Wed 1-8-14

If you don't get much sleep is it a short or long night?  Either way we had one.  He was up every 2 hours going to the bathroom.  And since I couldn't be sure he was fully steady on his feet and he was still hooked up to the pole, I got up with him. E v e r y time.  Bless his heart he's still concerned about not urinating enough.

This morning we walked and he peed and then they did a bladder scan on him.  He was holding too much yet and was starting to stress about it.  Which doesn't help.  Finally after walking enough the urologist was satisfied with the numbers.  I tell him he needs to give himself a break, he just had anesthesia yesterday!

Then the PICC team came in.  I had to leave because it was a sterile procedure.  Doug said they were going to put it in his left arm but then noticed his port was just taken out of that side last night and they didn't want to put it in the same area.  (Later Dr Treptow said it wouldn't have made a bit of difference.)   So they went to the right arm.  Doug said they started it in and threading over to his heart and it hurt (pain scale 10) from his shoulder to his finger tips.   He told them "this is not going to work guys."  They agreed that he couldn't be in pain like that for 4 weeks.  So they tried again.  The 2nd time it worked better.  The procedure took twice as long as it normally does, even the PICC team agreed it was one of the more difficult they've done.  He was spent after that!  During the procedure I sat in family waiting at the end of the hall.  The 2 older gentlemen that play the recorders played again.  The timing was good for my man.

Dr Treptow came in and explained what he found so we could understand it better.  He said there was no reason for the j-tube drain to be left in to pull infection out when he could put a small tube up his rectum and have it drain down a natural path.  That way the pocket could grow back together with tissue or "mucosis" as it is supposed to.  When that happens the anastomosis will have tissue to adhere to and no "repair" will be necessary.   We are looking at about 8 weeks for that to happen and then they will be able to drop the ileostomy back in.  We are glad to finally be on the road to actual healing.  He is still very weak but at least now we have a goal.   He said we could go home today PRAISE GOD!

He had already ordered lunch so he decided to just eat and we'd go home after that.  We told our nurse that as well.  After we ate we waited and waited and waited.  She was a busy lady!  Finally we went for another walk and talked to her and she was working on his discharge orders.  We only went home with 2 prescriptions this time.  Oxycodone which we won't have filled, don't need, don't want and the Flomax for flow!

We finally left about 2:30, dropped of the script at the drive thru pharmacy and got home at 3.  It was raining lightly and the temperature was 34.  The driveway was slick slick slick!  We got the fire going in the stove, took the ashes out, unpacked and I immediately threw all the blankets and pillows we used up there in the washer!  Doug did more in the first hour we were home than he had all day!  He is definitely motivated to get better.  And he gets to shower tomorrow, ohhhh happy day!

Eric got home at 4 ish and is playing tonight at Cell worship (youth group.)  I was actually kind of surprised they didn't cancel due to the temperature dropping below freezing, which it has in addition to additional snow and sleet.   I had to go back out to get Doug's prescription so I just took him in the truck.

Starting tomorrow I get to take him in for IV antibiotics every day at 9.  Then we have blood draws weekly and appointments with Dr Bandy and Dr Treptow.   And I've yet to reschedule his appointment with Dr Travis (the oncologist.)   Still a busy time but we can do this. 

The desire of our hearts is of course for total healing.  We would also love to not have to do IV antibiotics for any longer than need be.  His blood counts are great per Dr Bandy, but 2 things, if he needs them, ok.  If not, lets move on.  They are extremely expensive AND we would like to get back to work.  And I'm sure our employers want us back :)

Thank you all again for your prayers.  God has been so good to us thru this journey and we expect nothing less as the journey continues. 

We love you!

Jan, Doug and Eric