Saturday Afternoon

John had another good night sleep last night.  We were very busy this morning.  He had his first shower in 13 days, and said it felt real good.  It took an hour since his PICC line and his drive line had to be covered to make sure they stayed dry.  There is a special bag that his LVAD goes in to make sure it stays dry also.  It is somewhat like a messenger bag that goes across his chest.  It takes some getting used to.  There are special rules to protect his sternum, his hand cannot go over his head unless both hands are together.  He can't lift pull, push or carry things more than ten pounds, five in each hand.

We walked three times before lunch.  Yesterday he walked nine laps around the floor.  So far today, he has walked nine, which is 1/2 mile.  Dr Mokadam told us this morning, he was please with the amount walked yesterday, and he would like to see twelve for today.  We do like challenges. 

His PICC line needed to be dressed today, which the nurse did.  Then I undressed and redressed the drive line incision area.  That took about an hour, I'll get quicker, but everything must remain sterile, so that takes time for me.  The site where they remove the drainage tube yesterday seems to continue to drain.  We have had to change his shirt a number of times, and now we know how to do it with all the tubes and wires.

Colleen