Isolation isn't Fun!

It's been a bit of a roller coaster since Rebel moved onto the busy ward. It was a dramatic change. Their is a hustle-bustle we didn't have down on the SCICU levels. The nurses have more than one patient and Rebel has to wait a bit for someone to answer her call bell. Her room, a private one, is across from the nurses station so there is a bit of a buzz.

While she is getting evidently stronger, there are little things that are hampering things a bit. The hospital tests for bacteria when patients change areas and immediately when they are admitted. The test is for the MSRA bacteria which they try to control . It's a staph infection- well... Rebel tested positive for the bacteria. And the big deal is she is isolated in her room, and anyone coming in has to wear a gown , gloves and mask. This didn't help morale much.
Doing physio in her room instead of being able to walk around has cramped things a bit. The isolation isn't fun.

Her hemoglobin count has been down so she's been given a unit of blood and that should perk her up. That and the realization of all that has been going on has been overwhelming creating some emotional moments. She's been some what depressed. The charge nurse on this new floor has decided Rebel should consider taking anti depressants. She barely knows our girl but decided that all the crying wasn't good. sigh... Rebel pretty much told her to stick it, she wasn't interested in anti depressants, she was just sad, overwhelmed and wondering why all this happened to her. The shrinks are coming in today anyway, and that just freaked her out a little more. No doubt she'll let them know what they need to know and whether or not they insist on drugs, which we hope they don't. Processing everything this Rebel has been through has to include emotional crying time and we hope this is recognized. This new charge nurse really believes she is "in charge" The nurses on the floor have let us know through their eye rolling that even they have a tough time with her. Her style is aggressive to say the least and I expect Rebel to let her have it at some point.

Also with the change in rooms she lost her high speed Internet access because the infrastructure isn't the same on this new floor. We were told there is no other way to get access via the hospital except on their mobile computers which have blocked Facebook . The IT guy suggested we get Rebel a temporary dial up account so I'll be checking that out for her. No doubt each page will take an hour to load... and it will test her patience but time is what she has in the hospital room for now.

The Straight From the Heart fund raiser is looking amazing. The music includes mostly acoustic sounds with two great bands. I was a tad worried it was going to be really loud head banging music but I've been told that's not what these guys play. Most of the bands members seem to know Rebel as well ( what else is knew) and were really keen to participate in this event.