Incisional Hernia Repair

Mike is at Jackson under Transplant service for a large hernia just right of his naval.

We came down last night as he had to be here at 6.

He just went in to OR

He is assigned 2 anesthesia doctors. One regular and one cardiac. Repaired because of his Aortic Stenosis. The Aoric valve will need to be replaced soon and they want to be sure today is not that day

They couldn't give me any idea of time so I'll be hanging out for hours I guess

The prep area was a mad house. I bet 30 patients were prepped by 7:am. And each had doc and nurse and anesthesia and a xouple of students tagging along. And it is a United Nations of folk. They are from everywhere.

More when I know more

My thoughts are divided. With family and frinends in NY and CT and Long Island I glued to the TV worries about all those hurricane refuges.

Carol

Many prayers for Mike and thinking of you !

In recovery

Small surprise

Dr says repair larger than he thought. The used mesh

He is not waking very quickly. In a lot of pain.

More later.

Thx for good wishes and prayers.

ML

Glad to hear the surgery is over. My experience with (multiple) hernia repairs was that recovery was fairly quick. Once the pain lessens, he'll be doing better. When the incision is pretty much healed, he should wear an abdominal binder and be careful not to lift over 10 lbs. (I made it 5 lbs to be safe.)

Please keep us updated as you are able.

Someone I know who is from up north said everything is "out" on the Island--no electric, water, or phone service. She said everyone has been evacuated, but don't know how true that is. I haven't been able to reach my BFF, even on her cell phone.

Hugs,
Connie

Thanks, David.

Hugs,
Connie

Good to hear all is going well with Mike. I'll have to remember about that new mesh, in case I ever need another hernia repair (God forbid!)

Thanks, too, for the info about LI. I got on Google tonight and did a search for Kings Park. My friend is undoubtedly in the dark. She lives approx. 3-4 miles from a bay or maybe it's LI Sound...water, anyway, She may also have had some wind and water damage, but won't know until I talk to her.

Hugs,
Connie

Mike was discharged late this afternoon, Saturday. We got as far as the hotel to get our stuff and head home and he couldn't go one more step. He's been in bed since we got here about 5.

I ran to pharmacy and grocery store tho he has not eaten anything I bought for dinner. I was hungry as I've had mostly nothing since we got here.

He was on a morphine pump and now he has pills but he hasn't taken any cause he is sure he'll never use the bathroom again..

I am hoping he'll manage the trip tomorrow. We have things to do Monday--Doc for me and PCP and labs for him.

Tuesday I am a poll worker. So I'd like to get home!!!

Best to all in HW land.

Carol

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 11/3/2012 8:48:42 PM (GMT-6)

We are home with Mike from Miami. The drive (2.5 hours) about did him in. He slept for hours afterwards, and woke up with a fever of 100.8.

I called the Transplant Pager line and the doc on call said to give him 1000 mg tylenol and then 1000 more in 4 hours if it didn't come down.

If it again didn't come down, to page him again and we'd decide on whether to bring him back.

Poor Mike.

He got some blood results in the mail today: His Hep C Viral Load is back up...now at 13,5M. And his Alpha Fetoprotein is now at 13. Neither especially good news.

More when there is more.

BTW: I have had bronchitis for almost 2 weeks and feel like a left over french fry: WILTED.

Best to all this Sunday afternoon.

Carol

Glad you made it home and surely hope you don't have to go back to Miami. That does seem like a lot of Tylenol just to bring down a fever. I had one recently and just took 400 mg and that did the trick. I wonder if the higher dose has anything to do with his heart valve problem?

about the AFP, remember my transplant coordinator said it is the hep C causing the rise (my last was 11.) I'm having blood work again next week.

I used to get bronchitis every winter while I was smoking--and it lasted until Spring. Hope yours will soon be gone. I know you don't smoke.

Hugs,
Connie

This afternoon Mike's temp is normal and we have not made the long trip back to Miami. He is sleeping soundly now ...4:30 in the afternoon. It was so much excitement to go t the primary care doctor for a routine check up...to write the referrals for the REAL doctors. UGH.

Best to all,

Carol

Carol,

  Yes, I too am hoping you will be able to rest now.  Sometimes it is so helpful to just hiberate and not have to go out for anything.  Hopefully once polls close, you can hiberate and take care of yourself.  I worry about you, as I know how easy it is to spend "everything" energy-wise on the other guy ... and it leaves little for you.

  Glad Mike's temp went down.  Good deal.

Angie1953

   

Day 5. We have an "at home day" today. He slept fitfully last night, breaking down and taking a pain pill at bedtime. But he was down from 10pm - 7am, so a long "rest." He is having wild dreams, so it will be good if he can change to Tylenol in the next days. He got in the night because he thought his PC had a virus. Did it send him a telepathic message?

He ate some b'fast...and is drinking. No fever. He went back to bed right after b'fast and is snoring away again. Good.

I DID NOT go to the polls today and feel incredibly guilty.

I had a pulmonology appt. yesterday and my doc said NO WAY. She actually told me we should have a health aide in here a bit to help out. I can't imagine that just now, but I have broken down and am letting friends and neighbors run errands. RX, groceries, post office. I wonder if I can have someone get gas for us...I'm on fumes?

I'm back on the prednisone...60 mg... They will taper, but for now it should help. I hope it will help a lot. No antibiotics because X-ray okay. I took zithromax last week.

We are having a bit of a "ta'do" here, and maybe this belongs in caregiver thread, but I am mindful of what AZ has to say on the male perspective on feeling ill.

Mike is a sweet guy, friendly, fun, helpful...thrifty, loyal and brave...a Boy Scout in general. And SOBER 25+ months. But when he doesn't feel good, he is a bear (leaving piggies to Ziffle.) He explained to me that he HATES feeling ill, and that he feels grouchy and can do nothing about it; that he wants to be "in control of things." Which is true. He especially hates not driving (not a new problem).

I told him I wondered sometimes which was the real HIM. The Mr. Grouchy Pants who arrives so quickly and easily when he feels ill OR if he uses enormous energy to stay Mr. Boy Scout when in his right mind. I told Angie here lately that she should remember her hubby is SICK, and give him some slack...

NOTE TO SELF...HE IS SICK...BE PATIENT WITH MR. UGLY PANTS.

Yesterday, he was frustrated on the way home from PCP appointment. I was driving. He couldn't work my iPhone. He opened the window and said he was throwing the ****ing thing out, it was worthless. AND BRAND NEW. So I stopped the car. He gave me the phone. I returned the call to his Transplant Coordinator he hung up on. And told him I wouldn't drive a mile further if he didn't get control of himself. He did.

Does he have some control of himself? He told me I was AN AWFUL PERSON! If I am, I'm wasting a lot of good time on looking after a sick man.

This is not what I NEED when I have bronchitis, feel like crap myself and am not in the mood for his UGLY.

My 5 year old grandson wants to know if the election will be decided by his bedtime...8 EST. Sure hope so. hahaha

Hugs,

Carol

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 11/6/2012 11:07:27 AM (GMT-7)

Yo Carol,

  Sounds like a rough day yesterday.  Am thinking of you, and am smiling at the "Mr. Grouchy Pants" nickname.  Mine for hubby is not nearly so cute!!  Know that feeling of wondering "if I am such an awful person", how come I am still here taking care of a grouchy old guy I barely recognize, cleaning and listening the the mutterings under his breath about what a B----- I am.

OH YEA>>>HE IS SICK HE IS SICK HE IS SICK

Carol Repeat after me...HE  IS  SICK         

  I know how hard it is for this to make a difference when you are sick,too.  Am sending calming thoughts your way...and hope you heal quickly.  Caregiving is hard enough without trying to do it sick.

My hubby (unknown to me) covered the outside furnace fan with plastic, so when I turned on the furnace last weekend and it couldn't get air circulating through it burned out our furnace motor.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong...Oh now I know.  When I told him what happened, he informed me I am an idiot and don't really know how a furnace works....but I still will have another bill for someone to come out and fix the furnace.  He thought he was wrapping up a window air conditioner for the winter, I guess.  (We don't have one.)  HE IS SICK HE IS SICK.

Yes, this should probably go on the caregiver's thread.  But Carol..wanted you to know that I understand what you are going through.  Feel free to post frustrations and I will work to be supportive and remind you of your own advise.   :)    This is a Hell I hope we never have to experience again.  In all of my life I have never accepted being "crapped on or called names" by anyone, and this is so so difficult to accept.  Carol....Hope you have a "escape room".  I have decided that I need to create a "sanctuary" in my house....a room that is just mine (which is now where all the 'junk' accumulates.)  This is my quest for this week  ....that and patience.  Spending you strength to get through this week.

Angie1953

 

Post Edited (Angie1953) : 11/6/2012 11:26:42 AM (GMT-7)