Came Home for Hospital Today!
He came home with a trache, feeding tube, donor site skin graft (gross), rebuild wrist area with skin from donor site (thigh), and of course the incision from the neck dissection. What he did NOT bring home with him is CANCER. Clean margins and all looking well at this point from the cancer standpoint. Who knows how long it will stay that way - but we are being positive and trying to think it will be forever!
So the healing begins and we know there will be challenges. I have mastered the feeding tube, now need HIM to master it, but will give him a few days to get some strength. Home health is going to come out every couple of days for a couple of weeks to check on him, help with trache cleaning, etc.... there's a lot to deal with at this point. But we are hanging in there, and he will get better every day, I just know it.
Home health came out briefly this afternoon after trache equipment was delivered and they'll be back tomorrow. Then don't know how often they will come - probably every couple of days. I can manage the feeding tube, but really am anxious for this trache to come out.
Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts, we appreciate it.
Good health to all!
Comments
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Yay!
Hospital are such germy, noisy (expensive) places anyway!LOL I'm sure Bob will be more comfortable at home. And I'll continue to send positive thoughts and prayers your way, Kimmy. I can't imagine the amount of responsibility and stress on your shoulders right now. Please take care.
Penny0 -
So good to hear
As we have all discovered,nurturing is our gift to share. It sounds like you are going to be busy, but working towards your hubby's recovery and healing, and that is a good thing. I pray that your devotion is rewarded with peace, love and a new time to enjoy this miracle! You will be in my prayers that your are blessed with patience, assistance and little moments for yourself to re-energize. Take care, Kimmy
Lucy0 -
Still in My Prayers
You are still in my prayers. I'm glad to hear that things are going well. Fay0 -
Hooray!
Hello Kimmy and Bob
Welcome home and congratulations on NED!!!! Thank God for organ donors. Kimmy you will have a lot on your shoulders, but you are one strong woman...you can do it! God bless all of you! Keep in touch.
Tina0 -
Thank youTina Blondek said:Hooray!
Hello Kimmy and Bob
Welcome home and congratulations on NED!!!! Thank God for organ donors. Kimmy you will have a lot on your shoulders, but you are one strong woman...you can do it! God bless all of you! Keep in touch.
Tina
for the responses. He had his post op doc appt today and the report was good.
I can admit to you all here that this is difficult. There are 4 tube feedings per day, plus the normal nurturing and caregiving that comes along with taking care of a surgery patient. He really is being a very good patient, but we both have our moments of frustration.
At the doc appt today, doc said he thinks we need to give the trache one more week and then hopefully it can come out. Bob hates the thing, it makes him cough up phlem all the time. It's gross, frankly.
Home health nurse has been coming every day - cleaning trache site, checking vitals, etc. I could do all this myself but it just makes me feel better to have a trained eye on him instead of just me. We got doctor "orders" for another week, don't know if we'll keep her after that.
I am doing ok, some days I am more exhausted than others. Yesterday I thought I was going to pass out before I went to bed, today not as much. My concern is getting back to work. I am scheduled to be off next Mon, Tues, wed and then work from home Thurs and Fri. Then the next week I need to go back. Very worried, but I'm trying to make myself realize he will continue to improve and he will learn how to do the tube feedings. He HAS to.
I could ramble for days, but the good news is - he is doing well and we haven't killed each other yet!
0 -
thinking of youkimmygarland said:Thank you
for the responses. He had his post op doc appt today and the report was good.
I can admit to you all here that this is difficult. There are 4 tube feedings per day, plus the normal nurturing and caregiving that comes along with taking care of a surgery patient. He really is being a very good patient, but we both have our moments of frustration.
At the doc appt today, doc said he thinks we need to give the trache one more week and then hopefully it can come out. Bob hates the thing, it makes him cough up phlem all the time. It's gross, frankly.
Home health nurse has been coming every day - cleaning trache site, checking vitals, etc. I could do all this myself but it just makes me feel better to have a trained eye on him instead of just me. We got doctor "orders" for another week, don't know if we'll keep her after that.
I am doing ok, some days I am more exhausted than others. Yesterday I thought I was going to pass out before I went to bed, today not as much. My concern is getting back to work. I am scheduled to be off next Mon, Tues, wed and then work from home Thurs and Fri. Then the next week I need to go back. Very worried, but I'm trying to make myself realize he will continue to improve and he will learn how to do the tube feedings. He HAS to.
I could ramble for days, but the good news is - he is doing well and we haven't killed each other yet!
Kimmy, I know this is a hard road , I think you are doing a great job holding it together. Just take a minute for yourself to regroup as I say get out of my funk.
I worry all the time and am scared but find your post comforst me, if that makes since to you. I am scared I can not do all these things and I see you are doing them and it gives me hope that I can make it to one day at a time.
You have so much more on your plate to deal with . I would pat you on the back if I could . May not be something you want to hear but I think you are a role model. I think you still manage to have your humor!
Jennie0 -
Thank Youzinniemay said:thinking of you
Kimmy, I know this is a hard road , I think you are doing a great job holding it together. Just take a minute for yourself to regroup as I say get out of my funk.
I worry all the time and am scared but find your post comforst me, if that makes since to you. I am scared I can not do all these things and I see you are doing them and it gives me hope that I can make it to one day at a time.
You have so much more on your plate to deal with . I would pat you on the back if I could . May not be something you want to hear but I think you are a role model. I think you still manage to have your humor!
Jennie
I am just hanging in here day by day. Today has been ok. We had a feeding tube lesson, and I think Bob will be able to give himself at least one tube feeding a day while I am at work. I try and not get too overwhelmed.... I tell ya though, thank goodness I took my doc's advice and started taking the anti depressant, I don't think I'd be coping very well if I hadn't.
Brian (our son) took Bob out for a short drive this afternoon so he could get out of the house for a little while. He seemed to enjoy it. He is also sleeping better, which helps everything of course.
God, please let this nightmare be over soon.
Oh - and LITTLE DEBBIE - I LOVE her!!! Especially her peanut butter bars.... I may as well take them and paste them on my backside though, and just avoid the chewing, LOL! 0 -
Love itkimmygarland said:Thank You
I am just hanging in here day by day. Today has been ok. We had a feeding tube lesson, and I think Bob will be able to give himself at least one tube feeding a day while I am at work. I try and not get too overwhelmed.... I tell ya though, thank goodness I took my doc's advice and started taking the anti depressant, I don't think I'd be coping very well if I hadn't.
Brian (our son) took Bob out for a short drive this afternoon so he could get out of the house for a little while. He seemed to enjoy it. He is also sleeping better, which helps everything of course.
God, please let this nightmare be over soon.
Oh - and LITTLE DEBBIE - I LOVE her!!! Especially her peanut butter bars.... I may as well take them and paste them on my backside though, and just avoid the chewing, LOL!
Kimmy,
LOve your humor in this alful place we find our self. I know it is hard but even if just for a second , smile or laugh lets us know we are still feeling things.
I keep thinking wake up but it does not wrok either.
I looked in the mirror checking my Debbie cakes and saw some nutty buttys, So now think I am going for the Snowballs! Or Twinkies .
Oh I have anti depression meds and I think they take a little of the edge off but still have the moments of pure maddiness.0 -
Snowballszinniemay said:Love it
Kimmy,
LOve your humor in this alful place we find our self. I know it is hard but even if just for a second , smile or laugh lets us know we are still feeling things.
I keep thinking wake up but it does not wrok either.
I looked in the mirror checking my Debbie cakes and saw some nutty buttys, So now think I am going for the Snowballs! Or Twinkies .
Oh I have anti depression meds and I think they take a little of the edge off but still have the moments of pure maddiness.
Snowballs have always been my "comfort" food! And I'm partial to the pink ones!
Kimmy, hope you had a nice weekend. Remember, you have our best wishes and prayers that with every passing day, you will begin to feel "lighter" ( watch the little Debbies ), with more calmness and peace. You are doing awesome, an inspiration for me!
Lucy0 -
Snowballszinniemay said:Love it
Kimmy,
LOve your humor in this alful place we find our self. I know it is hard but even if just for a second , smile or laugh lets us know we are still feeling things.
I keep thinking wake up but it does not wrok either.
I looked in the mirror checking my Debbie cakes and saw some nutty buttys, So now think I am going for the Snowballs! Or Twinkies .
Oh I have anti depression meds and I think they take a little of the edge off but still have the moments of pure maddiness.
Thanks for reminding me, Jennie. Think I'll stop and pick some up tomorrow. It's been too long since I've had a snowball! Actually, you know how they come in a 2 pack? Well, I've been known to eat them both!
God bless,
Lucy0 -
Like the pink ones tooluz del lago said:Snowballs
Thanks for reminding me, Jennie. Think I'll stop and pick some up tomorrow. It's been too long since I've had a snowball! Actually, you know how they come in a 2 pack? Well, I've been known to eat them both!
God bless,
Lucy
Oh Yes Lucy ,
I know the Pink snowballs too. I would eat the inside and fold the out side up and eat it. I tell you if you were into the stock market , You could cash in on me. I have all these little cakes. I think my nevres are so bad I an lossing weight while eating all this junk food.
My friend and I would go to McDonalds and we would tell them we wanted Fries and Pies for our loucious thighs! And laugh She would call me Jennie Mae and I called her Cheryl Faye.
Sorry I just wanted you guys to have a little giggle. If only for a moment we can forget and get losted in laughter. I know we have so many down days and things get to us. That is when I think we has to remember we are in it together. As my daddy would say Ginny Mae (that is what family called me) "Ginny Mae your tounge starts waggin thirty minutes before your brain knows what is going on". I miss him dearly but also so glad he was my daddy.0 -
LOLzinniemay said:Like the pink ones too
Oh Yes Lucy ,
I know the Pink snowballs too. I would eat the inside and fold the out side up and eat it. I tell you if you were into the stock market , You could cash in on me. I have all these little cakes. I think my nevres are so bad I an lossing weight while eating all this junk food.
My friend and I would go to McDonalds and we would tell them we wanted Fries and Pies for our loucious thighs! And laugh She would call me Jennie Mae and I called her Cheryl Faye.
Sorry I just wanted you guys to have a little giggle. If only for a moment we can forget and get losted in laughter. I know we have so many down days and things get to us. That is when I think we has to remember we are in it together. As my daddy would say Ginny Mae (that is what family called me) "Ginny Mae your tounge starts waggin thirty minutes before your brain knows what is going on". I miss him dearly but also so glad he was my daddy.
Zinnie May, your post has me laughing. I have not had a Snowball in forever! "Fries and Pies for our Luscious Thighs".... OMG LMAO!!!
Going ok here. Bob seems to be getting a little better every day. His main problem right now is he can't sleep. Hasn't slept more than a couple of hours per night since coming home from the hospital. Doc called in sleep medicine, and we have had his sleep apnea machine adjusted and are hoping for a better night tonight.0 -
Laughingkimmygarland said:LOL
Zinnie May, your post has me laughing. I have not had a Snowball in forever! "Fries and Pies for our Luscious Thighs".... OMG LMAO!!!
Going ok here. Bob seems to be getting a little better every day. His main problem right now is he can't sleep. Hasn't slept more than a couple of hours per night since coming home from the hospital. Doc called in sleep medicine, and we have had his sleep apnea machine adjusted and are hoping for a better night tonight.
Kimmy,
I can not comfort you or hold your hand as a friend and say the things"like it will be ok" I can't Say the things we all want to hear it will all be fine.
So thru my jokes and silly thoughts is a heart half broke and half still trying to remember laughter is good for the soul.
I figured you would like the Loscious Thighs, That is true. We did it all the time. That friend has moved on to another town we rarely see each other . But the memories are still worth saving!
I am what they call rebel bred Yankee fed. Our my family will Tell me. I was born in the Great state of Arkansas when I was about 13 (maybe 14) We came to Michigan this time for me is was for good! I have stayed here, Slowly my family has moved back there. What is left of there. So I seal very good southern and not so good Northern.but when I try to write words very hard to spell Winder (window).
I am happy you laughted!
I hope Bob gets some sleep that can't be good for him or you!0 -
Laughter IS The Best Medicine...kimmygarland said:LOL
Zinnie May, your post has me laughing. I have not had a Snowball in forever! "Fries and Pies for our Luscious Thighs".... OMG LMAO!!!
Going ok here. Bob seems to be getting a little better every day. His main problem right now is he can't sleep. Hasn't slept more than a couple of hours per night since coming home from the hospital. Doc called in sleep medicine, and we have had his sleep apnea machine adjusted and are hoping for a better night tonight.
Kimmy, I admire your sense of humor. It does seem to be what is getting you through all of this madness. Your husband, Bob is a lucky one! We do what we can... my husband had a 10-12 inch surgery scar, drain tube and an open wound to pack... I was pretty wimpy when it came to the cleaning of these things. I was very grateful he could reach these things himself. I've never been exposed to this side of "nursing" even raising my daughter so it was shocking to see first hand. If it does ever happen again and he needs more help maybe I will be in a better place to be more useful (I hope).
Our husbands do heal after surgery, looking back it seems quickly enough. It's keeping their spirits up that is important. I think. The hardest part is facing work because eventually most of us we do have to go back while they are home still getting better. So we are try to focus about a part of our life that really isn't important anymore while the best part of our life is home and that's where our heart wants to be. It will be hard. Kind of like when the kids were small and we had to work... and they had to go to daycare, the guilt sets in.
My husband called me "Nurse Ratched" from the Cuckcoo's Nest, great movie. I can give orders just fine. We laugh about it all the time now that we can look back on it and talk about it.
I will think good thoughts about you and Bob. And by the way, my demons are M&M's with peanuts...
Deb
lovingwife, to Bob, stage 3c0 -
Thanks for the Laughs!kimmygarland said:LOL
Zinnie May, your post has me laughing. I have not had a Snowball in forever! "Fries and Pies for our Luscious Thighs".... OMG LMAO!!!
Going ok here. Bob seems to be getting a little better every day. His main problem right now is he can't sleep. Hasn't slept more than a couple of hours per night since coming home from the hospital. Doc called in sleep medicine, and we have had his sleep apnea machine adjusted and are hoping for a better night tonight.
Hello Kimmy and ZinnieMay
You girls are the best! I am so glad to hear that Bob is doing better each day. Hoping he has been able to sleep more. The comment about the Little Debbies peanut bars had me cracking up! Have you tried Little Debbies smores snacks??? We are all together here! These treats make us happy....happy is good...just don't look in a full length mirror too often!
May God bless you all. Keep up the great work. And please do go back to work Kimmy, it will do your mind good. Bob will be fine!
Tina in Va0 -
Never Again...Tina Blondek said:Thanks for the Laughs!
Hello Kimmy and ZinnieMay
You girls are the best! I am so glad to hear that Bob is doing better each day. Hoping he has been able to sleep more. The comment about the Little Debbies peanut bars had me cracking up! Have you tried Little Debbies smores snacks??? We are all together here! These treats make us happy....happy is good...just don't look in a full length mirror too often!
May God bless you all. Keep up the great work. And please do go back to work Kimmy, it will do your mind good. Bob will be fine!
Tina in Va
Never again will I be able to walk past the Little Debbie snack cakes in the grocery aisle without chuckling! I tell ya, the things this awful cancer brings to us is sometimes so funny.
Bob slept a little better last night. He says his mind is all a jumble and he thinks he is having some post traumatic stress disorder type situations. No ****! (Are we allowed to say that here?) Who wouldn't be with what he has been through the last 15 months?! We have an appt with his pcp this afternoon to go over all the meds that his surgeon gave him, that the pcp had him already on, etc.. and going to talk to him about the depression/PTSD issue also.
I just feel so sorry for him. Today is 2 weeks since surgery and he still feels like krap. He says physically he feels better but mentally he is struggling. Hopefully visit to PCP will help.
I am back to work tomorrow - work from home Thurs, Friday, Monday and Tues, then back to office a week from today. It'll be nerve wracking for sure, but it's time for me to go back. I think if I'm not here, he will be a little more independent, ya know what I mean? Some things he CAN do, but it's just easier for me to do them for him (easier and faster).
Still trying to take it one day at a time..... oh, and by the way, I HATE CANCER!!0 -
Hooray for going back to work? Boo-hiss for going back...kimmygarland said:Never Again...
Never again will I be able to walk past the Little Debbie snack cakes in the grocery aisle without chuckling! I tell ya, the things this awful cancer brings to us is sometimes so funny.
Bob slept a little better last night. He says his mind is all a jumble and he thinks he is having some post traumatic stress disorder type situations. No ****! (Are we allowed to say that here?) Who wouldn't be with what he has been through the last 15 months?! We have an appt with his pcp this afternoon to go over all the meds that his surgeon gave him, that the pcp had him already on, etc.. and going to talk to him about the depression/PTSD issue also.
I just feel so sorry for him. Today is 2 weeks since surgery and he still feels like krap. He says physically he feels better but mentally he is struggling. Hopefully visit to PCP will help.
I am back to work tomorrow - work from home Thurs, Friday, Monday and Tues, then back to office a week from today. It'll be nerve wracking for sure, but it's time for me to go back. I think if I'm not here, he will be a little more independent, ya know what I mean? Some things he CAN do, but it's just easier for me to do them for him (easier and faster).
Still trying to take it one day at a time..... oh, and by the way, I HATE CANCER!!
It's a mixed bag, isn't it? Jim didn't have surgery, just extensive treatments but I hate driving away in the morning watching him wave good-bye - the first few times I could barely see to drive for the tears in my eyes.
On the other hand, he has slowly but surely started to get back to normal, except for the awful fatigue he feels. We've worked out a new schedule (the new "normal" we all talk about) and are finding our new places in our homelife.
Be brave, Kimmy, and when you find yourself laughing at something someone says at work, be glad.
Breathe, breathe, breathe...
Oh, and I HATE CANCER, too!0 -
As I think of you allTina Blondek said:Thanks for the Laughs!
Hello Kimmy and ZinnieMay
You girls are the best! I am so glad to hear that Bob is doing better each day. Hoping he has been able to sleep more. The comment about the Little Debbies peanut bars had me cracking up! Have you tried Little Debbies smores snacks??? We are all together here! These treats make us happy....happy is good...just don't look in a full length mirror too often!
May God bless you all. Keep up the great work. And please do go back to work Kimmy, it will do your mind good. Bob will be fine!
Tina in Va
Tomorrow is Chemo day for us. Always a worry day isn't it. Or What will the Doctor say and so on>>>>>>>>>>> All day! We drive 130 miles one way!I know you guys have our backs!
But wanted you guys to know I have never met a Debbie cake I have not tried. But the other week while in my Debbie cake mood, I was looking (we always bought them cause they seam cheaper) Anyway While there Oh SuzieQ was looking at me and Zingers Now using my standard math I figured out Debbie aint so cheap! So this week it is SusieQ, me and the Zingers hanging out. So will not be doing Debbie cakes this week I have moved on to bigger boxes ..
Normaling I was say something about Debbie and boxes but I think you can just wonder what I was thinking!
Know that my heart is on the right place, I only want to let you have a smile or giggle not to be nasty or rude.
But I now know if I hear anyone giggling in the snack food section ! I will be wondering and may pop over and say Hey Ya'll.
Kimmy I know you will do find going back to work and Bob will do ok to. I will be thinking of you and your nutty butty! hahaha
Tina You got it, We met so many people in our lifes some we never get to know. So we should all figure out how to met someday. I will bring SusieQ, Kinmmy and her Nutty Buttys' you and your Snores. We will pig out live it is 1994 !
Love to all you Debbie cake eaters and even you haters!0
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