Bah!

Dan has been feeling great all day. He's taken two pain pills today at most, is eating more with no nausea and walking like crazy. He's even been less tired after his walks. When McGreeky saw him this morning, he felt confident that Dan would be going home tomorrow with only one drain. Unfortunately, the labs hadn't come in yet...

So, around 1300 I asked the nurse for a print out of the labs as I normally do. I was shocked to see that Dan's WBCs jumped from 11 to 20 today (normal below 11). Along with the words "toxic granulation" and "bands>20%" that means that his infection is not under control. Trying not to get too disappointed or worried, we decided to just ask the intern when he came around (picture a skinny, tall, apathetic Ben Affleck beach guy...his intonation never changes). Unfortunately, the intern is in charge of several units today and hasn't rounded yet.

While we've been waiting to ask some questions, another unfriendly change has occurred. Dan's drains were previously putting out hardly anything. One drain got removed (yay!) and we forgot about the drains for a while. Then, the CNA came to empty the remaining 2 drains and we discovered that one of them was basically full! This was a dramatic increase in output, which is worrisome because his pancreas is already leaky. So, this could mean that increased food has led to increased leaking of pancreatic enzymes, or some fluid just shifted when the other drain got removed or a little pseudocyst is resolving. Oddly, the drainage color has changed also. Unfortunately, we pretty much have no way of telling which one is going on.

We are still waiting for the intern to stop by, as Dan tries to cool down his fever. He's getting very tired of these temps :(

It is so frustrating to be so close to being released from the hospital to start recovery at home and then have things like this happen. Dan has felt so good today, that it's difficult to remember he's sick. Yet, it would be far worse for Dan to be sent home and have something unexpected happen away from the doctor's watchful eyes.

God is in control what ever happens.

Prayer Requests:
* Resolution of fevers and infection(s)
* That Dan's wound infection is NOT VRE (a nasty antibiotic resistant bacteria)
* Guidance for docs as to what the heck is going on with Dan's drain and labs
* Drying up of any pancreatic leak going on--big or small
* Peace and endurance for the both of us
* Getting out of here in God's timing when Dan is ready to go
* Cooperative digestive system
* NO MORE COMPLICATIONS