It was just announced that the Tigers are playing in the BCS Championship game! We are so excited! We sure hope the extra time off allows the team to get healthy. Ask Virginia Tech what a health LSU Tiger football team can do...
As for Lauri's status, she has been having "episodes" of extreme pain for short periods of time since yesterday. We have been working with the Pain Team here at MD Anderson trying to find the right combination of drugs to alleviate the pain effectively. She describes the pain as starting out in the middle of the upper back, between the shoulder blades, growing in intensity and shooting like fire and lightning down her right arm to her right elbow. The pain level rises quickly, then fades after at most 5 minutes. Lauri ranks the pain during these periods as an 11, on a scale of 1 to 10.
We believe the pain is due to the chest tubes inserted in her side. We also believe the tubes are very near a nerve. When the tube is moved in some way within the body, then it disturbs the nerve, causing extreme pain.
In addition to her epidural, the Pain Team has Lauri taking two different IV pain medications continuously as well as several shots of localized anesthetic injected into her back at the location where the severe pain episodes start. The pain still breaks through the medications, although reduced in severity. We anticipate getting the chest tubes removed tomorrow morning, at which time we expect to see this severe pain go away. Lauri's tough and is handling the pain well. As long as she stays still, then she does OK. Those who know Lauri well also know that she is a long-time Board Member of the Commission on Sitting Still on a Bed or Couch...
Lauri's dressing on her incision was removed today and we got our first look at it. It looks just like the left side, and arching scar along the lower rib cage. I told Lauri it looks kind of like gills. Since Lauri is not what I would call an Olympic Swimmer, she might find these new enhancements very useful! She was not amused...
Oh well, nobody said this surgery stuff would be easy. Lauri continues to do very well. She is a fighter, and she'll be just fine. She can't wait to get home and get ready for the big game! Geaux Tigers!!
6 comments:
Ugh, hang in there kiddo...lightning and fire pain do NOT sound like fun.
By the way, Arizona State is playing Texas in the Holiday Bowl...Go Sun Devils! :)
Congratulations on a successful surgery! I hope that the pain goes away, and may God bless you with a fast and full recovery!
Hopefully you are getting those offending chest tubes out today and will be able to manage the pain more effectively. We all know how tough you are but we really hope that you won’t have to keep proving it for much longer. Hang in there sweetie, we will keep the loving thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery going your way.
Love Ya,
Aunt Linda
Bundle up, Lauri! Winter has hit Texas, and we are expecting aa freeze tonight in the Hill Country. Even with hot flashes, you will still feel the wintry chill.
Jeff and Lauri-
We are so happy for you and Jeff, and so happy for LSU! Go tigers!!
:)
Greg and Amanda
Geaux Tigers and Hook'em Horns! Hope your pain goes away very soon so you can enjoy every min. of the games and the wins!! How's that for thinking positive? Take care...we love ya and think of you everyday.
Aunt Sherry
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