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Richard's surgery update.

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Posted 11/17/2009 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for everyone's caring and supporting. today we went to hospital doing my husband (Richard)'s pre-op stuff. around 12pm they just located his biopsy slides from shipping dock and told me that surgery is still going (thanks GOD!). by 3:30pm finish all the appointment then checked in hotel. I drove home to stay with kids. just finish talking with him on the phone that prep-bowl is pretty harsh on his rear-end. smilewinkgrin hope he can get a goodnight sleep for tomorrow.

tomorrow after I drop my daughter in school i will be heading there for his surgery. meet him around 9:30am and surgery will start 11:00. i will keep you updated if i can get on internet otherwise will be tomorrow night.

5-6 hours driving per day is not that bad for me. have coffee in handy helps plus I like driving.

I am asking if you could pray for Richard for his safe and success surgery tomorrow. We would be so appreciated everything you do for us.

I may not get on here again tonight, still have quite few things to take care before tomorrow.

your Jennifer

Post Edited (qjenxu) : 11/17/2009 7:59:35 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/17/2009 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer,

As you write and prepare for getting a good nites rest the prayers are already coming your way.

Don't forget to take care of yourself in this time too. You will need your energies for yourself, your children and your husband.

You have done your research, made your decisions and now the medical team is preparing for their part in the process.

Rest well knowing that is it now in hands other than yours.

Bless you and your family,

Sonny
Posted 11/17/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, Richard and you have our prayers...good luck tomorrow.

Sephie & John
Posted 11/17/2009 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the update Jennifer. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and Richard. Take your time letting us know how the surgery went, as you need to take care of yourself as well. Yes that prep work is not as easy on the body as one would think. Hope you both get some rest tonight and that all goes well tomorrow.

Michael

Posted 11/17/2009 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer
If you see this before you go, take Richard something to read (trashy novel, newspaper, magazine) sitting up after the operation is good for him and reading is an excuse to do it. Talk to a nurse and see about walking with him up and down the hall -- get the poison of the anesthetic out of his system and get the digestion headed toward normal function.

Our prayers go out to both Richard and you. Remember that this is the start of his recovery.
Posted 11/17/2009 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, you and your husband will be well remembered. Be so glad to hear that he's safely on the other side, the recovery side.
Take care.

David in SC
Posted 11/17/2009 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer,

It is so gratifying to read the story of someone who loves her husband as much as you clearly do.

Like geezer said, you will have a big role in helping Richard (and his IV pole) shuffle up and down the hall. I used to wave at another fellow doing the same thing as we and our wives passed each other.

DJ
Posted 11/17/2009 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, my wife and I have followed Richard's and your journey and we join in sending our prayers and warmest support.

We will be watching for an update when you get the chance.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 11/17/2009 1:21 PM (GMT 0)

Best wishes to you and your husband as he has his surgery! Looking forward to the goods news on the other side.

Larry

Posted 11/17/2009 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
Jennifer,

We are thinking of you and Richard tonight, praying for a smooth procedure, and an excellent outcome. Chin up!
Posted 11/17/2009 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, We will be praying for you two. Will be looking for you update tomorrow on the other side.

Jeff T
Posted 11/18/2009 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your pray and support! Richard is safe and resting in the recovery room tonight.

it was long day. 9:50 get in prep room; 12:17 get into operating room. 1:14 surgery started. 3:15 telling me surgery went well, continued. 4:30 telling me they start FINISH the surgery. 5:00pm done close up and 5:15pm he is in recovery room (pacu).

However, surgeons suppose to give family member a update on the surgery but he never show up left me broiling on the waiting area. 6:30pm I ask to see my husband in recovery room before I take off so they let me see Richard. I went in see him lay flat with tubes on him. He was half awake and was in pain. Nurse gave him some pain meds. He talked to me just a little but told me he loves me (man, that got me lot more than roses could done). I left at 7:00pm and paged surgeon again. Surgeon called me back when I was on the road telling me nothing worry about. the cancer was in the gland and he see nothing bad. was able to save both side of nerves. I felt much better although I still don't know why he didn't show up(or call) when he suppose to.

Anyhow, now i got home safely. tomorrow will be the same deal. Send little one to school then come back to see Richard.

One good tips on how to make him relax when we were in the prep room waiting for the surgery was gave him a back, neck, leg and feet rub. He said that put his mind off on keep thinking surgery stuff and feel relaxed.


well, I am not worry too much but want to see the full surgery report on what was done and see the pathology report next week. He does have drainage along with the catheter.

Thanks so much for your praying and that really works! Will update tomorrow.

Jennifer
Posted 11/18/2009 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer,

Thank you so very much for letting us know how things went. No excuses for the surgeon not to visit with you. Hopefully he is one of those MENSA Member doctors, one who is extremely intelligent, very good at surgery and has the social skills and graces of a rock.

Glad Richard is resting well. I am sure that he will be in much better spirits tomorrow when he sees your shining and loving smile.

Get some rest dear lady. The next few days may be a little exhausting with the driving and caring for a little one. Take care of yourself too.

Sonny
Posted 11/18/2009 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the update Jennifer. Hope you get a good night's rest and that both of you have a good day tomorrow.
Posted 11/18/2009 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
The waiting area at Cleveland Clinic is in a different building than the surgery suites, probably half block away.

Doctors call, and you are paged to a bank of phones, where he reports to you over the phone. Possibly the late hour of the surgery, or perhaps Jennifer didn't hear the page, or he could have been in another surgery. It is rather impersonal, but it is probably efficient for the doctor. It is one huge place.

Tomorrow he will probably make rounds on the floor, and hopefully Jennifer can see him then if she is there.

Thanks Jennifer for letting us know. I'm sure they explained to you, but you will be able to get all of the lab test and pathology reports online. You will have to make sure the PA releases them to My Chart, which is their patient information system.
Posted 11/18/2009 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, so glad you husband is on the other side. Uphill from here out. Too bad about the surgeon not keeping his word, that would have been aggervating at the least after all you went through.

Please keep us posted.

David in SC
Posted 11/18/2009 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, So pleased that Richard is past the chalenge of surgery. Now we are on our way to healing. I agree with Sonny. No excuse for the Dr.

Let Richard know that the boys are here to support him.

Jeff T
Cajun Country
Posted 11/18/2009 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jennifer,

Every day from herein will get better and better and in no time he will be feeling well again. Many thanks for the update and we hope to hear from you again.

Regards,
Bill
Posted 11/18/2009 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Jennifer
Well done to both of you.



I suggest you ask the Dr about why no call came and you had to wait.

If the Forum is about anything then it is about using our experiences to help others, you can't undo the fact that you had an anxiious time waiting, but if the dr and the hospital get told you did not like this, then maybe in the future there is less chance of it happening again to someone else.



(A foot massage would have tickled me far too much. They just gave me some sedative about 30 minutes before they started to prep me, and then we just talked and cracked jokes and they all said how young I looked. What I did find soothing was that they they had warmed up all the padding and blankets before I had to lie on it!)



Drive carefully. Can you take someone with you if it's you that's going to be bringing Richard home?



Alfred
Posted 11/18/2009 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Today I got spent 5 hours with my husband, which is wonderful. This morning he looked better than last night and this afternoon, he looked better than this morning. He still sore and taking meds but walked couple of time with nurse Mike. Mike is a RN and very well trained, very good at what he is doing. I feel good for leave Richard in his care. Still don't know when he can return home. maybe tomorrow or Friday.

Anyway, I still can't get over with no update from surgeon after surgery. my husband was having a cancer surgery, not tooth pulling. when i was waiting, I was there ask staff many times to find out what was going on. they have pretty advanced system in surgecial center. He wasn't in next surgery, nor he ever called me but i missed it. very possible he was simply forgot about I was waiting for his call. this is horrible wrong. I know doctors are human and human do make mistake but i just can't believe it. I didn't get see him today but I will ask when I see him next time. My friend suggest me writer letter to this surgeon's up-management after this whole thing is done but i am not sure what would I do. I will ask how Richard wants handle this.

Well, that tells that a good doctor could make big mistake, all depend on patient's own luck.

Thanks for listening my updates.

Jennifer
Posted 11/18/2009 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Jennifer, so very happy that Richard's surgery went well but was sorry to hear about the "oops" with the surgeon. We were lucky that our surgeon came out right away to the lounge and spoke to me at 9:30 at night, and then brought me into the recovery area to spend 5 minutes with John. Boy was I shocked at how swollen his face but it was pretty much gone by the following morning.

The important thing now is to rest - both you and Richard. Sleep well tonight.
Posted 11/19/2009 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Great news. Keep us posted.
Posted 11/19/2009 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like positive news about your Richard, glad to hear about your visit. All the best to the both of you.

David in SC
Posted 11/19/2009 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Richard is coming home tomorrow.

this afternoon, he passed the precious gas then being approve to go home tomorrow.

He is in much better shape today, not much pain either.

We had lunch together and he is very glad that he can have salmon for dinner tonight.

Will have to come back for follow up next Monday for close up the drain open and take the catheter out.

Thanks for follow up my update. I apologize for not reply your post because after I get stuff done here I try to get more sleep to be safe on the road.
Posted 11/19/2009 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Jennifer,

There is no need to thank us for following your updates or apologize for not posting back. We are all interested in Richard's recovery and appreciate the time you are taking to keep us informed. Once you have given us the update you have much more to do with your time than chat with us.

I am so glad he is doing well. I know he will rest and recover much better in his own home. It will certainly be much easier for you too not having to make the drive.

Our prayers are still following you and Richard for a speedy recovery and tremendous outcome from the surgery.

Thanks for keeping us posted,

Sonny
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