Update:dear all,we are home

Fight for my love · September 2009

Hi dear all,finally we made home this afternoon.I am sorry that I couldn't update you guys earlier because I was too busy with walking back and forth between home and hospital everyday,I thought it would be a short walk,but it turned out to be a 50 mins walk for a single trip.

The surgery took much longer than what I thought,8 hours surgery made me...,lots of emotional stuff,not easy to describe.Now my husband has a permanent colostomy,he is not very happy with it,but we have to accept and move forward.I guess this is something we have to pay for being cancer free.

The first night was hardest,lots of pain and discomforts.The nurses were very nice,they took care of my husband and I gave high credit to them that they did a great job.Just in the middle of the night,my husband's face swelled up,it was horrible,finally in the morning his face went back to normal,but feet and hands were puffy.The nurses said that was normal.

The next following several days,the pain was under control.By each passing day,I can see my husband was getting better and the catheters were taking away from his body and they also switched him from liquid to solid food,and his stoma started to work.Anyway each day he made some progress,finally today we made it back home.

Surgery is not fun,we would like to leave this pain behind and move forward.My husband needs time to get used to the bag,he is not very happy with it.I know he is both physically and mentally overwhelmed,if he wants to yell,I will let him yell at me.

I really appreciate all of wonderful people on this board,I know you guys have lots of concerns for us.Thank you very much for all of your prayers and good thoughts.Thank you very much for asking how things were going.Without you guys,I couldn't make it.I also appreciate the medical team,the operating room nurses and the surgeon were so kind,before my husband was wheeled in the operation room,they told me that they would take good care of him.The first night I was able to stay over night in the hospital with my husband because nobody shared the room.The nurse was so warm and kind,she gave me a pillow and a blanket and also asked me if I need tea or coffee.While I was waiting in the waiting room,a lady asked me if she could have my husband's name so she can put him on her prayers.I was very touched because in a country that I barely know,nobody treated me like a stranger,everybody treats me so nicely.I have so many people pulling me out,what else can I still ask for? Thank you.I love you guys.

Annabelle41415 · September 2009

Glad You're Home
So glad that you are home. That was a very long surgery and I'm glad that you and your husband were treated so wonderfully. Your husband is going to have wonderful caregiver in you. It was nice that you were able to spend the night with your husband, I know that made a difference for me the first night too. He will be in pain but make sure he walks. This will help him heal faster and it is good to get the bowels working too.

I wrote you something on your other post about the ostomy. This will be a big adjustment to both of you, but it will eventually just be a new "normal." I'm sure he will be having a nurse come to the house for several weeks to help you with the ostomy and incision questions and care.

Glad that are home and hope he has a speedy recovery.

Kim

Fight for my love · September 2009

Annabelle41415 said:
Glad You're Home
So glad that you are home. That was a very long surgery and I'm glad that you and your husband were treated so wonderfully. Your husband is going to have wonderful caregiver in you. It was nice that you were able to spend the night with your husband, I know that made a difference for me the first night too. He will be in pain but make sure he walks. This will help him heal faster and it is good to get the bowels working too.

I wrote you something on your other post about the ostomy. This will be a big adjustment to both of you, but it will eventually just be a new "normal." I'm sure he will be having a nurse come to the house for several weeks to help you with the ostomy and incision questions and care.

Glad that are home and hope he has a speedy recovery.

Kim

Thank you,Kim.I have read
Thank you,Kim.I have read the other post you wrote to me.We will have a nurse to come tomorrow for more training.Thank you very much for your posts to me.

tootsie1 · September 2009

I'm glad
I'm glad y'all are home, and that everything has gone so well. Sounds like you had a very caring medical team taking care of your husband. That's so important.

I hope he'll soon get used to the bag and feel better about that situation.

*hugs*
Gail

mom_2_3 · September 2009

So glad
I am so glad that you are home with your sweetheart and are so supportive in your care and love for him. How lucky he is to have you! I have no wise words to share with you but I have you in my thoughts and send positive feelings your way for a quick recovery for your husband.

Amy

kristasplace · September 2009

Hey girl!
Glad you're back home! I've been wondering about you two, but i knew you were dealing with after-surgery stuff. So happy to hear from you!

The adjustment with the bag is definitely going to be hard. I hated my ileostomy for so long, but after a while, it just seemed to be a normal thing most of the time. When i got it reversed, that's when the real hell began!! Blockages, stricture, pain, pain, PAIN!! I wished i had kept the darned thing!!

Tell your husband he doesn't need to yell at you. He can come on here and vent at all of us! We can handle it, in fact, we'd LOVE it! You're going to need some TLC for yourself, too. From what i've experienced seeing the pain on my loved ones faces during all of this, this road is much harder on the caretakers.

Hope you're both doing well!

Hugs,
Krista

nudgie · September 2009

It was nice
to read that all went well and that hubby is home and has begun the healing process. I can understand his concern and emotions with the ostomy, but it is not that difficult to deal with or care for, but we are here for support and questions.

Sundanceh · September 2009

Best Wishes and Get Well Soon!
Good Mornin'

I am so happy to read that you are back home and out of the hospital so quickly

Both of you sure went through so much that day - I know the personal anxiety of that surgery and I know the pain that hubby felt too. And it was very hard on you personally to have to deal and wait through all of that.

I'm glad you had a good medical team and good nurses too - that's a big plus!

Both of you will be running through a gamut of emotions over the next several days, so if you feel emotional, just let it go - better than bottling it up - go be by yourself if you need to even. Hubby knows you will be strong for both of you...and I'm sure he will try and be strong for you.

He's probably going to be angry for awhile about his colostomy - that's more than understandable - that's the first thing I checked for the very second I woke up in recovery to see what happened. I was spared, but it was close. So, I understand how anxious and upset he is right now. He's been changed physically and has alot of concerns there right now.

Hopefully, he won't yell at you...if he gets upset, just realize it is from the pain and the ostomy right now...it's not YOU.

Your lives have started out with probably the biggest challenge of your lives - the good news is that he is alive and you are both going to be ok.

I know you will be busy adjusting to the new normal, so stay in touch with me and let me know how it's going.

Your friend
-Craig

Fight for my love · September 2009

Hi dear all,lots of thanks
Hi dear all,lots of thanks to all of you for the posts.I am dealing with the surgery aftercare at home,pretty busy.My hubby felt pretty down yesterday,but today it seems a little better.The incision is 11 Cm,pretty big,takes time to heal.Thank you.

Update:dear all,we are home

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