sustenance.
She was scheduled to come home today or tomorrow but it doesn't look like that's going to happen now. She has had a very bad allergic reaction to the pain meds, she is still catheterized, and her blood pressure is still low.
Did I tell you that the doctor scared the poop out of her by telling her on the day of the surgery that she was in renal failure? She didn't know that you sometimes have problems urinating when you have surgery and she couldn't pass the liquids. For some reason, the doctor on the floor told her he was afraid that she was 'probably going into renal failure!' She was somewhat hysterical for several hours until both her husband and I assured her that this was probably surgery related and not diabetes related. They have since retracted that stupid statement!
Both Kim and I have been having nightmare ever since she had the surgery. Crazy wild dreams that leave you shaken when you wake up. I'll be so glad when she's back home; I need to see her.
Thanks to all of you for the well wishes and prayers. We truly appreciate you!
Hugs,
Liv