I'm Home!

Well, I am finally home, and couldn't be happier! Last week was definitly the worst week, and most painful experience of my life.  The tube down the nose and throat turned out to be a total nightmare, with way too many complications.

I  have just started reading the entries from my mother, and boy are some embarrassing!  ( I even deleted one) If there is ever a next time, remind me to set some rules and guidelines. Has she ever heard of TMI!?! LOL-You know I love you Mom!

My mom will be here until Saturday and my father comes in for a few days.  Then I will be on my own.

I want to thank you all for the wonderful cards,  flowers, and gifts. They were a wonderful reminder of all the good friends and family that I have in my life.  Most of all, I am thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers.  I could not have made it through the week without all of your support!

7-8 9:34 am
Well, Nicki is definately going home today. We are just playing the waiting game right now. So far, so good. She may even make an entry tonight some time.  Keep praying for her recovery and that the Dr's can find out why she is losing blood. They probably won't address this again until her 2 week appointment. Thank you and God Bless all of you for all of your prayers.

7-9 10:06 pm

After Nicki's NG tube was taken out I felt like I could go back to the hotel and sleep in a real bed. That's what I did last night and I must say it felt really good after 8 nights in a recliner. Nicki is doing much better. She had mashed potatoes today. They tested the fluid coming from her last tube and it was OK so they took it out today so she is tubeless. She is trying to stay off pain meds as much as possible but of course still needs them at times. Her blood shows that the rerouted biliary duct is doing it's job. When people talk about Dr Rosemurgy they use the words "genius" or "best in his field" or "best in the country". Even our neighbor in Ohio has heard him lecture. So when the "best in his field" says that it was a hard surgery I guess you better believe it.  Nicki still has her blood problem that will need to be dealt with sooner than later. She has come a long way but has a long way to go to become healthy. If all goes well tonight, we will be going home tomorrow (Wed).

7-6 11:33 AM

THE TUBE IS OUT!!!!  Thank you for all your prayers and thank you God for answering them. Now continuing on the road to recovery. The Dr said they would probably start her on food tomorrow which I'm sure means clear liquid but that's OK.  If all goes well, she could be out of here in a couple of days.

 

7-6 8:33 am

Another sleepless night. They gave Nicki a double dose of Benadryl that was supposed to allow her to sleep. It did, for about an hour then she was up the rest of the night. Ear's, nose, throat, face, incision all aching. Then there was another "tube" incident that leaked everywhere. total bed and gown changed twice yesterday. She's still miserable. The Dr's aren't too sympathetic, they just keep repeating what has to happen before the tube can come out. But then again they can't over medicate her because it inhibits her body from doing what it is supposed to do. The nurse just brought in some nose spray, yeah! Maybe it won't be running as much and she can leave her poor nose alone. Please pray that her intestines and bowels will start functioning very soon.

7-5 11:27 pm
Well the day didn't start out too good and pretty much stayed that way all day. The "tube" gave her sinusitis and now has given her gastritis. I guess this is common and they already had her on medication to prevent it. There was bright red blood in her G tube which alarmed me and her nurse and another nurse. When the Dr came he explained what it was and that if we see it again or it gets worse they will increase her medication for it. Her left arm's IV had to be removed due to it's tremendous swelling. She kept telling the day nurse that her right arm IV was coming out and was leaking but to no avail. When it was 1 hr before shift change I told her to just wait on the night nurse. When he came on shift it was bleeding and leaking everywhere. He looked at her veins and said I'm calling in the big guns (techs) to come put the IV in because it is getting harder and harder to find a good one. Very nice guy's that did a great job. It is very stable and in a good place so pray this one will last more than a day. No gas passing going on but she did say she was hungry and the Dr said that was a good sign. She hasn't eaten in 6 days and the 2 before that was only clear liquids.     On a lighter note, Nicki has had as many male nurses as female nurses. Yesterday morning she said "I almost yelled at him last night." We said "why" and she said "I'm sure they don't teach them to go into a dark room in the middle of the night, crouch down at the foot of the bed with a flashlight". Steve and I cracked up. I guess it startled her. I saw him and know that he was checking her urine output and was trying to be considerate. It was pretty funny at the time. He celebrated with us when he saw the medication was working. God Bless Nurses.

7-5-09 9:08 am
I'm sorry that I did not update last night but I could not get on the internet.  Nicki was pretty miserable yesterday and especially last night. The tube has caused sinusitis, sore throat, ear pain and her nose runs constantly which of course makes the tube even more unbearable. She got almost no sleep.  Her IV's have been moved several more times and now both have to be moved again. She is black and blue and swollen.  Still not much stomach sound and no air movement. It's just a day by day thing. The fluid has turned back to dark green but they don't seem too concerned about that. After the tube is removed they will slowly give her some nutrition.  I'm sure clear liquids first to see how her stomach and bowels react. She will have to pass all the test. They want to move slow because they don't want to have to put the tube back in. That would be horrible. Thank you for all your prayers. Keep praying.  We did get to see a few fireworks. There were some right out Nciki's window.  I took Steve to the airport this morning. He is flying home and will fly back down on Friday. He will take me to the airport Saturday morning and I'll fly home probably to stay. Steve will stay another week. That will be 3 total then her friends will take over.  I hope she gets released on Tuesday or Wednesday so I can get her home and settled before I leave. Get some food in the freezer etc. Our schedule of course is literaly in the hands of the dreaded "tube".

7-4 3:22 pm

I have some good news, the G tube is draining very slow and just barely yellow. The incision tube isn't draining much either. Thank you God. I don't think it will be much longer, maybe tomorrow at the latest. They also heard some noise in her stomach which is excellent.  Nicki's nose was burning inside so I sprayed some chloraseptic on a  Q-tip and had her apply it. It seems to have helped by numbing it.  If it worked for her throat why not for her nose.  One of the Dr's is supposed to come back by and change the tape around her incision because during the explosion this morning the fluids got under the tape and it is burning. Hopefully he will have more good news.

 

7-4 6:36 very early am

We were awakened (is that a word?) at 4:30 am so Nicki could give her morning blood donation. Then at 5:30 I hear "Mom" and poor little Nicki's G tube had leaked very unpleasant liquid all over the bed.  I called the nurse and we got her out of bed, the bed changed and Nicki changed and back into bed. On the more pleasant side of the morning, they took her catheter out. One less tube, two more to go. She has until noon to go on her own. No pressure, just do it or else. Of course by this time she is in a lot of pain. I think things have calmed down for the moment. Keep praying.  Oh,  by the way we all wish you a Happy 4th of July. We've been told that we can see fire works from the 2nd floor so I'm sure we will make the journey down there. God Bless America, God Please Bless Nicki.

 

7-3 9:06

Nicki was given 2 units of blood today which is a very good thing. Her fluid output is still going strong which is another good thing. Her stomach fluids "may" be slowing down and a little lighter which all has to happen before the tube can comes out. It still may be another day or two. Nicki took 2 walks today but has slept most of the rest of the day. She hasn't slept much since her surgery so this if fine.  Her poor arms are pretty beat up. Her IV has been changed no less than 7-8 times already and she has 3-4 days to go. The last nurse re-taped the tube in her nose which has turned out to be the best yet.  She still hates it but at least it is up off her lip. God bless nurses.