We are Back, but not so far back! Nights are terrible!

Two of Joyce's' comments today!

And what a day it was.

Joyce has had 7 different roommates in 8 days. The private rooms are reserved for the infectious and hospice patients. The hospital, or for sure 4East, is full. Each time a new patient checks in it is chaos! And that goes into the night, which means very little sleep. Each time a patient checks out there is chaos with the family and the clean-up crew. This can happen at any time.

Today Joyce had juice for breakfast and vomited again. She had a little juice for lunch and vomited. She had hiccups and vomited. She was able to sleep (pass out?) a couple of hours, but we did very little walking because she was dizzy, and tired. In the afternoon the doctor decided she probably had a partial blockage and ordered a C-T Scan. Sure enough!

So tonight she got a Nasal-Gastric (NG) tube through her nose into her stomach to drain it out. Shortly 250 ml of fluid were in the bottle. It was not much fun to get the tube inserted, but after it had been draining for a while, she started feeling much better!

We think we are on the way again!!

She has to be almost sitting up when she has the tube in, so that is how she is sleeping. They did put a sedative in the IV, so she may sleep tonight (also her new roommate had her last visitors leaving before 9:30). The doctor said the tube may have to be in for 2 to 4 days, so I think we will be spending the weekend in our hospital retreat.

Joyce is very fortunate to have an assertive personal Dietitian. She worked with the hospital dietician to get a Total Parental Nutrient IV started along with the saline solution so she will be getting nutrients back into her body. To me that means a quicker recovery!!

The other thing I have mentioned before, is the absence of pain. I think the hospital staff can hardly believe it. It makes it incredibly easier to talk together and communicate wit the medical people. Thanks to Healing Touch!

Doug

PS: Thank you for your comments, either on this blog or her email. We look forward to reading them together every day!

Late news

Joyce just called me from the hospital (11:22pm)--She just vomited.
So we regroup in the morning.
She said she feels much better now and can go to sleep.
Doug

Be sure to leave the light on for us!

Because Joyce will probably be coming home!

Yes, we were kinda in shock too when the Doctor said that to us. Yesterday she had some herbal tea, and today we had some broth and tea in the AM and at noon. Her gut seemed to start back up today also, and the Doctor said that was the key. She has been practically pain free, we do a lot of walking and sitting up, so the Doctor said she could get well faster at home!
Tonight she had a real meal of chicken strips and mashed potato and gravy. She did not eat very much of it, but she felt fine.

We were both very apprehensive about it at first, the last thing we want is to end up coming back in a day, but things went well tonight and we have all day tomorrow to make the decision, so we are just going to wing it tomorrow.

Also Joyce did not sleep well last night so she was very tired today and we are very tired of hospital life!

We didn't play any checkers today, but she did have a Healing Touch session and a hand massage by a Volunteer that she said was wonderful.

She didn't get her meal tonight until about 7:00 and by 8:30 she was snuggled in bed with a warm blanket (and finally warm), ready for a goodnight kiss.

Joyce's niece sent this message today.
We are so thankful for your faith and the faith of your family and friends. It is so comforting to have all those prayer warriors praying extra prayers for you!

What can we say but A________men, A_________men!
Doug

Today started with Herbal tea!!

Yes, we took at least one step forward today!! Just check this out---
Yesterday the Doctor said nothing by mouth, period! Today, with signs of an awaking gut, Joyce sipped some herbal tea, about 1/3 of a styrofoam (hospital crystal) cup, actually. There was no vomiting all day, so tomorrow will be broth.

Of course we had our usual routine today, but we spiced it up with a game of checkers, twice.

We also added a new dimension with a shuttle I-Pod that our friends sent us. It was all set-up and ready to go with almost 200 songs. And one of the first songs that Joyce heard was a Beatles song!!

The next adventure was a shower with no tubes connected, what a deal.

Next we met with one of the hospital dietitians. Joyce thought this was a great meeting, so totally new thinking when she starts chemo-therapy. Doug was there too.

We met with the Oncologist Doctor who will be our Doctor for the chemo treatments. This was our initial conversation about chemo-therapy, so it was another education session. We still have a lot to think about and absorb, but we are very happy that he will be our Doctor.

And finally the last and probably best thing of the day-a warm blanket to snuggle up it.
(and maybe a couple of kisses too!)
Doug

Back on Track ? Maybe, but take it slow!

We are very hopeful that Joyce's body is waking up!! But everyone agrees that we need to go slow and be sure of each step.
It was just tonight that things started to happen, so we will start a bright new day tomorrow.

This morning the Doctors decided needed to have absolutely nothing by mouth, not even a moistened swab on her lips, because that activates the saliva glands and they didn't even want that going down her throat. She is still getting IV nourishment, and really doesn't even want to be around food or the smell of food. She has very little pain, and does not get any pain medication at all.

We have also had the help of a Healing Touch session last night and today.

Most of the day today was spent with the routine--bathroom-walk-sit-use the inhaler -rest-bathroom-walk...

Joyce had a new roommate today. Barb had ovarian cancer surgery four years ago. Doctor Argenta (Joyce's doctor) did the operation and she was in for a chemo treatment. She does not get sick from the chemo treatment and is doing fine.

Thank you for the Hiccup remedies. One of our Nurses Aides told us that Joyce has someone thinking about her every time she hiccup's! How is that for positive thinking. Joyce thinks that someone is saying a blessing for her whenever she hiccups! The power of positive thinking.

Doug

OK But it is only one step back!...Hiccup!

No tubes to get messed up . . .solid food on the menu for the first time . . .sitting up . . . walking.
But not feeling so good. Take a bite of food for breakfast and vomit.
Take a bite of food for lunch and vomit.
Time to get back to the IV tubes, and the Doctor orders an X-ray of the stomach.
The Doctor says there is an obstruction in the small intestine. so no food by mouth!
And still those lousy never ending HICCUPS!!
A peaceful, calming, Healing Touch session tonight and another tomorrow.

OK, but it is only one step back!

And keep the prayers coming.
Doug

Gassed up and celebrating!

Joyce started the day with a liquid diet. Cranberry juice, and jello!
Not just jello, terrible, terrible jello!! Joyce said I can't even talk about it.
BUT the day got much brighter when her body came alive and She got Gas!!
So finally she was able to start on a regular food diet. She was also able to shed all of her tubes, both IV and drug. She no longer is "hooked up."
She gets her pain killers by mouth every four hours and it is working fine.
She also sat in the chair 4 times and walked 4 times. The last two walks were just with two of us at her side for support. Getting back into bed is a little hard, but getting better each time.
Again, I am amazed at her progress!!
We will see the Doctor tomorrow morning and find out more about chemo therapy and when she can come home.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, please don't stop!
Doug