RachelG
Member Since 2021
Last post
Sorry I have been so quiet. I have been so tired and emotionally drained, and feel such guilt that Fortune has spent most of February hospitalized and not at home. Thank you for reaching out and checking on me.
TL;DR
Fortune is coming home today! BG numbers have been all over the place, they bumped him from 2IU to 2.5 to 3 IU over two cycles and we are worried about him crashing. His kidney numbers have been stable at 2.8 and potassium is normal. No kidney infection, possibly an acute kidney injury or CKD. Still waiting for the biopsy results, and have a recheck appt next Friday. Pick up this afternoon!
Longer update
We got to see him again Tuesday night, and spend more time with him in an exam room. He was happy to see us. He indicated he wanted to go on the floor so I put him down (he can't jump because of the surgery) and immediately made a beeline toward a stray pill pocket treat! haha that's our boy!
After about 20 minutes, he was able to relax a bit (he had been looking/twitching his ears at every door open or dog bark). He must be so so tired. That's when we noticed that he was nauseous - lip smacking, some gulping - and seemed to be in pain (squinty eyes, ears a bit flatter). We brought him one of his beds and "helped" him lay in it for some rest. Afterwards, we spoke to the criticalist managing him and shared the signs we say. He is such a good eater so it throws them off! She heard us and added in ondansetron, as well as gabapentin. We also discussed buprenephrine if the gaba isn't effective. It was so so hard to leave him again.
They were also doing a curve on him, to make sure they figure out his nader. We discussed moving him to 2.5 IU because he numbers had stayed high, which we supported. She wanted to keep him til Thursday to make sure that his numbers didn't crash off of fluids and support.
Yesterday morning, Fortune's case was transferred to an internist. His creatinine was still elevated at 2.8, but they aren't sure if that was with fluids because the IV stopped working at some point in the night.
2.8 may be his "new normal," and his potassium was now normal, and he could go home(!). We explained "the plan" that we had discussed with the criticalist to make sure he is stable before coming home. She was "fine" with that, but now I have guilt that we could have brought him home sooner. But what's the point if he is going to be brought right back? The criticalist thought it was an acute kidney injury from the anesthesia and that he may continue to improve, but this IM said he has "kidney failure," which was hard to hear, but I know it's just another harsher name for CKD progression.
He was kept on 2IU yesterday morning, because he was "mostly in the 100-200 range with some outliers." That's when she told me control of diabetes "isn't perfect" and "he has a lot going on."
Last night they bumped him to 2.5 IU based on the day's curve. The IM emphasized he is "bright, and eating," he also had some diarrhea so they added in probiotics. I thought that was interesting - he was on probiotics, but was taken off at Blue Pearl and put on metronidazole. He is also on antibiotics right now because of the potential kidney infection, so that may be why...
This morning -
Dr said he is "happy, bright, and active," but I'm not sure what that means? I actually didn't find that reassuring tbqh!
He was bumped to 3IU over 2 cycles! I'm concerned about the bounce quite honestly, so will need a lot of help/guidance/support when he gets home. I have a feeling that is WAY too high. He was doing *ok* on the 2.5 until he crash on 2/3, and had skirted hypo on 2.75. He was in the 500s overnight with the 2.5 so that's why they bumped it but WHAT ABOUT THE DEPOT?! Yeesh.
She referenced the discharge instructions for any questions about meds, but we aren't starting subQ right now, she will determine if it's necessary at the recheck next Friday.
His urine culture was negative. Potassium stayed normal, and creatinine "stable." I forgot to ask about foods however. Grateful to everyone who provided the list in the old thread!
I have already requested photo copies of the chart for the BG numbers, and will get the full digital record with labs emailed as well.
I'm heading out in a snow storm to get my bunny rabbit from the hospital! Pick up is at 2pm, so I'll be leaving plenty of time for the roads in snowy NJ.
Sorry I have been so quiet. I have been so tired and emotionally drained, and feel such guilt that Fortune has spent most of February hospitalized and not at home. Thank you for reaching out and checking on me.
TL;DR
Fortune is coming home today! BG numbers have been all over the place, they bumped him from 2IU to 2.5 to 3 IU over two cycles and we are worried about him crashing. His kidney numbers have been stable at 2.8 and potassium is normal. No kidney infection, possibly an acute kidney injury or CKD. Still waiting for the biopsy results, and have a recheck appt next Friday. Pick up this afternoon!
Longer update
We got to see him again Tuesday night, and spend more time with him in an exam room. He was happy to see us. He indicated he wanted to go on the floor so I put him down (he can't jump because of the surgery) and immediately made a beeline toward a stray pill pocket treat! haha that's our boy!
After about 20 minutes, he was able to relax a bit (he had been looking/twitching his ears at every door open or dog bark). He must be so so tired. That's when we noticed that he was nauseous - lip smacking, some gulping - and seemed to be in pain (squinty eyes, ears a bit flatter). We brought him one of his beds and "helped" him lay in it for some rest. Afterwards, we spoke to the criticalist managing him and shared the signs we say. He is such a good eater so it throws them off! She heard us and added in ondansetron, as well as gabapentin. We also discussed buprenephrine if the gaba isn't effective. It was so so hard to leave him again.
They were also doing a curve on him, to make sure they figure out his nader. We discussed moving him to 2.5 IU because he numbers had stayed high, which we supported. She wanted to keep him til Thursday to make sure that his numbers didn't crash off of fluids and support.
Yesterday morning, Fortune's case was transferred to an internist. His creatinine was still elevated at 2.8, but they aren't sure if that was with fluids because the IV stopped working at some point in the night.
2.8 may be his "new normal," and his potassium was now normal, and he could go home(!). We explained "the plan" that we had discussed with the criticalist to make sure he is stable before coming home. She was "fine" with that, but now I have guilt that we could have brought him home sooner. But what's the point if he is going to be brought right back? The criticalist thought it was an acute kidney injury from the anesthesia and that he may continue to improve, but this IM said he has "kidney failure," which was hard to hear, but I know it's just another harsher name for CKD progression.He was kept on 2IU yesterday morning, because he was "mostly in the 100-200 range with some outliers." That's when she told me control of diabetes "isn't perfect" and "he has a lot going on."
Last night they bumped him to 2.5 IU based on the day's curve. The IM emphasized he is "bright, and eating," he also had some diarrhea so they added in probiotics. I thought that was interesting - he was on probiotics, but was taken off at Blue Pearl and put on metronidazole. He is also on antibiotics right now because of the potential kidney infection, so that may be why...
This morning -
Dr said he is "happy, bright, and active," but I'm not sure what that means? I actually didn't find that reassuring tbqh!
He was bumped to 3IU over 2 cycles! I'm concerned about the bounce quite honestly, so will need a lot of help/guidance/support when he gets home. I have a feeling that is WAY too high. He was doing *ok* on the 2.5 until he crash on 2/3, and had skirted hypo on 2.75. He was in the 500s overnight with the 2.5 so that's why they bumped it but WHAT ABOUT THE DEPOT?! Yeesh.
She referenced the discharge instructions for any questions about meds, but we aren't starting subQ right now, she will determine if it's necessary at the recheck next Friday.
His urine culture was negative. Potassium stayed normal, and creatinine "stable." I forgot to ask about foods however. Grateful to everyone who provided the list in the old thread!
I have already requested photo copies of the chart for the BG numbers, and will get the full digital record with labs emailed as well.
I'm heading out in a snow storm to get my bunny rabbit from the hospital! Pick up is at 2pm, so I'll be leaving plenty of time for the roads in snowy NJ.
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)