Medical Mystery...the 2 week mark

Day #14 {Thursday)

Compared to Wednesday...Thursday was a walk in the park!

Nephrology came bright an early to help manage Audra's new high blood pressure issue.  Their plan is to start Audra on a Clonidine patch and then slowly wean off the oral clonidine she takes.  They think this will give her more steady, reliable absorption of the clonidine given her current GI issues.  The theory for her high blood pressure is that the frequent adjustments of her clonidine dose during her first week here and her persistent vomiting caused inconsistent absorption of the med and resulted in a rebound reaction of her blood pressure.  So if we can get consistent absorption then her blood pressure should be more steady.

Audra's GI doctor came by later to review all that has happened in the past two weeks and where we should go from here.  Currently she is receiving a small amount of pedialyte continuously through her g-tube and she has not vomited since late Wednesday night.  The plan is to get her back to full formula feeds as soon as possible but with slightly smaller volumes.  And as long as she has no further vomiting, the rest of her issues {H.pylori treatment, pancreatic insufficiency evaluation/treatment} can be handled as an outpatient once her current tummy troubles are resolved.

It is a bit frustrating that we have put 2 long weeks in here at the hospital yet we still haven't figured out or solved the reason that brought us here in the first place--her behavior concerns.  And we have seen new issues arise that have taken the priority, however we are not certain about the reason for her tummy and blood pressure issues.  I really want to believe that some underlying tummy trouble was causing her erratic behavior for all those weeks since she is unable to communicate when something is bothering her.  And I really, really hope that her tummy just fixes itself and she is back to her old self...happy, giggly, calm, content...very soon. 

I am anxious to get home, but I am also worried that once we get there these same issues will surface again.  These past two week have felt like a cyclical roller coaster ride.  I just want her fixed and able to go back to school so I can go back to work.