the deets
From Surgery Forward
I am the sky holding the storm.
Saturday, April 19th
Surgery took 7 hours. The surgeon said there was a lot of scar tissue from the previous surgery and leakage. It took 2-3 hours just to get through and around the scar tissue. The tumor in the sigmoid colon was removed. She did not see any cancer on the outside of the colon. The resection went well. The best news of the day - no colostomy! Happy Birthday to me! That was my one and only wish - no colostomy!
She had to open me up all the way because of the scarring. She couldn't use the robot assist. She got a sample of the liver and removed three very enlarged lymph nodes. She reported to my husband that it did not look like colon cancer or sarcoid granulomas in the lymph nodes, but we won't know what it is until the biopsy results come back. It could be a different kind of cancer, lymphoma, we will know in about a week.
Starting yesterday afternoon, I was put on a clear liquid diet. Broth, jello, lemon ice, herbal tea, and cranberry juice. Plus an Ensure special post-op drink that is clear liquid and has immunity boosters.
The pain is not too bad when I am lying still. When I get up to go potty and do some walking, my belly hurts, but it is bearable with pain meds.
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| Oliver feeding sheep in New Zealand |
All of this means I am doing well. Vitals are good. I'm on the road to recovery! Thank you for taking the time to get updates here. It really helps me to focus on being with my husband, Oliver. He's awesome!
Day 4 of clear liquids only. Getting hangry!
Sunday, April 20th
5:10 AM - Today is the day that I expected to be discharged from the hospital, however, it’s looking like I might have to be here another day. I’m resisting pressing the narcotic button because it slows down the digestive process and I want to start having at least smoothies or yogurt, oatmeal, anything would be welcomed! Breakfast , lunch and dinner have been broth, jello, lemon ice, cranberry juice, tea, and clear Ensure.
How’s the pain? When lying flat, it’s a 1 or 2. When using abdominal muscles it’s a 5. That’s with Tylenol and a nerve pain blocker that is non-narcotic.
Dominating everything is hunger. TV ads of pizza, chicken, pancakes and eggs, oh! And those Olive Garden commercials are making me cravy!.
Blood drawn a little earlier. Results have been wonky. My body is not happy. It’s been sliced open, things removed, it’s got a lot of work to do! It wants peace, quiet, low light, and minimal activity. But I must do some walking 4x daily.
7:07 AM visit from Dr Cheng. Plan for today is to get me off the IV and advance my diet😁
8:15 AM lab results are back on the morning blood draw. A few abnormal, but trending in a healthy direction, nothing too serious (in my experience as a patient).
Nurse Kisha removed all of the wires and tubes, I can walk without the IV now. Yay!
The doctor has moved me to an advanced liquid diet. Kisha said she will ask the kitchen to bring me some yogurt or cottage cheese (or both?!) 😋
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| me and my sonshine |
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| Food!!! |
That Cream of Wheat with brown sugar and butter was soooooo yummy!!! I also thoroughly savored the pureed peaches and vanilla yogurt - and coffee with vanilla cream!!! Life's little pleasures 😋
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| Enjoying the sun |
The food - it's not just the joy of flavors and textures, it's the knowing my body needs proteins, carbs, fats, minerals and vitamins. Food is medicinal. Food is healing.
6:01 PM Back from a walk with my sweetheart, around the hallways and across the courtyard. It's very balmy outside. We've been laughing together, watching The Office and The Big Bang Theory. Watched a little professional sports - bowling, freestyle skiing in a halfpipe, figure skating - marveling together. My touchdown today was passing about a tablespoon of stool. Big celebration! The plumbing is working.
Supper for him was an egg salad sandwich and a bag of nuts. For me, tomato soup, key lime yogurt, pureed pears, milk, apple cinnamon tea, and an Ensure vanilla protein drink.
Sleepy. It's time to say good night and send him home. We hope I will be discharged tomorrow.
Monday, April 21st
6:10 AM Awake and feeling pretty good. Won’t ask for oxycodone. It slows bowels. No movement since yesterday afternoon, that tiny amount. I’m reluctant to eat more, but they say I should.
Docs just made the rounds. They removed the bandages. I will spare you the pic of surgical staples over stitches from pelvis to sternum. You’ve seen Frankenstein’s monster! No emoji for that.
Biopsy pathology confirmed it is lymphoma. My husband doesn’t know yet, I will tell him when he is with me today. He will be so sad. I am all about my family now. Helping them help me to face mortality on my own terms. It’s a challenge.
4:04 PM I'm home.
Next page: Zen and Oncology
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