It's hard to write a post when friends here have felt so much pain and heartache.
I'd like to share this update to add some positive to the cancer experience.
Husband had his lower anterior resection with a loop ileostomy last Thursday. Procedure had us on ward for 6.30 in the morning. Op not scheduled till pm. One colonic irrigation later and I was kicked out just after nine. I'd given myself a bunch of chores to fill time with.
Late afternoon call to hospital had no news so scooted up there for the 7 till 8 visiting in hope of news. Mum-in-law up north and daughter 5000 miles away were waiting too. No news from ward but did a cheeky enquiry at theatre recovery and got 5 mins hello. Op took 4 hours and he was a lot groggy and a lot hungry.
He was back on ward for Friday visiting and looking, and feeling chipper - the epidural was doing its stuff. But by saturday am the epidural had failed and my poor hubby was really suffering and wondering if he'd make it. Sipping water gave him hiccups.And in the night it was the fellow across the room who pressed the nurse buzzer for him.
It was overheard by the fellow closest to the nurses station on shift handover that you had to watch the men on this bay as they had a habit of pressing the buzzer for each other and you never knew who would need you.
Saturday was a rough visit.
Sunday saw the morphine and paracetemol working. Still attached to canula, epidural tube, catheter. Monday afternoon still the same but the evening visit he looked more cheerful as all redundant tubes had been removed and pyjamas so much better than the hospital gown.
Tuesday water output was good. Stoma nurse happy with progress. He gets to escape. Slowly. Very slowly. Estimated Time of Escape 3pm. Made it by half six. Waiting for drugs. And lesson on how to inject him with the blood thinner tinzaparin. Done 4 now and teeth still curling into my gums.
The stoma is working well.
He is going for the change every day after shower. Changing wet bag for dry one sounds simple apart from the glue gets uber sticky when wet and will not let go of the skin. The morning empty is pretty foul and we are looking into capsules to add to the bag to reduce odour. Evening is less offensive to the nose. The changing is a kind of ritual. The washing of the stoma is almost cute - the water makes it bubble.
And it really does gurgle and burble and sing to itself. Best to describe it as a baby pooping its freshly changed nappy. And it gets airy. But like a balloon. No smell till emptied.
Recovery from op is a process and my man is doing well. Sometimes I encourage walking, eating, fluids - other times I have to slow him down or be there in the bathroom, by the toilet just in case he over reaches. Can't stop him smoking though.
Little stomy is a happy little fella and if all goes to plan will be going indoors before the year is out.
A scope at 6 weeks will show if the stitches in the bowel are holding. Then he should be able to join the dyson club. Yippee.
In the next couple of weeks we should get the results of the biopsy. Consultant with the spotty socks thinks he has it all with clear margins.
Fingers crossed X X X
