~The Speth Family~: A New Doctor and a New Plan

Sunday, January 17, 2010

A New Doctor and a New Plan

Every Friday Ammon gets a new attending doctor. Sometimes its very frustrating because you have to explain the details all over again, but this week was a blessing. When Ammon tanked following the last extubation he baffled the doctors. They all talked about their theories and guesses, but each was honest enough to tell us they really had no idea what was going on. The attending last week decided Ammon must have something wrong with his brain so she ordered a CT scan which came back normal and she wasn't satisfied with those results so she followed up with an MRI, which also came back normal. She also ordered a metabolic panel because she thought his metabolics weren't working right. She had them do another echo cardiogram and a renal ultrasound as well.

I know she was just trying to test everything in hopes of finding an explanation so she could formulate a plan, but I just didn't feel good about her answers and John and I were praying for someone who would be able to pin point the problem. On Friday we got a new attending - yay! The other one was great, but when I walked in Friday morning and saw that the doctor was reading Ammon's chart (instead of just going off of what the previous doctor had told him) I had a good feeling. After going over what was in the computer, he came in, got Ammon's current chart and went back into the hall. I sat and played with Ammon and talked to his nurse for an hour and a half and the doctor sat outside the room and read the chart the entire time. I LOVE DOCTORS WHO READ CHARTS. I understand that his chart is volumes long now, but it was so comforting to know that someone (who doesn't even know us) cared enough to get an accurate view of the whole picture before offering his opinions.

He came in after he finished reading and talked with me for a while. He let me fire hundreds of questions at him and explained his guesses - I felt good about it. And even though he is guessing just as much as the other doctors, his guesses validated what John had been complaining about for the past couple of weeks and presented us with a plan that focused on solving the problem instead of looking for new ones. He was focusing on factors that had been altered instead of messing with things that had shown no indication of having a problem prior to the extubation. I feel like he was an answer to our prayers. I am also starting to understand the discernment Heavenly Father gives us, on behalf of our children - THAT is a blessing.

Anyway he thinks that we aren't going to find anything major with all of these tests and wants to try fattening Ammon up a bit and keep exercising his lungs. Every time they do a new procedure they stop his feeds and that is when he has trouble. He went for eight hours without food before his last extubation and his feedings have been very inconsistent. He thinks his metabolics looked weird because he exhausted his energy supply. I'm happy for his patience and glad to have a week to try out his theories!

I was talking with a friend this past week who pointed out what a blessing it is for John and I to learn with this experience. We have gained LOADS of knowledge pertaining to the heart, its functions, and how it effects the ENTIRE body. I didn't realize that I had learned so many details and I am thankful for that.

1 comment:

HeidiJanuary 17, 2010 at 10:44 PM
So glad to hear a new doctor brings some more hope and sunshine on the horizon! Sending continued prayers and faith for you guys. Let's get together again soon. Loved chatting and hearing more of this amazing story! Hugs!
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