Out of surgery

Paul is out of surgery.
He will be going to ICU.
The bowel obstruction was caused by the J tube being placed too low.
Abdomen flushed with antibiotics.
If everything goes well, home in a week to a week and a half.

Thank you for the prayers.
God is good, prayers answered.

Jo

Second Time's a Charm?

Paul is scheduled to have surgery to correct a bowel obstruction tomorrow morning at 8:30 am.

With all the problems of the brownish stomach secretions and the bowels not doing the job the doctor ordered a CT scan yesterday night after checking Paul's vitals, input/output and the drainage from the surgical site on the abdomen.  The CT scan showed something is not right.  The upper bowels are dilated then collapsed.  The doctor also does not like the amount of fluid draining from the  surgical site, he said it is way too much to be a seroma.  Doctor said they have given everything more then enough time to correct itself, calm down and become functional now it is time for intervention and to open him up and look around to see what is going on.  They are also inserting a Picc line to get him some nutrition while everything is resting.

I told Paul I think this is his body preparing for the bigger surgery to come later down the line.  It's giving him all the trouble now so the doctors can get to know him and then be fully aware of how his body will react.  The doctors will then be able to anticipate and be ready for any complications.  Got to think positive thoughts and look for a good outcome.   Paul continues to keep his sense of dry humor and is fighting very hard not to become discouraged.

My son-in-law, Kevin drove me home last night to get the mail, bills and a few other things that had to be taken care of.  He then drove me back the same night so that I could continue to be at Paul's side.  Thank you Kevin from the bottom of our hearts.  And thank you Lisa for gathering all our mail and the papers I requested, you are awesome!

We'd like to send a great big "Thank You" for the cards, comments on this blog and well wishes received. To thank each of you  individually would take me a few hours so this will have to do.  .  

Hugs and love,

Jo and Paul

 "Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bear bad fruits -and man is his own gardener."

James Allen

Enough

This morning we had a good start.  Paul had a BM at 4:30 am.  What a great present for me.  We were joking that this will be a birthday to remember !  Who else could be so happy at receiving a sh*t for their birthday?

Our celebration was short lived. When the  incision from the J tube surgery started to ooze while he was sitting and getting geared up for our morning walk.  I cleaned it, and let the nurse know.  It seemed fine.   Paul wanted to get some walking in after the achevement this morning.  The oozing filled four 4 by 4 pads within a few minutes.  Doctor came and put on some butterfly stitches .  He said should be fine just some small oozing.  Cleaned up , covered with gauze and towel in hand we were ready to attempt the walk again.  Made it a bit further, now the oozing was running down his belly.  Doc came back, squeezed it and said the insicion may need to be opened up so it can drain.  For now it will be a wait and see.  it is not infected, just a small part of the insicion opened.  Surgeon said to wait...walk later today and see what happens.  As long as there is no infection, the surgeon dose not want to reopen the insicion or put in a drainage tube.

When is this going to end?  Enough already!  How much more is it giving to take before Paul's positive outlook goes down the drain?  

Paul's feelings... It's one thing after another.

For those who know me all I can say is... It's Jo Lord, not Job!

Love and hugs to all
Jo and Paul 

Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow......

Another day and something new.

Paul had the NG tube inserted this morning.  Hopefully this will help with the build up in the abdomen and get him the much needed relief.  Blood pressure went down this afternoon, but seems to be on the raise again this evening.  Paul is very uncomfortable with this new tube, but if it works it will be worth it!  His abdomen is still quite large and he continues to battle nausea.  No sign of the bladder and bowels improving yet, but it's still early and we haven 't done our nighttime walking.

 It has been an emotional evening as we found out a very beautiful lady, who took us under her wing when we moved to Caliente Springs died on Sunday.  Dorothy was an inspiration of living life and taking joy in the journey.  Her journey is now over and we feel truly blessed to have walked a very small piece of the journey's path with her.

Peace, love and hugs to all our friends and family.
Once again, thank you for all the get well wishes and prayers.  I share the comments and encouragement s with Paul daily.

Jo and Paul

Turkish Proverb
Man is harder than iron, stronger than stone and more fragile than a rose.

Baby steps

Today's  update....

We had a good visit with daughter Elizabeth and grandson Gage yesterday afternoon.  Paul was walking the halls when they got off the elevator so Gage being a rambunctious two year old, decided to play "hide and seek", with Paul being the seeker.  Paul with the I.V. Pole in tow played along making a big deal out of finding Gage around corners.  Paul's walks have increased from five - ten minutes to ten -fifteen minutes.  He was worn out and took a nap when we got back to the room.

Later in the evening he attempted to get in another walk.  It didn't happen.  He sat on the bed nauseated and shaking.  Once again he started vomiting the brownish stomach bile.  It was a rough night with the bladder and the bowels not working.  His blood pressure has been going up and down like it has never done before.  He was sick to his stomach most of the night, even the meds didn't seem to help much, besides knocking him out.  Last night he had a ultrasound on the bladder.  They have been keeping a watch on it to make sure it is not so filled that it would cause more problems with the intestines and bowels not working.

This morning the doctor ordered an X-ray to check for blockage, thank goodness none is present.  It did show a lot of air and of course the feeding tube food.  Doctor said if the bowels do not empty themselves by tomorrow afternoon he will insert a N.G. Tube through the nose to remove the air and help the abdomen to decrease in size.    Paul did get some movement from the bowels but it also included a lot of vomiting this morning.   He is complaining that his esophagus feels like it is burning.  This is caused by the gastric acid coming up from the stomach.  Paul is still not eating or drinking.  It has been nine days since Paul has been able to swallow food.  Liquids are only very tiny sips, less the a teaspoon and extremely sparingly so he does not vomit it up.

On a good note, I was able to administer Paul his meds last night and once today to get used to working with the J tube.  I also have been cleaning it daily.  Nothing like learning something new!

We are hanging in there.....
There is Japanese proverb that continues to pop into my mind...." Fall seven times, stand up eight"
We plan to keep standing up no matter how many times this disease makes us fall down,

Thanks for the encouraging comments,
Jo and Paul

Sometimes it feel like one step forward....

and two steps back!

Very early morning as Paul sat vomiting, all I could do was breath deeply and pray.

He is trying so hard to do what needs to be done...breathing exercises, walking, thinking positive thoughts.

Today he farted,  you would think we had hit the lottery with the amount of joy we both felt.  A little step, but one that means the bowels are returning back to normal. It make take a day or two...but they will be forgiving.

As I read the emails received this morning of prayers being offered for us, I sobbed. It has been a long time since I broke down...well, not really, it just felt that way!  I think it was seeing the tear roll down Paul's cheek when he said "I'm trying m'lady...I'm really trying"

We are both trying.  I gave him a soft back massage as he stood looking out the window, it was so good to hear him sigh with relief, he let out  a moan ...I asked "does it hurt?"  "No,feels good".   To be able to comfort  him, give him strength, made me feel better.

My daughter Elizabeth and grandson Gage have been been here which has been a god send.  She has done "store runs"  provided meals and a shoulder to lean on.  Gage has provided Paul and I with smiles and the much needed distraction to all this.  Gage has really been a trooper to being in the hospital, being in strang place for the night and having to be in the carseat so much.

We are looking forward to this hospital stay ending and going home.

God bless,
Jo and Paul

March 10th update on Paul

We have had a few rough days.  Paul's recovery from surgery has not been speedy.  He continues to have problems with vomiting, bladder and bowel functions.  His body seems to be in turmoil over the two surgeries that he had and is struggling to get itself back to normal.

Paul's quote of the day " this is getting old"

We'd like to thank all those sending their "Get Well Wishes"

Jo and Paul

One more step.....

Paul had an appointment for an Endoscopy and Bronchoscope with the Thoracic Surgeon on Tuesday.  We arrived early so the staff was ready to take him back and get him prepped.  The Doctorow said it would be about a thirty to forty five minute procedure.  I went to get some coffee and camelback within fifteen minutes.  No sooner had I sat down, I was called back to the room.  The  nurse told me that they were not able to preform the test as the tumor had completely blocked the esophagus and that Paul would have to be admitted to the hospital to have a feeding tube inserted into his intestines.  I let the doctor know that we had an appointment for a surgeon back home for Paul to have a port put in for chemotherapy.  The doctor said they could do both at the same time.

Paul had surgery on Wednesday.  All went well, surgery is done, port in place and so is the feeding tube.  He is in pain mostly because they had to cut his abdomen open to move things around a bit to get the correct positioning for the "J tube"(feeding tube).  Doctor said we will be here for a few days.

Will keep everyone posted on the journey.

Jo

Progress. It's slow but ... progress

Sunday was a rough day.  Paul had a protein shake in the morning and tried to eat lunch.  It got stuck in the middle, so after several tries he gave up.  He couldn't even get a sip of milk down.  It was blocked.  The blockage causes him to vomit up whatever is in the esophagus at the time.  He wouldn't even hear of the suggestion to call the doctor or go to urgent care, so he went back to work.  I called him often just to check on him.  He came home, wanted dinner, took a small nibble and that wouldn't go down either.  Took him 3 hours to get down a protein shake.  I mentioned this episode to the Oncologist this afternoon (Monday).  The doctor immediately took him to the back room and had a nurse put in a IV then proceeded to get some fluids into him. It's not the blockage that is the immediate concern, because that'll get checked out on Tuesday when we revisit the Thoracic Surgeon for his third endoscopy, but the fact that he's getting dehydrated.

Oncologist wants us to see a general surgeon, here in the valley where we live, to have a port put into Paul's chest for the chemotherapy, and he would like to start chemotherapy on March 18th.  There was also the mention of a feeding tube.  I will talk with the Thoracic Surgeon tomorrow when we are at USC about all this too.

Looks like we are going to have a couple of busy weeks ahead.

Let me call you "Sweat Heart"

Next week is going to be a busy week for us with doctors.
Monday we will see the Oncologist for a follow-up for blood work he did on the last visit and to discuss the radiation and chemotherapy.
Tuesday we will be going back to USC for Paul to have an Ultrasound Endoscopy and Bronchoscopy with the thoracic surgeon.
Thursday a new doctor, the Radiologist.
Friday back to our Primary Care Doctor to get a referral to a Cardiologist to make the arrangements for Paul to have the Echocardiogram for pre-op.

Yep, a busy week ahead.

The support of friends, family and co-workers has been amazing.

Thank you,

From the bottom of our hearts.

This picture was taken after washing windows for a friend of ours on a very hot summer day.  

I teased Paul that I was his "sweat-heart"