Feeling Better

Well, it was good to see Dr. Darragh and the rest of our normal staff today. It's a pretty skeletal crew on weekends and especially holidays. We arrived at 11:00 this morning and were met with Dr. Darragh right away on the Heart Center. He gave us a plan. They started an IV medication called milranone that she's been on before and it helps her heart beat stronger so more blood gets circulated through her entire body, more specifically her kidneys (which will result in her spending a lot of time in the bathroom getting rid of fluid) and her stomach (which will allow her appetite to come back and she can eat more). It's working. She's eaten more this afternoon and evening than she has since Thursday and her stomach is feeling much better. Don't know if she's actually lost weight yet (she weighed in today at 6 pounds more than when we were admitted on Thursday, so she's been gaining about a pound a day) but she was able to relax enough to take a nap. It's so good to see her feeling much better already. Dr. T popped in and checked on us a few times today. Bailey was passing M&M's out to her doctors. Dr. Bramlet (a cardiology fellow) has quickly become another one of her favorites. He also makes us feel completely safe and taken care of when he's around. He had a few days off this holiday weekend so we didn't get to see him until today. We were hoping he didn't leave . . . we've seen a few fellows come and go in our day.

Bailey's teachers are e-mailing her homework and she's working on writing a paper right now in her room for English class. The hospital loaned her a lap top so she can work in her room. I dragged all 75 pounds of her books from home, so she's ready to jump in and keep up with school. The teachers here at Riley are also in contact with her school and helping Bailey stay caught up.

Dr. D says we'll be here "a few days". We've learned enough around here enough to know that that means we have no idea when we're going home. Hopefully in 3 days, but who knows. He has also stopped the flecainide (which was just started Thursday) since he said it proved to be a "miserable failure" and is starting a new anti-arrythmia medication tonight, propafenone (I hope I didn't butcher that). We'll see how that works. But for now, the milranone is doing wonders for her physical comfort right now. We'll take one step at a time. (She's still in flutter. No word yet on cardioversion, but I guess that might happen tomorrow.)

Love you all, and thank you for your kind and thoughtful comments. You're an incredible support to us both.

Have a good night, all!
Angie