the nights suck

I just don't know how to say it any nicer than that.

Yesterday was actually a pretty good day - the mornings have been rough, a lot of inconsolable requests, uncomfortableness while shaking off the night, whining, crying, wailing, and so on - but once we get thru that hour it's like a lightswitch.

And the day is fine.  He doesn't need meds in the day, he happily flips from his stomach to his back (with our help). Our stock line now is, "Are you ready to fly?". I noticed last night that my knees, however, are for some reason becoming dry and raw from this action....

So yesterday he was taken for a wheelchair walk around the block (while I was at church) with someone covering his eyes as they are VERY sensitive to light right now - even the lights in the house, he hunted for eggs, blew bubbles, read books, colored, visited company, and on and on.  He had a full day.

I had kinda hoped it would go into the night as well. We turned out the lights at 9pm, and I lay beside him and held his hand and he fell asleep.  No meds. And within 2 minutes he woke up screaming with a nightmare - eyes wide. So we calm him down, hug and start over and the whole thing repeated itself over and over.   

I gave him regular tylenol hoping that would help and it did not - and because I gave it to him I couldn't give him the other for at least 4 hours, so it was 4 hours filled with nightmares and shakes and just falling asleep only to wake up bug-eyed and screaming. It's really just awful.

At 2am I gave him a 3/4 dose of his tylenol with codeine.  Yeah...that same medicine that I swore I wasn't going to give him again.  But it helped last night - he still bolted awake now and then, but instead of staying awake he quickly fell back to sleep.  He didn't get the fever from the codeine this time, but he does get labored breathing from it - making it harder for ME to sleep.

Oh, and if you can visualize it, he actually spent most of the night sleeping on me on the couch.  It's an artform.

If anyone has any experience or insight as to how long the nights like this last, I'd love to hear it.  Also, when I ask him where it hurts he points to his half casted leg (the unbroken one)- I think the cast is bothering him where it lets off.  I retaped the whole thing to make sure it wasn't a sharp edge but it's still bothering him.  Is he crossing the sides in his brain? Does this side really hurt?  There's not something broken on this side too, is there?  Again...if this sounds familiar to anyone, please share...I was amazed how many of you had the same experience.

I have help here this morning, tomorrow morning - I can't remember on Wednesday..... it's the 7:30-8 hour thats rough with one waking up rough, another waking up wet, and another having to get ready for school.

I'll post some pictures of Brian's new bellybutton later.   

be good!

(I feel like this is rather a ramble-jamble account - not real orderly, but I've not slept....so we'll just let it slide, eh?)

Comments

[Kelly Rakow]

When this happened with Andrew, the same thing was happening to him. He would just fall asleep, then he would jerk so bad and wake up. And it was not a pretty sight when that happened. I could never figure out if it was from the medication or from the anesthia from the hospital. It got so bad that I called the doctor to try and get new medicine. This sounds weird, but they put him on valium to help him sleep. It worked pretty good, although I don't know if that would be an option for you since he's three and Andrew was six. Just an idea. I've been thinking of you constantly - hang in there!!

[Barbara]

Ohhh!!! Poor Brian! Poor You! Sorry, I know I dont have any advice to help you. Just know Im just a phone call away if you do need anything.........
take care and hopefully you will beable to take a nap.

[Jan D]

Sharyn, you and your family are in my prayers. I wish there was something I could do to help(live in Louisiana). I have been so upset since I heard about Brian..I hope you are feeling better, as I was also very worried about your health. You are so blessed with a wonderful husband and family and with GOD'S help it will get better...You are a wonderful person and your family are blessed to have you.

[make art every day]

i wish i had advice, too. audrey has had a couple of surgeries, but no lingering effects (i've heard that anesthesia can cause sleep disturbances shortly after). she did throw up a lot after the first one, but i think it's because they gave her versed to calm her down. the next time she didn't have any pre-surgery meds and her recovery was a lot faster. maybe brian is still feeling the effects of anesthesia. and maybe it's nearly out of his system by now.

[Amy]

Torm, I have no advice, other than the fact that my mother always listed codeine as one of my allergies. The only thing she ever said about it is that it made me "crazy." I do think the anesthesia could cause these problems. Hugs to you and especially prayers.

[Mary Rogers]

Sharyn,
Madison can't do codeine.period.the affects are worse then the benefit and it causes constipation.

what if you try some melatonin (over the counter natural sleep aid - our body produces it naturally - I give it to Madison) and regular tylenol. it Will help him fall asleep and stay asleep...as far pain in the other leg, because it is the healthy one, the cast might feel a little tight - just watch it for swelling and extreme pain. I wish I could offer more, email me if you have any questions...I may just be a cast expert with Madison and her surgeries....

[old school acres]

I've been thinking of you. I wish there was something I could do to make you both more comfortable. I pray for comfortable sleep with no bad dreams and quick healing for your sweet boy. I'm sure you are inundated with offers of things to help Brian pass the time, but my girls and I would love to send some goodies for Brian if you need anything.

[Alana M]

Hi,
I am Alana's daughter Sara. I have been through broken almost everything. So i have tons of advice to give. When i was ten years old i broke my leg and arm really really bad. What you were saying about the nightmares happened to me too. It was better for me when i had a nightlight there or music on so that when i woke up i felt safe. The only thing is i was ten, and he is three. But some other advice is to keep his leg elevated(spell check) when he is asleep. It helps for the throbbing(spell check?)trust me it helped alot. I think you are doing a great job my mom reads me your blogs about your little boy. Oh and about the flying maybe you should put towels around your knees so they wont get raw the cast is a nasty thing. oh and depeanding on where you live just remeber if you are somewhere where it gets hott than his tiny little leg will be twice as hott. Casts are really hott and air never goes in them so it is all body heat. if you need any more advice feel free to ask my mom and she will ask me from my personal expierences.Hope my advice helps him feel tons better.
~Sara~

[Brita]

Oh how painful. Markie must improve! There's just no TIME for him right now! Can you send him out for the day? I'd love to take him if I was closer. ~Brita