Hospital Updates - April 2007

April 29, 2007 - Today, Debby was put on a ventilator, defined below:

• A ventilator is a machine that helps a patient to breathe. Patients are usually placed on a ventilator because of a medical problem that makes it hard for them to breathe well on their own. While on the ventilator, the body is able to rest so that it can heal. The ventilator can help with breathing or totally breathe for the patient.
• The ventilator brings oxygen into the lungs and helps get rid of carbon dioxide from the patient’s body. Sometimes a patient may become dependent on a ventilator because of his or her medical problems. This may make it difficult to get the patient off the ventilator. When the patient’s medical problems have improved and he or she is well enough, “weaning” will begin. Weaning is the process of getting the patient off the ventilator.

April 24, 2007 - Extensive testing resulted in the need to drain Debby's lungs of excess fluid............In addition, she probably had Pleurisy - - - meaning inflammation of the pleura, the membrane that covers the lungs and lines the inside of the chest cavity.

Here's a quick lesson on "fluid in the lungs":

• Lungs (there are two) are normally air-filled; their main function being to take oxygen from the atmosphere, exchange it with carbon dioxide, and transfer the fresh oxygen to the blood for transport to all the cells in the body.
• The lungs are spongy (comprised of multiple small sacs known as alveoli) organs located in the chest behind the rib cage. When fluid builds up in the alveoli, it interferes with the normal oxygen intake -- causing severe disturbances in body function.
  • Debby had the following symptoms - - shortness of breath, gasping for air, weakness, fatigue, anxiety and restlessness, a pounding heart, chest pain, continued swelling (fluid build up) in the feet and ankles.....

The fluid from her lungs was drained - -- and problems persisted.......Discussions of requiring a ventilator to help Debby breath were held.........

April 20, 2007 - Debby dialed "911" today as she could'nt breath.................. The ambulance arrived and took her to Community North hospital........ While Debby pleaded not to be kept in the hospital over the weekend, her request was denied.... She was admitted and the testing began.........It was a real long night - - - I think Mack Doyle got home about 1am that night, waiting for Debby's test results!