We're home.
Kim and I met with the surgeons yesterday (Wednesday) morning. They told us the surgery could not have gone better. They couldn't think of any reason for us to stay in beautiful Houston, and we were in the truck, heading home, within 30 minutes.
I have to go back to Houston next month to meet with the oncologist, and get the instructions on the chemotherapy. I'll then do the chemo in Joplin. About 6 months worth, I'm told.
This should finish up this blog for awhile. Before leaving, I want to thank everyone again for the tremendous support. Kim and I could not have gone through this ordeal without your prayers and help. As with any cancer, we're a long way from being done with this fight. I'll continue with the treatment and see where it goes. Please remember there are a lot of folks in our community who need also need the same support we have been so blessed to receive.
Thank you.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Outta There
Discharged from the hospital this morning. I have appointments set for Wednesday, which will dictate further appointments.
Everything basically going well. I guess I should say that relatively speaking, everything could not be going better. Of course, that "relatively speaking" phrase is kind of loaded. As we've said before, while the medical treatment has been outstanding, I don't doubt for a second we wouldn't have come this far, this well, without other Assistance.
That reminds me. Everything at M.D. Anderson has been fantastic. I don't hesitate for a moment to recommend it. Considering we have one of the top one or two cancer hospitals in the world this close to us, and how they make it so easily accessible, it's kind of foolish not to come down here if you get cancer. Folks from all over the world are down here for treatment.
That said, when we get home, remind me to tell a story or two about having an occasional nurse with less than a full grasp of the English language. You know, having a cashier at McDonald's not understand you completely is one thing. Not having a nurse who is handing you pills understanding your questions is, at the very least, a more interesting thing.
Everything basically going well. I guess I should say that relatively speaking, everything could not be going better. Of course, that "relatively speaking" phrase is kind of loaded. As we've said before, while the medical treatment has been outstanding, I don't doubt for a second we wouldn't have come this far, this well, without other Assistance.
That reminds me. Everything at M.D. Anderson has been fantastic. I don't hesitate for a moment to recommend it. Considering we have one of the top one or two cancer hospitals in the world this close to us, and how they make it so easily accessible, it's kind of foolish not to come down here if you get cancer. Folks from all over the world are down here for treatment.
That said, when we get home, remind me to tell a story or two about having an occasional nurse with less than a full grasp of the English language. You know, having a cashier at McDonald's not understand you completely is one thing. Not having a nurse who is handing you pills understanding your questions is, at the very least, a more interesting thing.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Close To Discharge
Tubes were pulled out of my body all day. Who knew one of the drainage tubes in my waist was stuck up through my diaphragm, and would make my shoulder hurt as it was slowly being pulled out.
Everything still going great. I will lobby for discharge from the hospital tomorrow. Hopefully, that puts us a week out from coming home.
Thank you.
Everything still going great. I will lobby for discharge from the hospital tomorrow. Hopefully, that puts us a week out from coming home.
Thank you.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Night of Hell
I was beginning the think the post-surgery convalescence would be uneventful. Unfortunately, I was mistaken.
At around midnight last night, I noticed my back was hurting some. Down in the lumbar area. That happens periodically anyway, and didn't cause any concern at first. It also happened to a moderate extent five years ago when the colon was removed, figuring the cause was probably from lying around in bed too much. As you may recall from an earlier post, my "pain control" is from an epidural put in before the surgery. It has worked great.
Well, by 1:00 a.m., not only did my back feel like it was on fire, my abdominal area start hurting. by 2:00, I was in quite a bit of pain. I called my nurse.
Now mind you, most of the nurses here have been excellent. Unfortunately, she was treating this a "as regular course of business" thing, and I was trying to convince her it was not the normal ache. In any event, unable to lay down, I sat up in a straight back chair all night waiting for the doctor to get here.
One of the doctors did get here early, and immediately prescribed an anti-inflammatory, which did wonders with the back. Unfortunately, the stomach area was still problematic. Kim came in and asked what was leaking on my back. A good question, I thought. We called the morning nurse (shift change), who immediately called "pain management". Seems as though the epidural had come out on it's own during the evening. I would suggest around around midnight. In any event, I'm now on yummy Oxycontin for the remainder of the hospital stay, and I presume for some time period afterwards. .
At around midnight last night, I noticed my back was hurting some. Down in the lumbar area. That happens periodically anyway, and didn't cause any concern at first. It also happened to a moderate extent five years ago when the colon was removed, figuring the cause was probably from lying around in bed too much. As you may recall from an earlier post, my "pain control" is from an epidural put in before the surgery. It has worked great.
Well, by 1:00 a.m., not only did my back feel like it was on fire, my abdominal area start hurting. by 2:00, I was in quite a bit of pain. I called my nurse.
Now mind you, most of the nurses here have been excellent. Unfortunately, she was treating this a "as regular course of business" thing, and I was trying to convince her it was not the normal ache. In any event, unable to lay down, I sat up in a straight back chair all night waiting for the doctor to get here.
One of the doctors did get here early, and immediately prescribed an anti-inflammatory, which did wonders with the back. Unfortunately, the stomach area was still problematic. Kim came in and asked what was leaking on my back. A good question, I thought. We called the morning nurse (shift change), who immediately called "pain management". Seems as though the epidural had come out on it's own during the evening. I would suggest around around midnight. In any event, I'm now on yummy Oxycontin for the remainder of the hospital stay, and I presume for some time period afterwards. .
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Post-Surgery
Everything went fine yesterday. I'm told that surgery actually began at 8:00 a.m., and was over at 2:30 p.m.. Got me back to a room at around 8:00 p.m.. I was up walking at midnight. I've walked a couple of times today. Doing breathing treatments. Sitting around bored.
I'm also told they cut out 75% of my liver, with the bile duct being formed out of the small intestine, since my large intestine disappearred 5 1/2 years ago.
According to Kim, the surgeon described the surgery as "perfect". That's funny, a doctor with an ego. Whoda thunkit? As long as he is right, I'm all for him.
Interesting tidbit. We drove down her on Thursday. The Cardinals haven't won a game since we pulled out of Neosho.
I'm also told they cut out 75% of my liver, with the bile duct being formed out of the small intestine, since my large intestine disappearred 5 1/2 years ago.
According to Kim, the surgeon described the surgery as "perfect". That's funny, a doctor with an ego. Whoda thunkit? As long as he is right, I'm all for him.
Interesting tidbit. We drove down her on Thursday. The Cardinals haven't won a game since we pulled out of Neosho.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Drugs For Me Tomorrow
Check-in for surgery is now scheduled for 5:15 a.m. tomorrow. Kim is in shock. She has never actually witnessed a 5:15 a.m., so if you talk to her, be nice. She may be more groggy than I.
Blog will be off line a couple of days. I've been promised an epidural cathater in my spine for "pain management". Sounds great. Why have I had to wait 47 years to get one? Hopefully I'll be able to take it home with me and use it when reading the Lawrence Kudlow articles sent to me by Jason. In any event, probably not a good idea to write publicly while morphine is being shot straight into my nervous system.
I want to thank everybody for the prayers and thoughts. To an extent even I don't always understand, they have been a tremendous help. I've been reading a book about Ben Franklin's moral and religious thoughts, and, and, you probably don't care what Ben thought or you would read the book yourself. Right? In any event, sincerely, the prayers have been very important to me and my family.
One last thing. I talked with Scott Berry today. As you probaly know, Scott is the assitant coach at Southern Mississippi University. He has already been named the manager for next year. Southern Miss. beat Florida twice yesterday, and is going to the College World Series in Omaha. A Neosho and Crowder grad. done good.
Talk to everyone later.
Blog will be off line a couple of days. I've been promised an epidural cathater in my spine for "pain management". Sounds great. Why have I had to wait 47 years to get one? Hopefully I'll be able to take it home with me and use it when reading the Lawrence Kudlow articles sent to me by Jason. In any event, probably not a good idea to write publicly while morphine is being shot straight into my nervous system.
I want to thank everybody for the prayers and thoughts. To an extent even I don't always understand, they have been a tremendous help. I've been reading a book about Ben Franklin's moral and religious thoughts, and, and, you probably don't care what Ben thought or you would read the book yourself. Right? In any event, sincerely, the prayers have been very important to me and my family.
One last thing. I talked with Scott Berry today. As you probaly know, Scott is the assitant coach at Southern Mississippi University. He has already been named the manager for next year. Southern Miss. beat Florida twice yesterday, and is going to the College World Series in Omaha. A Neosho and Crowder grad. done good.
Talk to everyone later.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Houston Travelogue
We went to Galveston today. Visited the beach for a couple of hours. That's about all the beach I need for awhile.
We did drive around Houston this evening. As previously posted, we bought a Garmin direction thing-a-mijiggy last weekend. It is perhaps the greatest invention since the printing press. While it has taken the adventure out of driving around an unknown city, it has brought peace and happiness to our marriage. I doubt we will ever leave Neosho again without it fully engaged.
We did drive around Houston this evening. As previously posted, we bought a Garmin direction thing-a-mijiggy last weekend. It is perhaps the greatest invention since the printing press. While it has taken the adventure out of driving around an unknown city, it has brought peace and happiness to our marriage. I doubt we will ever leave Neosho again without it fully engaged.
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