Tuesday

Yesterday we met with the surgeon who is our current primary doctor in all of this and got some answers to our full page of questions.  Even though I wrote down the answers I think as time goes on we may need more clarification.  When stressed the brain can only absorb so much information before it becomes overloaded.

Paul will get a Bronchoscope today and if it looks good he will be allowed a clear liquid diet.  Yippee!!    We know that everything that goes in the mouth will come directly out the hole in his neck but after sneaking him a very small piece of flavored ice yesterday, it will be okay.  He took that small piece of ice, closed his eyes and a look of total joy washed over his face.  Which makes me wonder.......    Do we eat because we are hungry or for oral satisfaction?  I know it's both, but to what degree?  Over the course of his treatments he had lost the appetite for food and did not get hungry.  Even the flavor of food was not satisfying.  I know that could have been the result of the chemo drugs.   Now he wants to experience flavor, so even though he will not gain any nutrition from eating, the satisfaction of flavor will be there.  So back to my thoughts and question.... If we eat because we are hungry, then as soon as our stomachs are full we would stop and the would be no need for diets, right?   On the other hand, if we eat for oral satisfaction, that would explain the problem we have with weight control.  I know for myself I can eat a whole bowl of popcorn and continue eating long after I'm full because I enjoy the flavor and texture of it.  It doesn't help that I eat popcorn while watching T.V. So it's actually a mindless act of eating.  *smile

Paul oxygen levels are very good.  His blood sugar continues to fluctuate and he is being given insulin  as needed.   His heart rate continues to be too fast and irregular.  One doctor came in yesterday while his heart rate was in the 140's and asked "are you feeling palpitations?  Do you feel like your heart is racing?"  Paul said no to both, said he felt fine.   The surgeon firmly believes that the arrhythmia's of the heart are caused by the surgery and not an underlying heart problem. The surgeon said they had to move and handle the heart in both surgeries so it is aggravated and needs time to calm down.    Paul is still on antibiotics and one of the doctors believes that the staph infection he had could have also aggravated his heart.  This morning the blood cultures came back clean.  I remind that doctors "Practice" medicine and there is still so much that is not know about the human body.  His body has been under so much stress that I would like a couple of days of no poking, no medication changes and no more testing just to give him and his body time to heal on it's own.  But being in a hospital, I know that will not happen.

We still have a long road to recovery,  in my heart I know he is pushing himself to breath deep, wiggle his toes, cough and stay positive.

All roads do lead somewhere and soon this road will lead us back home.

Hugs,
Jo