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Daily Care of Medical Devices

At this time Mathew had, in addition to his oral medications, the following:
3 Lumen pic ( a port will be inserted later to replace this.)
a biliary drain (cath) and collection bag
a lung pigtail (cath)
Neupogen Shots


It took both of us to take care of everything each day. 

From Mathew’s Journal

3-20-14

Saw the home health specialist today.
Went better than expected.


The Home Health nurses were always very nice and efficient. They would come and do an assessment on Mathew, then give the shot, check, and flush the pic line.

 At night, Mathew usually wanted to wait as late as possible, he and I would take care of his biliary cath and lung cath. I was always so exhausted and dreaded doing these things. It took both of us because Mathew couldn’t reach and see clearly to do himself and because my hands are so small I needed him to help hold bandages and tubes. And of course, I always worried about hurting him.
 The yellow fluid is from his lung. The pigtail cath was inserted on Mathew's right side, which is why he wasn't able to bandage or attach the long cath by himself.




At night, Mathew usually wanted to wait as late as possible, he and I would take care of his biliary cath and lung cath. I was always so exhausted and dreaded doing these things. It took both of us because Mathew couldn’t reach and see clearly to do himself and because my hands are so small I needed him to help hold bandages and tubes. And of course, I always worried about hurting him.
Every other night I took off the bandage on his lung pigtail, attached a catheter and a collection bottle (vacuum) and when I popped the tab, it sucked any fluid out of Mathew’s lung. It was always painful for him. Everything had to be done with extremely clean hands since I can’t wear gloves and manipulate my fingers. So I would wash my hands and use lots of hand sanitizer. There was a lot of cleaning, attaching and detaching, swabbing, cleaning attachments and bandaging. The bandage over the tubing included layers with slits cut into them to fit around the tubing.


After this, I would sit on Mathew’s bed and organize his meds for the following day. He would work on the computer or watch a movie.
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