Posted 9/30/2010 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
A short summary of my Ileal Conduit Surgery, required as the result of severe radiation damage to my bladder, bladder neck, and general rectal area as the result of Salvage Radition:
Thursday Sept 23
Surgery day. Arrived 0800. During prep, too 5 attempts to get in IV, finally my anathesolgist had to come and do it. Remember being wheeled into OR. Helped get myself on OR table. Mask over face, blackness. Surgery was deemed 2 ½ hrs normal, 3 hours with difficulties, took surgeon 4 full hours. In recovery room 2 hours. Was in room at 5 PM. New stoma in place and urinating into bag. Heavily medicated with pain pump, Dialud, strong stuff. Had problems with nasal tube, so that had to halfway remove and put in properly, Rough night, too many interruptions by staff hourly.
Friday Sept 24
Second day. Quite a few visitors. Dr. looked me over and thought all went well. Increased pain meds. That night, developed 101 fever, no explanation found, Tylenol brought it down. Started hating the nights, long painful hours of nothingness.
Saturday Sept 25
Third day. Too many visitors. Love em all, but they don’t realize how tiring it is. Mostly drifting in an out of medicated sleeps. No major problems that day. Had first food in 4 days, some yummy vegetable broth, apple juice and jello. First night with no major issues. Horrid sleep at night.
Sunday Sept 26
Fourth day. Barrage of visitors, as many as 5 at a time. Watched football game on/off. Had med pump reduced. Too strong. That night, began severe farting attacks, very pained. Nasal tube gagged me all night, everytime I swallowed. Had mental meltdown, and cried with nurse. Longest, darkest night of my life.
Monday Sept 27
Day 5. Met with my main dr, very emotional. Said I could plan to go home next day. That revived my dark heart. So I worked with PT dept, and sat up, sat in chair, took first walk. Also, good sign, had 5 bowel movements that day, so knew I had ticket out of place. Did all I was asked, and more. Better mood, night still long and terrible, so much side effects from the meds. They had 6 meds going in me same time. They removed nasal tube, horrible experience of gagging putrid material, but free of it at last.
Tuesday Sept 28
Day 6. Long day. Still having BM’s fine. Long session with PT. Long session with Stoma Nurse and my wife. She changed my device and bag perfect on first try, marrying a nurse has plusses. Lots of paperwork and waiting. Finally time to leave, wife gets car, I go down in wheel chair to 75 degrees and sunshine. Felt wonderful. Uneventful drive home. So great to be home, eldest son was waiting, had doors opened and helped the old man up the two steps into house. Best part, was laying down with wife, side by side on bed, and going to sleep together.
There, that’s the short version of this event.
(We had a 5 day outage of our Charter Internet Service this week, hope its fixed now)
David in SC