Gabrielle is doing great from the surgeries. Having the epidural placed to control the pain was a great thing to do for her. Since the surgery she only had 4 extra doses of pain medicine and all of those were on Friday. Since then she has not appeared to be in any pain as a result of the surgery. They plan to start transitioning her from the epidural to other pain medications today and to remove the epidural on Tuesday. Her incisions are healing and the G-Tube is working and has bee running almost continuously since Friday afternoon.
Gabrielle has had some GI related issues that we were assuming were related to the excessive amount of feedings she is getting. The orders have been to feed her 1-1/2 ounces per hour through her feeding tube continuously around the clock. However, Gabrielle cannot handle that at this time so we have been having to turn the feeding pump off to allow time for her stomach to empty. We are having to be careful not to over fill her because that causes her to have dry heaves because she cannot throw-up anymore. Since she cannot throw-up there is only one possible way for stuff to come out and needless to say she has been going through a lot of diapers.
The doctors did decide to run some test on her stools. They found Clostridium difficile, also called C. difficile or "C. diff." It is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. This bacteria cause illnesses that typically occurs after use of antibiotic medications. Basically what happens it there are good and bad bacteria in the intestines some antibiotics kill the good bacteria which allow the bad bacteria to thrive. Typically when the good bacteria are present then they are about to suppress or kill out the C. Diff bacteria. Last night Gabrielle was placed on another antibiotic which will target the C. Diff bacteria and give the good bacteria a chance to replenish. Another thing that can be done is to add probiotics to her diet, but we have to talk with the doctors and nutritionist about this.
Ashley and I thank you for all the prayers and the continued prayers.
In Christ,
Jeff, Ashley, and Gabrielle
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
April 22, 2010
What a long day it has been. Gabrielle made it through the surgeries and the surgeon said both when good. When we finally made it back to the recovery room she was already awake and playing with her baby doll and blankets. She has not appeared to be in any pain up to this point.
Here is the breakdown of what has taken place. Gabrielle had the Nissen surgery, G-Tube surgery, epidural, catheter, and another IV. The PICC Line people do not like for the anesthesia people to use the PICC Line during surgery, so they had to place an IV in her foot. When talking about pain medication the surgeon and anesthesiologist recommended that Gabrielle get an epidural to control her pain instead of the standard narcotics through the IV. They said that when the epidurals work properly they are much better for CF patients since the narcotics would affect her breathing and the health of her lungs. Since the epidural numbs a lot of stuff Gabrielle needed a catheter since she would not know when her bladder was full. The Nissen surgery was an open surgery so she had an incision about 3 inches long running from her rib cage to her belly button. All the stitches where placed on the inside and surgical tape was used on the outside. The G-Tube was place and in about 3 weeks it will be changed out with a Mic-key button (www.mic-key.com), this can be done in the doctor’s office.
Ashley and I thank you for all the prayers and the continued prayers.
In Christ,
Jeff, Ashley, and Gabrielle
Here is the breakdown of what has taken place. Gabrielle had the Nissen surgery, G-Tube surgery, epidural, catheter, and another IV. The PICC Line people do not like for the anesthesia people to use the PICC Line during surgery, so they had to place an IV in her foot. When talking about pain medication the surgeon and anesthesiologist recommended that Gabrielle get an epidural to control her pain instead of the standard narcotics through the IV. They said that when the epidurals work properly they are much better for CF patients since the narcotics would affect her breathing and the health of her lungs. Since the epidural numbs a lot of stuff Gabrielle needed a catheter since she would not know when her bladder was full. The Nissen surgery was an open surgery so she had an incision about 3 inches long running from her rib cage to her belly button. All the stitches where placed on the inside and surgical tape was used on the outside. The G-Tube was place and in about 3 weeks it will be changed out with a Mic-key button (www.mic-key.com), this can be done in the doctor’s office.
Ashley and I thank you for all the prayers and the continued prayers.
In Christ,
Jeff, Ashley, and Gabrielle
Sunday, April 18, 2010
April 18, 2010
I have spent the last few days trying to figure out how to write this email. There seems to be no way to write it that make it any better. So we will go with short and to the point.
Gabrielle will be having two surgeries on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 11am. The first surgery is for reflux and is called a Nissen Fundoplication. This surgery is needed since she has a history of reflux and because the second surgery will increase her reflux. The second surgery is for the placement of a Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube).
During the Nissen surgery, the surgeon improves the natural barrier between the stomach and the esophagus by wrapping a part of the stomach known as the gastric fundus around the lower esophagus. This prevents the flow of acids from the stomach into the esophagus, and strengthens the valve between the esophagus and stomach, which stops acid from backing up into the esophagus as easily.
A gastrostomy feeding tube is either a tube or a button (skin level device) that is surgically placed into the stomach through the abdominal wall.
Gabrielle is currently scheduled to be admitted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital on Tuesday (4/20). She will have a PICC Line placed and start antibiotics to help get her ready for the surgery on Thursday. The PICC Line will be placed at 11am.
We ask that you continue to pray for Gabrielle as we begin this new phase in her treatment.
Jeff, Ashley, and Gabrielle
Gabrielle will be having two surgeries on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 11am. The first surgery is for reflux and is called a Nissen Fundoplication. This surgery is needed since she has a history of reflux and because the second surgery will increase her reflux. The second surgery is for the placement of a Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube).
During the Nissen surgery, the surgeon improves the natural barrier between the stomach and the esophagus by wrapping a part of the stomach known as the gastric fundus around the lower esophagus. This prevents the flow of acids from the stomach into the esophagus, and strengthens the valve between the esophagus and stomach, which stops acid from backing up into the esophagus as easily.
A gastrostomy feeding tube is either a tube or a button (skin level device) that is surgically placed into the stomach through the abdominal wall.
Gabrielle is currently scheduled to be admitted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital on Tuesday (4/20). She will have a PICC Line placed and start antibiotics to help get her ready for the surgery on Thursday. The PICC Line will be placed at 11am.
We ask that you continue to pray for Gabrielle as we begin this new phase in her treatment.
Jeff, Ashley, and Gabrielle
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