It has a name

I was talking with the ICU doctor as I just left Mary's room. He repeated what Dr. Visser said, that this behavior of Mary's system is something the surgeons and even the ICU staff were unaware of but the renal doctors had seen it as a result of surgery and even a name for it: SIADH. And, it can be induced by abdominal surgery. He said they saw the low sodium numbers in the test reports but it wasn't tied together until the renal docs were engaged.

ICU doc also said that the treatment is to slowly bring her back to normal levels. If it is done too fast, other damage can occur.

Mary was alert and in pain. The have authorized fentanyl again and it works very nice to knock down the pain. I have been very vocal that this is the only painkiller she should get. No dilaudid or other opiates. She seems to be fine with the fentanyl.

Notwithstanding all of that, she is clearly on the mend, she has good liver function numbers and sodium numbers coming back from her tests. Dr Visser even said that she had them all on pins and needles because they didn't really have a clue. With the immediate benefit for treating SIADH, they see no need for the procedures tied to alternate diagnostic theories.

And, feel free to add comments to this blog by clicking on any of the comment boxes. Or, as MaryR did tonight, send an email to lamey.pat.california[at]blogger.com (replace [a] with @). It will post immediately. I always go in afterwards and remove any info that shouldn't be on the web. Mary will enjoy reading your comments in the next few days, I am sure.