Surgery Update

Ralph's surgery went fine on Wednesday. The surgeon did not find anything un expected and his bleeding was minimal. He was moved to the surgery floor that evening and our fun began. Let's just say that the nurses on a surgery floor are there because they do not want to work and are for the most part just putting in their time until retirement. He was at the end of 2 hallways and for most of any day I could roll a bowling ball in any direction and hit no one! You could never find anyone to help you and then Thursday we got "the witch"! They had not given him any of his heart meds because "his blood pressure is to low". OK, so that is hospital protocol, but I requested several times they call his cardiologist and they would not do that cause that was work. Asked them to call his surgeon since they said one of the meds had not even been ordered. Wouldn't do that. Finally I made so much noise I got the charge nurse who did give him his meds, but that was in the evening and the med in question had been ordered, just not signed by the surgeon and should have been given! He has nausea from the epidural pain meds and the shots they were giving him did not work, but that is all they would do. Yesterday we had a floating nurse from another floor and she was great and got the ball rolling on everything and found another anti-nausea med that worked. Late yesterday, the surgeon went to the head of nursing and he was moved to the progressive floor last evening where he has been before and will receive very good care! His cardiologist will be in this morning to see if there is anything they can do to get his heart to quit spiking to over 140 when he sits up since they want and he needs to get up and moving. His heart rate was well controlled until he did not get the meds for that day and now his stubborn heart doesn't want to slow down! He is still on nothing by mouth since his digestion needs to begin working again and to get that working he needs to move and to move he needs his heart rate controlled - a merry-go-round!