Tuesday March 26, 2013

We are doing a Happy Dance.
NG tube has been removed from the nose.
Paul has been given the okay for small sips and a few ice chips to moisten the mouth.

We are now waiting for Rita, the RN who is going to work on unclogging the J tube.
If all goes well, the feeding will start,very slowly and be monitored very closely as a preparation to going home.

We miss all our friend at Caliente and are looking forward to returning home and to work.
Thank you for all the cards, they are now hanging in Paul's hospital room for him to see.

Jo

Monday March 25, 2013

Update on Paul....
This afternoon the doctor clamped off the NG tube in Paul's nose.  If all goes well and he doesn't experience any nausea during the night there is a good chance that it will be removed.  The doctors want to make sure things are "flowing south" before removing the NG tube, which means checking to see how much bile is in his stomach in the morning.

The nurses will also be checking on the J tube and will use a small brush inserted from the outside to clean away any thing that would be causing the clog.    If all goes well they will proceed with trying a feeding, which is the reason for getting the J tube.  It will take a couple of days, but it looks like Paul's body is finally accepting the changes and on the road to healing.

I will say one thing, I am I awe of Paul's oncologist from Ranch Mirage.  Dr. Driesbach called on Paul's cell phone to see how things are going because we had cancelled the last two appointments.  He was just checking in to see how Paul  was feeling.  He didn't know we are still at USC.

I did get a chance to go home and pick up our mail.  Thank you for all the beautiful "Get well" and "Thinking of you" cards.  Paul enjoyed reading every one of them.

Jo and Paul

Palm Sunday

Yesterday they removed the J tube drainage bag.  Yea, one more little achievement.  The drainage bag was put on to help relieve anything that would need to drain out and any air the that would accumulate in the intestines.

On a not so good note.... The doctor went to flush the J tube, which is Paul's feeding tube for the next few months until the esophagus is removed, and it is clogged.  She tried Coke and then Vinegar she even left the vinegar in for several hours and came back in the evening to try again.  she was here this morning and the J tube seems to have a little less resistance but is not opened enough or all the way to be used for feeding.  She will be back later as Paul needed to use the bathroom.  

On another good note, Paul has been walking and sitting in the chair more and more each day.  This is great as it helps the intestines do what they need to do, help the stomach secrete the correct fluids, keeps the legs and ankle from swelling  and it continues to help Paul feel better.  The wound vac will be cleaned and changed today, replacement of bandage and suction device.

  

I hope to make a trip home over the next few days to pick up mail and a few items needed here... Paul's houseshoes, laptop, another book to read, some yarn as I've used up all the yarn I had brought with me.  I may get more of Paul's blanket crocheted then I thought possible.

All these stumbling blocks that I am trying my hardest to look at as stepping stones.  

Hugs to all,

Jo and Paul

Saturday March 23rd Update on Paul

 

 


Paul is feeling and looking much better today.  He had a BM (bowel movement) yesterday and it looks like the body is on track to getting back to normal or at least as normal as can be at this stage of the process.  I have been doing Jeanie's "Happy Dance"

I washed his hair and even tried to trim his mustache and beard.  I think he is a bit unrecognizable at the moment for those who know him as clean shaven.

Getting up and walking more and more each day.  We are looking forward to the day when we can come home and get back to work.


Thanks for stopping by.

Jo and Paul

Thursday March 22, 2013

Doctors have put a Wound Vac on the opening in the belly.  Paul has an opening of 5 cm by 2 cm with a depth of 2-3 cm in the middle of the incision site  on his abdomen.   I find it very interesting that they can pack an open area of the body and cover it then use a small vaccum to draw out any air or fluids in order for it to heal. The miracle of modern medicine.

The doctors are a little concerned that Paul is not recuperating as quickly as they think he should be.  They don't have any answers of why his bowels have not woken up.  They said he is doing everything right, breathing exercises, walking, sitting up.  It is just a wait and see......

Grandson Gage continues to bring a smile to our faces with his visits.  He loves to play hide and seeker when Paul does his walks and delights us with his dancing to any music he hears.  He is a joy to us both.

We continue to hope to go home soon.  We know the next few months are going to be a bit rough but we have a strong community of family, friends and physicians who are all there to help us muddle though this.

Once again I can only offer my thanks to all who send us get well wishes and prayers.

Hugs,
Jo and Paul

Wednesday night update

The chest xray from this afternoon showed some fluid on the lungs.  There is a slight infection in the surgical site.  Both are being treated with antibioctics.

The good news is that the J tube placement is good and there is activity inside the bladder/bowels.

Paul sat up for several hours today and did a small bit of walking.

He should sleep well tonight.

Thank you all for the encouraging comments, the jokes and mostly for the continued prayers and outpouring support.

Jo and Paul

Quick Update

Paul had a fever last night and into the early morning hours and blood pressure was high.  The nurses and I gave him a cool wash down and they put ice packs under his arms to help cool the body.

Doctor ordered blood work, urinalysis, chest X-ray and a CT scan with contrast of the abdomen.  His previous white count was good.  We keeping getting mentally geared up to take a walk in the hall and someone else pops in to do something.  Oh well,  so goes our day.

One step at a time.....

Jo and Paul

Goal is set!

Paul is out of ICU and back in a regular room.   His output from both the kidneys/bladder and the stomach secretions are both good healthy colors.  His oxygen levels are consistently good. Blood pressure seems to have gone up with being moved  twice today but otherwise things are looking okay!   They had put us in a double room and then moved us to a private room.  I think the second move was because I will be staying in the room with him.  

We are praying for a complete and uneventful healing and recovery after this second surgery..  Paul looked at the Patient Board in the room where they put in the days date, nurses name and other pertinent information for the room.  One line on it has "Patient Goals", Paul said his goal is to get better and go home.  I' m all for that!

We anticipate a couple more days before the bowls "wake-up", at least that is how the surgeon put it. Then I guess they'll try the J tube feeding again and wait to see if everything progresses as it should.  I have no idea what the time frame will be.

I feel a couple of really good things have come from all this....
The doctors will already have knowledge of how Paul's body can react to surgery.
We now know some of the staff that we will be dealing with when Paul has the esophagectomy both in and out of ICU.
We will know what to bring for a two week or longer stay.
We can already anticipate some of the set backs that can happen and not be totally surprised.

Thank you for the continued prayers and well wishes.  
We both are in awe of all the praying nd good energy coming our way.

Jo and Paul 

Monday, Monday.....

Paul is still in ICU.

Doctor wants to keep him in ICU to monitor his progress closely.

He sat up today for several hours and walked the hall in ICU.  Paul is doing better this time around then he was after the first surgery.  Doctor said it will probably be Wednesday before his bowels wake up and then they need to see if the replacement position for the J tube will work.  Paul still has the NG tube in his nose going to the stomach, draining away any bile secretions that build up.   He is receiving nurishment through a PICC line going up through his arm into a big vein in his chest.  Paul is avoiding using the morphiene as much as possible to prevent the bowels from becoming to lazy.

That's the update for today.  We are so ready to get out of here and get home to start the next phase of treatment.

Thank you for the prayers and well wishes.

Jo and Paul

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

We are doing well.  Paul actually sat up for a few hours and walked the hall in ICU.  He is doing so much better.  The doctors did have to make a bigger insicion and had to use 20 staples to close hon up.  The J tube has not been tested yet, but we are not in a hurry this time.  Taking it easy and slow.
Paul has brightened my Saint Patrick's Day with having greenish bile coming from the NG tube.  This is really a cause for celebration as up to now it has been brownish black!

This seems to be the month of unusual celebrations for us...

Looking forward to being transferred out of ICU tomorrow if all stays uneventful through the night.

Thanks again for the Get Well wishes and Prayers.

Jo and Paul