Update
January 14th, 2011 by Conor
It’s 4:45 AM. Danny hasn’t gotten any paralytics since 8 in the morning. That’s the longest he’s gone without being paralyzed. The paralytic is basically a last resort. If they can’t regulate Danny’s vitals through medication and his ICP is maintaining a number higher than 20 then they would paralyze him. The paralytic also causes issues with digestion and with the lungs. Today they were able to stabilize Danny’s ICP with the use of a medication called demerol on top of the use of mannitol. They have been using mannitol to flush the fluids and swelling. Mannitol is more or less a temporary fix for the swelling. This is one more step towards recovery. When the night shift crew, Conor, Josh, and I, clocked in things got a little different. Danny’s ICP was jumping all over the place. After a call to the Doc, Nurse Paul took Danny in for a CAT scan. The bolt and wiring system required can go bad between a week to two weeks of use and cause the ICP to read inconsistently. Danny came back from the CAT scan and they had determined that was the case. Needless to say, the alarm doesn’t go off anymore when that number goes above 20 and it’s much less stressful watching that number. They will now monitor his progress through the neuro exams. The last neuro exam went well. Danny opened his eyes and blinked a few times and gave a solid thumbs up with his right hand. Between every neuro exam we wait. We wait for another chance to see Danny come to life a bit more. Time moves slowly in room 5109, but way too fast when the meds wear off. “Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.” -John Archibald Wheeler
-Michelle
- 3 Comments »
- Posted in Bedside with Michelle, Updates
January 14th, 2011 at 7:26 PM
According to Daniel Amen, MD clinical neuroscientist, child and adolescent psychiatrist, and medical director of the Amen Clinic for Behavioral Medicine in Fairfield, California “Listen to a lot of great music. Music from country to jazz, from rock to classical , is one of the true joys of life. Music has healing properties. Listening to it can activate and stimulate the temporal lobes and bring peace or excitement to your mind. Music therapy has been a part of psychiatric treatment for decades. Certain music has a calming effect on patients. Fast tempo, upbeat music can stimulate depressed patients in a positive way. University of California at Irvine demonstrated that listening to Mozart’s Sonata for Two pianos enhanced visual-spatial learning skills. We suspect that complex music facilitates certain complex neuronal patterns involved in high brain activities like math and chess.” Anyway it goes on and on about music…The name of the book is ‘Change your Brain, Change your Life’ By Dr. Daniel Amen
This might be a good book for you guys to read, as it’s not your typical “medical” book, but gives very informative ways to treat head injuries and other brain ailments.
So, I didn’t vote because in my opinion I would play him classical AND other complex music.
OH, Lot’s of Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) Secret Language of Birds is a great one.
You guys keep up the good work. I have been checking daily on the updates. Sending lots of love and support.
Tootch is in town and played some music at the parka and made a little speech about Danny. We are trying to send you the video.
xo
Nancy
January 14th, 2011 at 9:27 PM
Hello,
No Danny would appreciate both! Michelle, your facts are right. However, they pretain to an unborn child in the womb! The only option is PIMP MIX on repete… make him feel at home!
Hoestly, i think any song that remids him mentaly of happy thoughts, will have a possitive reaction on DCT! Even if its Mozart’s 12th….
So i guess my vote is a write ballot,
Bobby
January 14th, 2011 at 9:41 PM
Hahaha, I love all of the comments. Honestly, I think Danny would like to listen to his own music. He loves it, why wouldn’t he? Agreed Bob Stash…happy thoughts.