Laura stayed with Matt last night and will be there today (Sat). She reported that they had to suction Matt every 1-2 hours during the night. He's not coughing up junk very well and needs help to get it out.
When you are in the hospital in order to go home you need all of the tubes they put in you to come out (sometimes you go home with one). We call it the "tube game." It's scored like golf - the fewer tubes you have, the closer you are to victory. I know, it's a little silly, but you have to use humor and games to get through hospital stays.
Matt has scored a "2" with the another tube being removed yesterday! Now he needs to get off of oxygen and get his IV out to win the tube game. He also needs to handle the junk in his throat.
He was winning the tube game, but hasn't won the infection/junk game. He has some kind of "bug" that needs an antibiotic and needs the repeated suctioning. He will stay in ICU at least one more day.
Saturday night:
Matt will be taking a temporary loss in the "tube game." He hasn't eaten in 3 days so they are concerned about his nutrition even though he's had IV fluids. He also isn't swallowing very well. Tomorrow (Sunday) they will place an "NG" tube in so they can feed him. Not the direction we want to go, but necessary to get him healthy.
He's also getting a medication via a patch (no he doesn't need to quit smoking), to help with his secretions.
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