Thank you all for your words of support and lovely messages on the transplant news thread ..... It means a lot. ❤
So, hubby got out of theatre at 6am (24.6.24l and the surgeon phoned to tell me all had gone well and they are delighted with how it's all working. I knew he was off to ITU but didn't know what the visiting restrictions were or whatever. I phoned the coordinators and they gave me the phone number for the ITU so rang them and they gave me the go ahead to visit.
I spent a fair bit of yesterday afternoon at his bedside. All appears to be going great with the new liver. I was there during the surgical rounds after 3pm when a team of 10+ specialists all descended to check all the data readings and flow settings on machines etc. He also had a doppler ultrasound and everything is flowing correctly.
He was awake (which was a surprise because during assessment and pre-op chat they said that they keep you under for a while in case they need to 'go back in'). He was able to communicate with head nods, shakes and hand squeezing. Still not fully with it and sadly not yet breathing on his own so that's a little worry and it's obviously not nice for him to still have the breathing tube in whilst concious. He will breathe when they tell him to but not yet doing it spontaneously so he is still ventilated and every so often they work to try and get him off it. They have explained that this is pretty common in folks who had encephalopathy pre transplant and were reassuring me that it just takes time but that he will get there. As I type it is only just over 24 hours since he came out of theatre so no wonder that breathing is an effort and easier to let the machine do it. At 9pm last night he was stll the same and the nurse felt he probably needed a snooze and a rest before trying again.
The whole team were very upbeat that all is working as it should. Co-ordinator on rounds checked that I was ok and I am. Very much running on adrenaline but I have been eating and drinking ok (is a full tin of peaches and cream ok? It was good regardless and I have had other stuff). I went to Lidl and stocked up on easy to prepare meals/snacks. Chatted with family and friends on the phone and neighbour's on the camp site and did chores round the c'van. Read all your lovely comments. I have had some sleep tonight and Puss Puss is cuddling up close.
I am not pestering ITU for updates as it means pulling the nurse away from his side and they are busy enough caring for my wee man. I'll go in again later today and fingers crossed there will be more progress on his breathing. Until then i'll have a rest, a nice shower and just keep myself occupied the best I can. It's weird not having my alarm going off for midnight blood sugar checks, supplement times or hubby pressing his buzzer for all manner of care needs - he's in good hands and I can try and chill for a bit whilst not doing the nursing/caring myself - hopefully when I have him back we can begin working towards a bit of independence again.
Thanks again everyone. What a community we have all built here on the BLT and it's great to be a part of. Hubby is happy for me to share our journey and I think we must have made an impression on folks cos the co-ordinator on rounds yesterday said there had been a great deal of delight in the office as folks came into work yesterday and found out he'd been 'done'.
Baby steps towards recovery, some major milestones already ticked off.
Thank you all for your love and support.
Katie xxx
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