Two Weeks Post Bronchoscopy

We headed into the bronchoscopy procedure knowing exactly what was going to be done. Not that procedures or your child having anesthesia ever gets easier, but I feel like this time I was more prepared. We knew that once Rylee was asleep, the lungs were going to be cleaned of mucus, especially the lower right lung where the atelectasis remained. All mucus that was suctioned out was being sent for culture-to check for bacteria, viruses, fungus and anything that may be antibiotic resistant.
We arrived at Levine on Friday morning and everyone was calm. I couldn’t believe how well Rylee was coping. We usually try to prepare her for procedures the best we can, giving her the vital information, but doing our best not to scare her. Jeff and I went with her into the pre-op room and she was holding together like a champ. She changed clothes and before long she was headed to the procedure room. At Levine, the nurse told us that one of could escort her to the procedure room and would leave once she was asleep. I looked at Jeff and said “I’m going with her,” as if he didn’t already know those words were going to come out of my mouth.
I could tell as we walked down the hallway, waving good-bye to daddy and Grandma, Rylee was beginning to get a bit nervous. She looked up at me and said “Mommy, hold my hand.” I grabbed her hand, gave it a squeeze and looked her in the eyes and told her “Dr. Ashe promised Daddy and me that he would take good care of you, and he will.” These days, it seems Rylee is becoming more trusting of her doctors, conversing with them more than she ever has. And so we continued down the hall and into the procedure room with our hands locked and an understanding between us that everything was going to turn out just fine. She trusted me, but more importantly, she trusted her doctor.
We were greeted by quite a staff when we got in the procedure room—Dr. Ashe, her pulmonologist, the anesthesiologist, the nurse aesthesis and a couple other nurses. Now, for anyone who knows my little girl, you know that she had every one on the team laughing within no time. Rylee brought Sidney with her, the Cabbage Patch that was once mine as a little girl. Sidney was adorned in a Kiss onsie that Rylee wore when she was a baby. It was within minutes that Rylee and the nurse aesthesis were putting coban on Sidney, so he’d look just like her post-op. Soon after, they were jamming out to Kiss videos on his iPhone. Not only did this help Rylee relax, but it certainly passed the time while she had to do a nebulizer treatment of albuterol from some wheezing. Once albuterol was done and wheezing had subsided, it was time to start the bronchoscopy. I stood next to Rylee, holding her hand as she inhaled the gas through a mask. I have never seen my child suck in as hard as she was. Later, I found out the gas smelled like bubble gum, so that could be the reason. Within minutes her eyes closed and I was out the door.
A nurse escorted me back to the waiting room, where Jeff, my parents and mother-in-law were waiting. On our walk, the nurse said “you’ve been through this a few times, it gets easier, right?” No, it doesn’t and I am quite certain it never will. I tried to be as relaxed as I could in the waiting room, but my nerves were out of control. 30 minutes felt like an eternity…I just wanted someone to tell me my baby was fine and the bronchoscopy was done.
They finally came and got us, we raced to the door as if we couldn’t get to her fast enough. We walked into the recovery room and Rylee was still sound asleep. Jeff and I immediately checked stats and asked how they have been handling. They seemed to stay steady between 96-97%. We sat and waited for Rylee to wake up, doing our best not to disturb her, but just staring at her as if we couldn’t get enough.
Dr. Ashe came in a few minutes later and told us she handled the bronchoscopy wonderfully. She had no problems with coughing or wheezing and didn’t require an albuterol nebulizer treatment post procedure. I remember him saying that she needed the bronchoscopy, a part of me thinks most of her doctors know how often I second guess myself when Rylee goes for procedures. He told us he cleaned all portions of her lungs, especially the right lower. He showed up pictures of all her airways, reporting no damage or widening to any. Great news and such a relief!
We had a follow up on Wednesday with Dr. Ashe. The report from the culture of the sputum and mucus they collected from her lungs and nasal cavities all came back within normal limits. Good news again! However, when listening to Rylee, he said her upper airways are raspy.
Today, we are two weeks post bronchoscopy and the congestion continues.  It started just as it always does—a runny and stuffy nose. Yesterday, she woke up with a wet sounding cough. While we try to remain positive, we know it is the same cycle every time. We’ll keep hitting her hard with nebulizer treatments and vest therapy and hope it doesn’t progress into something worse. The saga continues.