Ultrasound and ice cream

Yesterday, Garrett’s right arm and hand began to swell below his central line and there is a significant difference in size between the right and left side. I asked for an ultrasound. 

The ultrasound was very painful for Garrett. The sores on his body hurt to touch and he has quite a lot of large ones where the ultrasound probe had to be pressed. He screamed through most of the ultrasound prolonging the process. 

Garrett does have a small clot, but it is not fully occluded. Typically, an anticoagulant would be started, but in a post-op IBD patient, the protocol is not as straightforward. Hematology and surgery are meeting this morning to determine next steps. 

They want to save the central line in order to provide nutrition for Garrett, but need to determine the best course of action. 

In the interim, he is on pain medicine for his arm (in addition to his abdomen and skin) as the swelling in his hand has now become significant and very painful. He can’t close his hand without crying. 

On a positive note, after a VERY long night where we never went to sleep (IV feeding pump was going crazy, med schedule got shifted to include the middle of the night, several vital sign checks, surgeons paid us visits at 11pm and 6am, the ostomy wafer fell off at 3am and needed a complete change that took an hour, and a sweaty fever) at 8am Garrett ASKED FOR VANILLA ICE CREAM! He took six little spoonfuls and I was so happy! It was his first food by mouth in nine days. Surf and turf tomorrow???? Ok, maybe I will aim for Saltines instead...