((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~
Here's the email I just sent to Jon's wonderful GI doc, who visits every year to change Jon's G Tube. We are at our wits' end, and we need professional help.
Dear Dr. C
Monday 11/13 at 1:00 a.m., Jon vomited after his belly blew up with air and fluid over a period of 2 hours. This has happened many times in the past several years, but not within the last year. He vomited again at 2:30 a.m. We kept him upright and captured his vomit in a basin. We suctioned after he vomited in case he aspirated.
We held his G Tube formula and gave him 60 cc water flushes via syringe hourly. We released gas via his G Tube, and he produced gas through his colostomy.
Gradually his belly softened, and the distention lessened. We returned him to his formula at 45 cc/hour, until he was able to take the full 90 cc/hr.
Jon was fine, until Tuesday 11/14, in the evening, when he began hiccuping. We tried a remedy, which has always worked with him: sugar on the back of his tongue. It did not work. We’ve continued to try this, as well as a little water on a spoon given orally. It’s not working. Two days later, and Jon is still hiccuping.
His nurse suggested that we turn him side to side every hour, but Jon can’t lay on his side due to his hips, and Jim and I aren’t strong enough to turn him, especially not that often. He is very heavy due to lymphedema. Our friend, who is Jon’s age, visits at least twice a week to turn Jon, so we can change linens and bathe his back and apply creams and wound care pads.
In fact, it was when we laid Jon flat on Tuesday evening to turn him that we noticed the hiccups.
JON’S VITALS
SATS: 97 HR: 81 TEMP: 97.6 Good urine and bowel output.
Jon's nurse changed Jon’s trache on 10/31. No problems there, but we did determine that his collar needed to be tightened, which might account for air in his belly. That has not stopped the hiccups.
We turn to you for your wisdom and advice. We’ve done all we know to do, and we need your guidance. Thank you so very much.
Rose and Jim, Jon’s Mom and Dad
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So that's where we are right now. Just waiting for the next problem that arises from constant air getting into his gut with hiccups.
Jim relieved me at 3 a.m. today so that I could go to bed. Imagine my shock when I woke up and looked at the clock: 10:45 a.m.!!!
When John arrived this evening to turn Jon, Jim told him that I'd "slept in." John looked at me and said, "Oh, today you made up for ... what? ... 35, 40 or more years?"
Yep.
Let's here your suggestions for stopping hiccups. Please. We're desperate!!
Love & Light,
Rose