The Gowning

Ack! I wrote a ton of updates, hit a button, and everything went away. Boy that stinks!As I sit here typing this, I can't help but feel a little claustrophobic - it is as though I cannot breathe. Maybe that is because I am wearing a mask, gloves, and gown now. Yes, they have isolated Greg. Not to worry though - he is fine. It seems that they have the cultures back on his new lungs and it seems that right before the lungs were transplanted, one of his lungs' bronchioles tested positive for MRSA (http://health.utah.gov/els/epidemiology/epifacts/mrsa.html) . What does this mean for Greg? Not much of anything. They will start him on a regiment of antibiotics and kick it square in the rear end. The garb is mostly for other patients in the hospital that have compromised immune systems or diseases such as CF. Remember, Greg HAD CF and his lungs are now CF free. This means that Greg is better able to handle this.Okay - stat time:
Oxygen saturation - 99%
Oxygen given via nasal cannula - 2L
5 chest tubes still in (2 could be pulled in the next day or so)
Catheter and a number of IV lines were pulled
Neck IV line pulled
3 nublizers being taken - mucomist, albuterol, and tobra
Kidneys working well
Post-transplant training is being scheduled
Goals list is being created
Could be released to hotel as early as this weekend
Pain is much better today but mostly caused by chest tubes
Oh! And Greg does have a small mucus plug in his right lower lobe. They are running CPAP (http://surgicallyslim.com/definitions.htm) on him right now to loosen the little bugger up and if that doesn't work, they will do a bronch and suck it out. This is normal for 97% of the lung transplant recipients so again, it is not of great concern.
Lastly, Greg may have to stay in the ICU one more day. Why? Because they don't have any free space at the "inn" outside of the ICU. They only had 7 patients this morning but now there are no vacant rooms. Greg and I laugh because we figure that we are still going to be charged an astronomical amount for this room - even though he doest need it. (laugh) Go figure!
Well, this supplemental post is long enough. Yes, I may have more to tell... But yet again... Those that know me know that I always have something to talk about. (laugh)