Meds at home

So, I spoke with the lady from the home health center and the RN case manager today.  After Lauren's surgery, either on Thursday or Friday, we should (I say should, cause we all know...) be discharged to go home.  

I will be trained sometime tomorrow on administering her antibiotics through her PICC.  She has three major antibiotics.  Plus the blood pressure med, iron, benadryl (to counteract Vanc), baby asprin (VA shunt), and Tylenol orally around clock.

Her antibiotics will be administered not on a pump, like in the hospital, it will be through a ball.  I know it sounds weird. It's like a balloon that pumps itself until its complete.  Then I push a flush through the line.

 

Looks like this.  Starts out full, then begins to deflate as the med is pushed in through line.

With all the medications, I was going to be able to get some sleep, like only for 1-2 hour periods all night/day long.  This just wasn't going to work, with having two other little ones.  So, today we are going to start pushing back the Vanc an hour each dose until it's at a more convenient time for home.  This adds another 2 hours to a break.


Two of the antibiotics will be administered through next Wednesday and the third through next Friday.  So, it's not for too long.  They will have a home health nurse come and draw blood for labs and do dressing changes.


Very interesting...  I pray it goes well and that it's a success.  The staff feels confident that I should be able to do this and the picc that she has a newer stronger one.  

Here is a blog post from a parent that administered antibiotics at home through a PICC if you want more info:
http://ourspecialneedslife.blogspot.com/2009/07/giving-iv-antibiotics-at-home.html