Thursday, October 5

Margaret is continuing to improve in the ICU while being treated for ARF, Acute Respiratory Failure. Michelle is her nurse today and provided us with a detailed update. It is always a relief to feel as though someone is taking the time and care to provide us with as much information as possible.

Yesterday, Margaret was on only 50% oxygen. This is down from 100% this past weekend. Her potassium was elevated, and in treating that, she in turn had a restless night. In order to let her rest today, they increased her morphine dosages to once an hour from every two hours yesterday. Her oxygen was increased to 60% this morning, but is already back down to 55%.

The morphine is being used as a sedative more than a pain killer. Due to the fluid in her lungs, they cannot use the normal sedative. When Margaret wakes up past a certain, she gags on the tube and becomes agitated. Therefore, they are trying to keep her a little more sedated in order to rest and heal.

Her chest x-ray showed improvements today. They have increased her dosage of Lasix to help remove the excess fluid. They were pleased with the outcome today.

She did have fever overnight, but it was gone by noon today. Michelle reported that Margaret's white count is down, so they feel like they are fighting a good fight with the infection.