Cravings and Hiccups

While still in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit, Ed craved 'real' food. He'd had enough of broth, jello and flavored ice. At one point, he could just look at a spoonful of jello and it would start him gagging. He wanted 'real' food.

Four days after his brain surgery, he was moved to a normal patient room and was placed on a normal diet. He was served turkey and dressing, chicken and green beans, eggs and toast. But what he craved was a hamburger. We brought him burgers from McDonalds and Checkers.

After a day or two he realized he could choose a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and soup over the other items on the menu, and that's what he chose. He is a HUGE peanut butter fan. In NICU he had talked his nurses into giving him Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Cookies. Now he opted for PB&J sandwiches or just PB sandwiches. And we brought him burgers.

Along with being able to eat normally, he developed a bad case of hiccups. He hiccuped so hard it shook his hospital bed. It frightened us. It irritated him. Then it tired him. According to the nurses, the hiccups were a result of gas trapped in his body from surgery, and from the steroids he was taking to reduce swelling of the brain. The doctors said it was too soon after surgery to give him anything for the hiccups. It would confuse some tests they would do. I can't remember which tests now.

We had one small scare when Ed's neck started swelling on one side. The charge nurse come in and examined him and put ice packs on his neck. The swelling went down almost immediately. She said it was mostly drainage from the surgery, that the body drains excess fluids downward. It was normal and it was ok. I thought I had hurt him by giving him a McDonald's hamburger, that the salt did something to him. The nurse assured me, no, he can eat whatever he likes.

Ed had open brain surgery to remove a mass on Wednesday, December 3rd. On Monday, December 8th, he was released from the hospital. It seemed a bit of a miracle, he could speak, he appeared to have no memory loss, he was able to get up and walk to the bathroom unassisted. He had an incision that was mostly covered by his hair. He very minimal bruising and swelling. The worst thing it seemed, was a bad case of hiccups.

The nurse came in to tell Ed he was getting to go home, and told him she would be right back. When she came back a few minutes later, Ed sat on the bed, fully dressed, shoes on, pj's and belongings in a sack beside him on the bed. The nurse laughed.

He was ready to go home!