The afternoon was quiet...I think that we are still on target for going home tomorrow, Sunday.
We had at least 2 long walks. Things are quiet.
-Franz
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Day 4-Morning
Sorry, I didn't post last night-tired, I guess.
Nancy had a pretty rough time with the pain yesterday afternoon and evening. The transition from the epidural to the oral oxycodone was more difficult than we expected. Nancy was pretty much confined to her bed for the rest of the afternoon.
Dr. Billingsley came in the late afternoon and decided that he was going to add Toradol to help manage the pain.
We were able to get a short walk in before I left for the evening.
This morning Nancy looked great! Evidently the Toradol did the trick. She ate her breakfast and some of mine as well. She took a shower and is wearing her own garments rather than the hospital issue gowns. The shower took much of her energy; she was shaking like a leaf from weakness after getting dressed.
Dr. Billingsley came in this morning and said that she should be going home tomorrow if things go ok today.
-Franz
Nancy had a pretty rough time with the pain yesterday afternoon and evening. The transition from the epidural to the oral oxycodone was more difficult than we expected. Nancy was pretty much confined to her bed for the rest of the afternoon.
Dr. Billingsley came in the late afternoon and decided that he was going to add Toradol to help manage the pain.
We were able to get a short walk in before I left for the evening.
This morning Nancy looked great! Evidently the Toradol did the trick. She ate her breakfast and some of mine as well. She took a shower and is wearing her own garments rather than the hospital issue gowns. The shower took much of her energy; she was shaking like a leaf from weakness after getting dressed.
Dr. Billingsley came in this morning and said that she should be going home tomorrow if things go ok today.
-Franz
Friday, January 18, 2008
Day 3-AM
Nancy looked good this morning. The epidural will be removed today-Nancy has already been switched over to oral meds. As expected her pain has increased with the removal of the epidural. Dr. Billingsley came by. He’s really pleased with her progress. The path report is not back yet-he doesn’t expect any surprises. He tells her that she is ahead of schedule and that maybe she will be discharged on Sunday. He also warns her that she will be quite weak and tire easily for the next 3-4 weeks. At this point none of her doctors are recommending further treatment with chemotherapy. He is still going to discuss this with his colleagues though.
We took a walk which really exhausted her and we’re now settling in for today.
Love and Peace to all of you,
FranzThursday, January 17, 2008
Day 2 Evening
Nancy had a good lunch…I’ll spare you the details of substance. We had a good walk-she is still very weak, but she keeps pushing.
We had another walk this afternoon-she weakens quickly and sleeps a lot but all of that is to be expected.
Finally! We have a private room on unit 14A, room 14. Nice new room, comfy. Nancy’s nurse, Judy, seems warm and attentive. We’re waiting for dinner-chicken. I’m going to grab a bite and settle in and watch the Ducks play Washington with Nancy. All is well tonight.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
Day 2-Morning
Nancy looked good this morning. She is still in the ICU-Dr. Billingsley is working to get her a bed on one of the floors. Beds are really hard to come by here. Nancy has started eating solid food-some cooked cereal and scrambled eggs this morning.
We took a short walk down the hall. Nausea cuts the walks short. She read the Oregonian after her breakfast-this is a good sign, she’s doing some of her normal routine. We're now settling in for the rest of the day.
-Franz
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
End of Day 1-after surgery
I am now back in the motel room at the end of day 1 of recovery.
At noon Nancy walked down the hall about 50 ft round trip. She had some broth and juice for lunch and dozed along for the afternoon. Instead of using breathing machine she is doing yoga breathing-much more effective. At about 4:30 she walked down the hall again for a round trip of about 100-120 ft. Staff is real pleased about this. They also took her off the IV fluids. The docs made their evening rounds were pleased with her progress. There was talk of removing the epidural within the next couple of days. We were informed that she may appear jaundiced and that this was normal.
For dinner she had cream of mushroom soup, juice, milk and custard. She's doing well with her eating. The ICU nursed are pleased with her and her progress. Today's nurse said she "scored" by having Nancy as a patient. I'm hoping I was part of that.
Nancy had two visitors today, besides me, Dorothy and Leonard. She had a visit by Kathy Koepke, whom Nancy worked with at Sacred Heart some time ago-she is now working with the transplant program at OHSU. She also had a visit from Kate Mounts, a dear social worker friend that Nancy worked with in Eugene and who now lives in Portland. She enjoyed the visits although she had trouble keeping her eyes open at about halfway through the visit.
I'll blog at you tomorrow.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
At noon Nancy walked down the hall about 50 ft round trip. She had some broth and juice for lunch and dozed along for the afternoon. Instead of using breathing machine she is doing yoga breathing-much more effective. At about 4:30 she walked down the hall again for a round trip of about 100-120 ft. Staff is real pleased about this. They also took her off the IV fluids. The docs made their evening rounds were pleased with her progress. There was talk of removing the epidural within the next couple of days. We were informed that she may appear jaundiced and that this was normal.
For dinner she had cream of mushroom soup, juice, milk and custard. She's doing well with her eating. The ICU nursed are pleased with her and her progress. Today's nurse said she "scored" by having Nancy as a patient. I'm hoping I was part of that.
Nancy had two visitors today, besides me, Dorothy and Leonard. She had a visit by Kathy Koepke, whom Nancy worked with at Sacred Heart some time ago-she is now working with the transplant program at OHSU. She also had a visit from Kate Mounts, a dear social worker friend that Nancy worked with in Eugene and who now lives in Portland. She enjoyed the visits although she had trouble keeping her eyes open at about halfway through the visit.
I'll blog at you tomorrow.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
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