Holding Pattern

Looks like we will be staying in ICU for a bit.  During the Doctors rounds jessica starting doing a funny twitching motion with her face and shoulder.  Her eyes would widen when this happened which looked a bit painful for her.  They didn't think it was a seizure because her vitals during that time stayed the same.  They do want to keep her a bit longer for observation just in case this is related to pain management.  They have changed her pain medication to ketorolac.  She did really well on this last time.

Now we watch her face to tell us how's she's feeling.  I think (and I say think because I'm constantly watching her body signals) Jessica has daily pains and I truly feel she doesn't know what "pain free" is.   I suppose only those who have gone through such a surgery would really understand the various pains scoliosis can bring to the human body.  My muscle pains or other people's growing pains probably don't even touch the levels of aches, throbs, or soreness that jessica deals with daily.

As I'm typing, they have just started  to run some clear fluids through her g-tube.  Day 2 has the reputation for being the worst.  The heavy drugs that they put directly into her spine is wearing off and the narcotics we are giving her can cause nausea.  Hopefully the anti-emetics work!!  They are giving her ondasatron.  This is something that they give cancer patients.  It's very well known to help with nausea.  So far so good with jess :)