Miss Lindsay has infection.....

Not too alarming, but until test results officially come in, we are 99% sure that she has a urinary tract infection. Yesterday and today she has been pretty irritable off and on. Today was the worst of it though. At first, doctors were thinking that she was withdrawing from her medications that she has been on now for the last three weeks. They gave her methadone to help, but no result. What did happen was her heart rate shot up to the 180's from being in the low 130's, respiratory rate was nearing right at 100 consistently, and she spiked a fever. Because of the fever, they went ahead and took a blood gas and the result of that was that her white blood count was higher that normally which means infection somewhere. We kept watching her and JR and I realized that she was in severe pain and then her diaper was wet. It was hurting her that much to pee! Unfortunately I know exactly how that feels and it is awful!! So, without official results back from a urine culture, the antibiotics have started along with Tylenol to help get rid of whatever has started. We should know for sure in the morning. Poor baby. She was pretty darned comfortable when we left for the night tonight so hopefully she is a little better already. The other thing that we learned tonight is the because of her new PICC line that they put in to prevent that from clotting up, they are going to start giving levonex shots twice a day. Yes, I said shots. Can you believe this?!! But, because the line is so close to her heart, we see why they have to do it. Having this line in for a while will also help in the time that if she was ever to get into trouble, easy access for medication is there already. However, she will have this in when we get home so we have to be instructed on how to flush the line AND to give her these shots. You ask, why shots? Well, we asked the same thing. This is to prevent so many blood draws. If she is still having to give blood for her to be tested all the time, that means transfusions often. We are getting ready for transplant, so a unnecessary transfusions wouldn't be wise because of the building of antibodies. Everything is now getting a little more complicated in treating her because of this preparation. We have to do what we have to do even if that means giving her shots. Levonex is another form of blood thinner that is very effective to prevent blood clots for this line. Asprin is not strong enough and cumadin is just a hard drug to give an infant.
Enough for tonight??? WHEW!
Hearts Hugs to all and .......GO BLUE!! Beat State tomorrow. Sorry Alison. :-)
Love, Suzie