Losing the physical self

Anita has been taken off the ventilator today. However her breathing is very difficult. It could be down to old scars in her throat providing an obstruction. They are not quite sure but they are considering putting the tube back in. It would mean a step backwards from their point of view but it may be necessary. They don’t want her airway compromised. As always she is causing problems for the doctors. They have taken a good look at all her blood tests. Her blood pressure was lowered so much that it lowered her body temperature and shut her system down. The liver was damaged as a result but not enough that it would kill her.

13.30 She is struggling with her breathing but I get the feeling she is trying to talk. The doctors are getting very concerned about the neurological side of things because of the full horror of what she has been through. The fact that full conciousness is difficult, they can’t rule out further brain injury. My tension levels at this point are the worst they have been. She seems as if she is trying to communicate, she cry’s, I guess it could be the realisation she hasn’t made it. She has now squeezed my hand in response to my request as she struggles for breath. My god, what could she have done to her brain, I want to cry out in anguish.

Late at night, Anita is trying to speak to me. I can’t make out what shes saying, her first words are possibly, brain injury. I hear her liver is over 7000 something when normal is 30. Later I get a call at the bungalow which gives me a jump start. They just wanted to tell me that they have reinserted the breathing tube, she’s still having difficulties breathing so this seems sensible. However they don’t need the ventilator on.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 26th, 2005 at 8:24 pm and is filed under Hospital. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.