Home and Healing

Well it has been a long time since I have written anything, so I am going to try to piece this together as much as I can.  Tim did a great job with the last post, but I'm going to start from the beginning so I know I'm not missing anything.  This might be more for my sake than for anyone else's.

Friday the 6th, we arrived at KU Medical Center at 5:30.  I had a large crew with to support me.  My parents, Tim's parents, Alayna and Jeremy, Stacey, and Grandma were all at the hospital during my surgery.  Tim and my mom were able to be in the surgery prep area up until I was taken back for the procedure.  While being prepped, I also had an epidural placed just below my shoulder blades to be used to control pain.

The surgery went great, as Tim stated in the previous post.  I was told that it took less time than expected, approximately 4 hours.  After surgery, I was brought to the surgical ICU.  Dr. JM debated whether to send me to ICU since I was doing so well; however, there were no other beds available in the hospital.  Also, we really wanted a private room, and they are hard to come by.

I had multiple tubes including the NG tube, an IV for pain meds,  an epidural for pain meds, etc.  I liked the IV meds because I was able to push two different buttons to up my pain meds when needed.  I detested the NG tube.  I was being kept NPO (nothing to eat or drink) due to recent extubation (removal of breathing tube for surgery) and waiting for my gastric system to kick in.  Swallowing disorder evaluation and treatment is a large part of my career, and I have recommended NPO for many people, and I have provided treatment for many people who are NPO.  I can honestly say now that it really sucks for the patient.  My throat was very dry and sore, and my voice was extremely hoarse.  I was able to suck on moist sponge swabs, another recommendation we use in the speech pathology field.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights I spent in the surgical ICU.  Tim was able to stay Saturday night and my Mom was able to stay Sunday night.  I don't remember much from the ICU, but was told that it was very loud 24 hours a day.  By Sunday, I was up walking with assistance, as Tim stated in the previous post.

Monday, I was transferred to a regular room, and fortunately for us, the room was private.  I continued to improve with walking.  Tuesday, the despised NG tube was pulled in the late afternoon/evening, and I was able to start a clear liquid diet.  By Wednesday, my epidural and a couple other tubes were removed, and I was down to just one IV and the J-Vac (a drain for the fluid coming from my pancreas and surgical site).  Thursday, my diet was advanced to regular textures and liquids.  I walked 22 laps around the unit over the course of the day, which according to a sign in the hallway was nearly one mile (26 laps equalled a mile).  Since I work in hospital rehab, I was texting a friend that I work with, giving her my personal rehab update.   My coworkers found that amusing.  Thursday afternoon, a resident physician came and removed my J-Vac drain.  This was a pleasant surprise, because initially we were told I would still have it when I went home.  Thursday night, my doctors told me there was a strong chance that I could leave on Friday, which ended up being the case.  Friday morning came and again, I was feeling really good, so I was discharged to home by 11am.  I only had to be in the hospital 1 week, which was great, considering I was initially told up to 2 weeks.

While in the hospital, my family continued to provide so much support.  Stacey and Grandma had to leave on Sunday, but I know they both wanted to stay. Once in a private room, Tim stayed every night.  My parents, Tim's parents, and Alayna rotated time with me, so I was never alone for very long.  Jeremy would stop in my room during his breaks at work (he is a resident Dr. in the ER at KU Medical Center).  Tim and my Mom did a lot of laps with me, encouraging me to keep walking to build up my endurance.  I cannot thank all of them enough for everything each of them did for me.  I'm very lucky.

On top of my family support, I had excellent clinical support.  From surgical prep nursing, ICU nursing to floor nursing, I had exceptional care.  Also, my doctors were amazing.  Dr. JM, my surgical oncologist, visited me every day.  The chief resident of surgery, Dr. J, rounded daily with his team of surgical residents.

Once home, I immediately went up to my room to nap in my own bed.  We had to ease Bentley (our dog) into seeing me for fear that his excitement might hurt me; however, he did great and I was so happy to see him.  Friday evening, our friends Erica and Nate came over.  Saturday, my Dad left for home, leaving Mom here to hang out with me for the week.  Sunday, Mom, Alayna, and I walked around a couple stores.  Monday morning, Tim, Mom and I did the same.  It felt good to get out of the house.  Monday, I started running out of pain medication, so I called my doctor.  He gave me the option of going to KU to pick up a medication script for the pills I was taking or have him call in a script for a slightly lesser strength medication (Missouri laws).  I opted to try the lesser medication.  Tuesday and Wednesday I spent lying on the couch.  The new medication wasn't working very well, and I was having more pain.

Thursday, I had my follow-up appointment with Dr. JM, oncology surgeon.  He said the incision appears to be healing very nicely, but he was concerned about my pain since I was nearly 2 weeks post surgery.  He ordered blood work and a repeat CT, all of which turned out normal, with nothing to be overly concerned about.  He prescribed my previous medicine.  He also referred us back to Dr. MM, the managing oncologist, to determine what my treatment course will be from here on out.  He said he doesn't anticipate any form of "treatment" because ultimately the cancer is gone, but he thought I would require periodic scans to monitor if any new developments occur.  We'll just pray that it never does.

Mom stayed through Friday and left on Saturday.  Saturday afternoon Tim's parents came back to stay with us.  I am doing well on the road to recovery.  Each day I am feeling better and getting stronger.

I have received MANY cards, flowers, gifts, phone calls, texts, emails, etc, all expressing support, encouragement, and love to me, Tim, and our family during this time.  I am very grateful for it all.  Working in healthcare, I have come across many people who really don't have someone to lean on during trying times, so I do realize how fortunate I am to have so many wonderful people in my life.  We have been very blessed.

I know that this has been a very long post, with probably way more information than anyone needs, but I hope it may have answered any questions that one might have had.  Thanks for taking the time to hear our story.

Love always-Jenny