Rough Day. Recovery Day 1 1pm (cst)

Nicole wasn't able to get any sleep last night and was in lots of pain (she pressed the pain button 990 times in about 7-8 hours last night, even though it could have only worked a max of about 50 times). Early this morning she had what might have been a minor seizure (about 10-15 seconds). The doctor's said that if it was a seizure, it is okay, it is probably just a reaction to all of the different medications and things that are being put into her body. The fact that it was very short, and has not reoccured makes him think it was nothing serious. Nicole thinks she just sat up too fast and passed out. Her blood pressure was low this morning, but has bounced back some in the past few hours.

Her heart rate has been pretty high all day, around 130-140 beats per minute. This could be caused some by the blood thinner they have had her on. Her hemoglobin levels have been falling some, so they are now giving her a transfusion of 2 bags of blood and they have taken her off the blood thinner. There is still blood coming out of her NG tube, so they are keeping an even closer eye on that now, thinking that she might be slowly bleeding internally (this could have been caused by the blood thinner). If the bleeding doesn't stop, she may have to go back into surgery to find the bleed.

Her NG tube was not draining correctly and they had to readjust it. This was the WORST thing I have seen so far. The tube runs into her nose, down her throat and into her digestive system. To adjust it, they have to push / pull it in and out of her nose, and she gags violently every time they move it. Hopefully they have it in the right place now and don't have to move it any more.

She has now been able to roll onto her side, and she is supposed to have to sit up on the side of the bed by late this afternoon. I think the thing she needs most right now is sleep and relaxation. Tara is playing some soothing sounds cds to try to make it easier for her to relax and sleep (they work, I almost passed out).

All that said, the doc came by and said that all of her problems are the most common ones seen after this surgery, and nothing really out of the ordinary for the day after this procedure. Will send another update this evening .

James