Update

So, I guess there's a lot to talk about...

Jen's doing OK at the moment. The Dexcom continuous glucose monitor has been installed and has been runnning for the past couple of weeks with varied results. One of the problems is that there is only really one person in the hospital qualified to operate the device and fix it if something goes wrong. All of the nurses try to learn how to operate it but are operating on average at about an Iraq invasion success rate.

The Dexcom unit itself is pretty nice and simple. I have a feeling that it works better than is being demonstrated at Kaiser, if you do the calibrations correctly and on time I think that the unit will help her out quite a bit. Of course, we'll have to buy her one of her own...because Kaiser bought the current one just for the hospital. How nice.

At this point the Gastric pacer is off the table, due to Jen's ability to eat on her own for the past couple of months. I think that this is great news, as the less surgery, the better. Jen is nervous that she will fall back into her previous state, but her doctors think that if we keep her blood sugars under tight control than we can stave that off.

They are thinking of releasing her soon. Obviously it depends on how well her blood sugars are controlled, and switching her to oral medication...but that is the only criteria. That actually scares me at this point...she is very medicated and I am just not comfortable leaving her at home alone. If I did at the state she's in now I know that we'd have a bad scenario very quickly. Kaiser does not have a program that helps people out once they're released that is covered by insurance. I'm looking into what to do.

More later...

Yay

Jen had her continuous glucose monitor installed! Now we can actually track her blood sugar and set the alarms to warn her BEFORE she goes too low. Oh happy day, it only took Kaiser a year and a half to figure this one out. A new record!

Updates are evil

Hi all, not much that's new. Jen is doing well, been eating normally for over a month so that's fantastic. Her glucose sensor is on it's way, and no word yet from UCSF but we expect it soon (no, really).

No news is good news, unless it's...um, bad. But that ain't (contraction of: ai, not Example: I ai not going to be a phat skinny pimpin' at da clubz wit all da hoes this fine evening.) the case.

Meh

Jen has been doing well until last night, she had a low blood sugar episode but is OK now. We are still in a holding pattern until we get the OK from UCSF to transfer her there. I am also pushing them to install the glucose sensor now as opposed to after she gets out.

In other news, go see Wall-E. It's amazing. And if you're wondering what I'm going to be wanting for my birthday, it's the 'Ultimate Wall-E' shown here

Success

They removed Jen's chest port yesterday, so she's on track for getting to UCSF within a week now.

Progress...

Rolling along...

No new news to report, Jen wants another dialysis session with the fistula (Wed.) before she's ready to remove the chest port. Everything else is still holding true...

News to squish by

This pink sample of cephalopod Coleoidea of the order Octopoda arrived this week. It made Jen squeal. That is good.

Jen's fistula has been ruled 'acceptable'. This means that her chest port is going to be removed probably by next week. After that it's a week of antibiotics and then on to UCSF!

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”

I ran across this quote from Albert Einstein last week and thought it fitting for the health care industry.

Glucose sensor

They approved the Dexcom glucose sensor for Jen! This is very good news, the sensor will be crucial for Jen to maintain her overall health outside of the hospital.

There is a wish of the higher ups at Kaiser to move Jen straight from Kaiser to UCSF. We will see what the final decision is soon, they still need to talk to UCSF about what protocol they wish to use.

Jen continues to improve, she is eating semi-regularly and her tube feeding moved from a constant 24 hour cycle to a 12 hour cycle at twice the rate.

Updates

Jen was completely unresponsive this morning, but apparently that is due to the fact that they did the echocardiogram on her and she was still groggy from the sedative. I don't know the results yet, but I'm sure glad they let me know that it was happening today. (They didn't.)

From the sound of it her chest port will come out next and they they are looking to release her home, and then to UCSF. I'm not sure what to do though if she comes home now...she needs monitoring while I'm away at work but I don't want it to be invasive. I've looked at setting up a network DVR...the problem is she doesn't want to feel as though she is being babysat which I completely understand. We'll start with the training for the dog when she gets home from UCSF, whenever that may be.

Confused about the internet? Gabe and Max explain it all the in a quick and easy way!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPsUmhqncAg

http://tv.boingboing.net/2007/12/07/gabe-and-max-answer.html

Woodney and Lemenieu

Jen and I were watching 'The First 48' on A&E a week ago and a suspect's name was 'Woodney Lemenieu'. Jen took an immediate liking to the name and laughed every time it was mentioned. I took the opportunity to paint (I don't paint so it that explains the quality) what 'Woodney Lemenieu' conjured up in my head for Jen's birthday and this was the result. I was asked to post it here, and I couldn't without the explanation. That's all there is. (Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic)