It's Been a Long Week

Since Tuesday Christine has been to the Emergency Room four times plus a fifth visit with an ENT to schedule surgery.  She developed a nose bleed that wouldn't stop Tuesday while I was at work and drove herself to Urgent Care.  The doctor at the Urgent Care clinic couldn't stop the nose bleed either and actually called 911.  An ambulance took her to the ER at banner Estrella Medical Center where the bleeding eventually stopped.  I met her at the ER just after noon and took her home around 2:00 p.m.  At 11:00 that night the bleeding started again so back to the ER we went.  The ER doc removed the gauze packing and repacked it with a Rhino Rocket.  The Rocket is about the size of my index finger.  It is soaked in a gel that promotes blood clotting then inserted through the nostril up the length of the nose.  There is a small air hose that hangs out of the nostril and is used to pump air into the rocket sealing the nostril in order to apply positive direct pressure throughout.  The inflator is taped to her cheek.  After that traumatic experience we went home at 4:30 a.m. and I napped until 10:00 then went to work Wednesday afternoon.  Thursday morning I got up at 5:00 and was preparing to head to the gym prior to work when Christine came downstairs with her nose dripping blood once again.  Back to the ER we went.  The ER doc decided to remove the Rhino Rocket and cauterize the bleeding blood vessel.  He used silver nitrate sticks in four attempts at cauterization but the blood kept coming and he confirmed that it was a small artery that was damaged due to seeing the blood spray out after each attempt.  He then decided enough trauma had been inflicted on her and stuck another Rhino Rocket in to stop the bleeding.  She was finally released to go home at 4:30 p.m.  Friday morning she had an appointment with an ENT and the decision was made to surgically repair the bleeding artery; problem is surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday.  Stand By.  Saturday afternoon the bleeding started again so back to the ER we went.  They pumped more air into the Rocket and the bleeding eventually stopped.  Right now she is living minute by minute laying in bed to minimize physical activity waiting for surgery to fix the artery and hoping there are not any more trips to the ER between now and Wednesday.  Highly unlikely though. She is quite miserable and has a tube hanging out of her nose taped to her cheek praying for Wednesday to arrive.