Tuesday, February 2, 2010

chowing down!

Well not "chowing down" but Dan is eating at this very moment. Please pray that his drainage does NOT increase due to this eating activity. Praise that the drainage did not increase when he drank his 700cc+ CT contrast drink and the CT today looked good too. Ashley will be arriving at the airport in about an hour so the two lovebirds will be together and that will be GREAT medicine! We are hoping that if all goes well, Dan will be home FRIDAY! So please pray for a successful food challenge and discharge Friday. Know that you are so appreciated as you travel this journey with us! Keep praying.

Dan's last 2 blogs:

tuesday, february 2, 2010

He sets the prisoners free
I do feel a little bit like I'm in prison. The doctor even used the same metaphor this morning. However, he seemed to indicate that I'll be released soon. Read on for some good news.

I'm having a CT today. I had to drink the nasty contrast stuff again. The first time was torture, the second time was easy, this one was also hard. But I got enough to get me down to the CT, for which I am waiting now by blogging these words.
My drains went down again! This time to 40 (and just think: I used to be in the 200's!). There are a few factors involved, such as the CT results (is there excess fluid in my body where it's not supposed to be?) and the drain output (will it go up now that I have downed so much liquid?), but so far... it's looking like I'm eating tomorrow. Doc had said before that 30-40 was a good place to try food, while the other more experienced doc had said he wanted the drains dry first. So I guess we're going with the earlier plan. Should the drains maintain their low output (which would be SO excellent), I can go home with no TPN (which is SO excellent). Also, the team will pull back on the drains about an inch (did I mention this last time? I feel like I did), which could help even more with the drains. Maybe they'll do that anyway. On the other hand, if the drain output goes up, I'll go back on TPN for a little while.
But I'll be able to go home.
Basically, unless there is a new complication that is severely unstable, there won't be any deviation from the plan, and I can go home! Before the Super Bowl! I am excited.
Ashley comes back tonight. I'll need to take a nap later so I can be more than semi-awake when she arrives. Her teachers are being really nice to her and letting her use my eventual home-health care as part of a hodge-podge clinical. It sounds like things are really looking up.

Pray for:
NO DRAIN INCREASE!
No excess fluid on the CT
Going home on time
No drain increase :)
Safe plane trips for Ash

monday, february 1, 2010

February-- seriously?
February has come upon us already. I only had a week of 2010 outside of the hospital, so it feels like I not only had my liver resected, but also my January.
Still not getting great sleep in the hospital. I was proud of myself for being able to get myself in bed with everything in reach without any assistance. Usually, I climb into bed, and Ashley sets everything up (making sure things are plugged in and that I have necessary items on my tray). Without my wonderful helper, I still managed to do it. But that doesn't mean I don't miss her.
Drains are back down to a low rate (the drain increase from yesterday turned out to be an anomaly). Tomorrow, I'm having a CT to make sure there's no fluid floating freely where it ought not. Some time after that, the doctors want to pull back on my drains (pull them out an inch or two and monitor the drain situation). Sometimes, the drains can suck more than catch leaks when they're in deep, so pulling them out a little might actually help the pancreas to heal a little better.

After being in here so long, I have made getting home my top priority instead of eating. The upcoming food trial the doctor had mentioned excited me before, because eating is just fantastic. But-- I've been here too long. I'd rather go home with TPN and wait until the pancreas is healed nicely than fail a food trial and add a couple days to my stay. After so many extensions of my stay, I am determined to be out by the newest estimation: the end of this week. I do NOT want to watch the Super Bowl from the hospital. Imagine: close game, 4th quarter, and someone walks in to take vitals. No. No. A thousand times, no.

My mom's here today; we walked outside again to the fountains. I have found that using my cane as well as the IV pole (well, I could even do without the pole) works very nicely to keep me from wobbling back and forth when I walk. I miss my wife. I've talked to her a few times today, which is nice, but-- well, you married people know what I'm talking about. It's not the same.

Pray for the usuals:
drain stoppage
rest
wisdom for the doctors
Ash and I as we're separated for a few days
FREEDOM

And here is the psalm that has one of Dan's favorite verses, verse 14. If only I could achieve verse 14 in my life,I would be the happiest person!

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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