Recovery At Home - Day 15

Jim was up twice during the night and pain meds were given close to 4 a.m. At 7:30, he called the dentist re: jaw pain that started yesterday (see Day 14 post). The earliest he could get in is 2:40 this afternoon. Pray there is nothing major going on. I have no one to cover for me at The Gazette, so will just have to make do. Dr. McGrane, our dentist, called about 10:30 a.m. Appointment was rescheduled to noon.

My devotions this morning led me to Psalm 27:7-8 -

"Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When you said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to you, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.' Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation." 

and Colossians 3:12-15a, 17 -

"...put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another ... above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts... and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

and I wrote:

"Seek My face,"
the Lord said
and we,
remiss in previous days
return
our gaze
upon Him
asking for guidance,
assistance
in the day ahead
thanking and
praising Him
for the day passed

He does not hide
from us
nor are we hidden
from Him
but our awareness
of Him
is sometimes absent
in the circumstances
of the day upon us

He waits
for us
to come
into His Presence
He is patient with us.
We, in our waiting,
are impatient
and often fail
to see all He has
prepared for us
each and together
He is steadfast
always
continually
showing us the way
through His love
to His peace.

(c) CMOL

Dental visit showed Jim has internal dying of a tooth (molar) and it needs to be pulled. The dentist will call the thoracic nurse coordinator at UIHC to further discuss. ... well, Jim has to visit the oral surgeon to have it pulled. Also, although medical people at UIHC instructed him not to brush his teeth, his dentist indicated otherwise - he said Jim could dry brush (without water) and to floss. Bacteria still gets in even if he's not eating or drinking.

The feeding pump is causing problems. We were all set to take travel pack, when a red light came on and pump said call tech. We called when we got back from the dentist at 12:30 p.m. No one can come out until between 2 and 3. Left message with UIHC thoracic nurse Joan requesting call back. Her return call calmed our concerns a bit. Said the extra tubing is more a convenience for us than anything else, and if necessary Jim can receive nutrition and meds direct to the tube that is attached to his stomach. She also said some patients have gone 3 to 4 hours without the feeding tube, so it is okay if Jim needs to do that too, but she wouldn't suggest it on a regular basis.

Bradley from UnityPoint Home Medical came shortly after 2 this afternoon. He didn't have to replace the pump. He gave us instructions that we didn't have before - we need to prime it every time we change bags, meaning every 24 hours.  The tubing to the bags were at fault and so the bags needed to be changed out. Once that was done, it appears, once again, everything is well.

Jim got his exercise today going up and down the basement steps - he washed a load of clothes. After I finished work, we went to CVS Pharmacy to pick up his meds and then to Fareway to buy food for me to eat. It was nice doing that together - he had some more exercise walking the grocery aisles and with his assistance, I found things to buy that weren't time consuming to make.

It has been a very busy day between doing Gazette work and providing cares for Jim.  

Recovery At Home - Day 14

Not an eventful day so far. Jim woke at 1:30 and again at 2:30 to self-cath, but no pain until nearly 5:30 a.m., when I gave him pain meds. He took a shower. The home health nurse arrived at 11 a.m., visited, checked vitals, changed dressing for pigtail drain, drew blood, then left after 11:30 a.m. Her  name is Cassie .... nothing like the Cassie I know.

I called Joan, the thoracic nurse coordinator at UIHC early this morning. She will return the call sometime today to advise us of his appointment time on Thursday when the pigtail drain is to be removed.  Joan called around 4 and talked to Jim - I was in the middle of busy-busy Gazette work. Our appointment is at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Jim's left jaw has been hurting most of the day (and also hurts when he talks), although the pain is not so obvious with pain meds. He told his home health nurse, but she didn't think it was a big deal. I suggested he call the dentist ... needless to say, that suggestion went nowhere. Tonight he asked me to call the UIHC on-call thoracic fellow, who happened to be one of his doctors - Jason Chang, a nice young man. Jason didn't really have any ideas. He didn't know if it was in anyway connected with the surgery. He said he would pass on the info to Joan  and have her call Jim in the morning to see how he was doing.

Then I proceded to flush and give him his meds and of course, the pain meds refused to go through the tube. And we couldn't find the bag with extra syringes and declogging supplies in it that came with all the stuff from UnityPoint Home Medical. So, I put out a SOS on Facebook and we prayed, asking for the Lord's intervention. He came to our rescue. We realized, again, we had stepped away, momentarily, from our focus on Him. We can't do it alone. 

Recovery At Home - Day 13

Memorial Day.

Jim slept 4 hours before waking to self-cath and an hour later at nearly 4, wanted pain medication. Soon after The Gazette was delivered at 4:15, we fell back asleep. Jim got up at 7 and I got up at 7:44 a.m. Probably the first time since May 12 that I slept in past 7.

Today's devotional Scriptures:
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  (Isaiah 41:10)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil."  (Proverbs 3: 5-7)

Hiding
you know I AM
with you
but often I AM
forgotten
You go about
your day
You plan and do
but I AM
not a part
of what you plan
nor what you do

I desire to be

Although I live
within your heart
and have so much
to share with you
and teach you
I AM but a silent partner
waiting
for you to recognize
to acknowledge
My Presence

Together
we can do so much
but you suffer
alone
from one problem
to another
not considering
how much lighter the load
if you would only
look unto Me

I AM
everything
you need
I empower you
fullfillment
satisfaction
joy
peace
yours
in the midst
of every trial.
(c) CMOL

Today has been a peaceful day. We haven't visited disagreement land too much and Jim hasn't had any mishaps either. We took 2 walks this afternoon. It seems like a vacation day to me - the first since taking paid time off from work and the last as well, since I plan to return to work (at home) tomorrow.  

Recovery At Home - Day 12

Jim didn't sleep too well - he woke up at 1:30 and had to use the catheter. Then he was up again at 2:30 and woke me, asking for pain meds. We both got up for the day at 6:30 and he received another dose of pain meds at 7 a.m.

I wonder if the rainy weather has anything to do with the increased pain - maybe his arthritis is adding to his misery.

Today we are going to the 10:45 service at Immanuel. We'll use the travel pack for the feeding tube supplies and pump and also take a dose of pain meds with us in the event it is needed.

Had to make a call to UIHC on-call to talk to a thoracic doctor. Although there were no bubbles in the heimlich tube (whoopie cushion), Jim said the tube was dripping a little bit. Fortunately and thankfully, it didn't require a visit to Iowa City. The doctor said to just tape some gauze lightly over the bottom of the tube and change as needed. So we did that, and also changed the dressing on his pigtail drain.

Jim is dressed and resting before we move the feeding tube stuff to the travel pack. Hope to leave for church by 10 a.m.

We just got home and unloaded ... it's 12:33 p.m. It was a great worship service, albeit a tiring one for him. Kyle Dwyer was ordained a deacon and Jim participated in the laying on of hands.

He had a slight mishap when the Cooks came by for a visit at 1:30. Jim was in a deep sleep and when the doorbell rang, it startled him and he just moved to get up, without realizing he was attached to things. Hence, the IV pole fell over. Another fortunate, thankful moment that the feeding tube did not come out.

While the Cooks were here, we all took a short walk up the street, about a block round-trip.

Jim is back to using the catheter today. Don't know why. As soon as he's done, will get pain meds. He is also needing pain medication closer to every 4 hours now. Yesterday, he took them 14 hours apart. I'm wondering if resting in the recliner or bed more than taking walks made it so he didn't feel pain as much. It is exasperating, but I can only tell him so much that he needs to get up and move. Being tired is not a reason to not move around. The doctors and nurses at UIHC told him he needed to walk 3 to 4 times a day. Yesterday, he walked once.

Recovery At Home - Day 11

Jim has not had to use the catheter twice now, since early this morning. That's a good sign. We got up at 7 a.m. and he took a shower, which took a lot out of him. The home health nurse was to be here at 8:30, but she hasn't shown up yet. Just arrived - 8:45. She will change the dressing on the pigtail drain and then we have some questions re: flushing water through on the feeding tube. It doesn't appear it is doing it automatically.

Today's devotional verses and the poem I wrote follows:

"...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3)

"Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure." (Isaiah 33:6)

Hidden Treasures
to be found
in His word
through His followers
other Christians
friends and acquaintances
sharing His love
encouragement
understanding
wisdom
knowledge
with you and me

Hidden
in places
we often do not consider
revealed
to us
in His Perfect time

His timing
is always perfect
reminding us
we can have
every plan
but for it to come to fruition,
for our plans to be God's purpose
fulfilled
we must let go
relinguish our control
and let God
have His way

It is in His way
we truly see the way
which becomes our way

We are One
He and I
You and Him
(c) CMOL

Well, Jim had a bowel movement early afternoon so we don't need any Milk of Magnesium. The water is flushing through on the feeding tube pump as well. We actually heard late this afternoon.

Now if we could just catch up on needed sleep and not end up in the land of grumpies.

Recovery At Home - Day 10

Jimmy was so glad to get home last night, sitting in his own recliner and being in his own bed. He slept much better and the pain meds given at 10:15 last night lasted until 9 this morning.

The Home Health nurse came at 8:45 a.m. to draw blood and do vitals.

It is a process to crush necessary meds and make sure they are dissolved in water and then adding the correct amount of the liquid meds. I have to make a chart so we'll know when to take what and to have an accurate reading of when he takes pain meds. Every 12 to 14 hours we change out the bags that hold the nutrition he receives via a J-Tube. That too is a process that will only get better as we do it. Between the meds and the nutrition, we do it in tandem - Jim operates the on/off valve and I do the rest.  It works ... most of the time. Sometimes we forget things.

It is now 10:20 a.m. and he is shaving and getting cleaned up for the day. He is looking forward to seeing his grandson, Austin.

We've had visits from Rocky, Christina and Austin and two neighbors, Doran, next door, and Bonnie, across the street.

We drove down to CVS Pharmacy, where Jim got some walking in and bought necessary supplies for changing the dressing on his pigtail drain and for using the catheter.

We attempted a 2-hour nap, probably got almost 1 1/2 hours, in between phone calls from 3 different people, two of which were useful - his sister and the home health nurse, and one not so much. The strain of the past 9 days and little sleep got the best of us.

For the second day in a row, Jim has complained of dizziness after taking his evening meds. We called the on-call thoracic Fellow at UIHC. He thought it could be because Jim hasn't had a bowel movement since the second day he was on the feeding tube and suggested he add Milk of Magnesium to the mix. He also suggested that Jim not get up so fast after taking it. So that's what we'll try on Saturday.

The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on the Lord no matter what is going on around you.

Accept what you are faced with
and seek God's way
to guide you
through the dark corridors

Do not withdraw your focus
from the Lord God Almighty
and travel down the back streets
and alleys that bring
despair
discouragement
discontent

He will take you places
beyond your wildest dreams
and imagination
He walks with you
runs beside you
covers you
encircles you
embraces you

Wherever you are
thank Hm
for who He is
what He has done,
what He will do
where He has gone
when and how He shows you

Rejoice in His great love
for you
all because of His precious Son,
Jesus
Expect Him to be your guide
to show you what you are capable of
and what He has enabled you to do
Look to Him in every situation
and wait.

It is in His time we find
what He has for us
and it is in waiting
and being acutely aware
of His Presence
that our fears
diminish
and we are blessed
with His loving Peace.
(c) CMOL

Recovery - Day 9

Jim had a chest x-ray this morning. One of his doctors said maybe the pigtail drain could come out later.

Our bunny, Bandy, is up to no good. Looks for any good wood to sink his teeth into. He misses his daddy. He wants him home. The sentiments of many.

I remember the Scripture from yesterday - "But O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset; Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is my God!" (Psalm 42:11 TLB)

and from today - "Therefore I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me." (Micah 7:7 NKJV)

and I write.

Abundant life
Abundant living
To have all
that He offers
we must rely solely
on Him

Our thoughts
either bring us closer to His
or take us further away
down paths of selfishness

I will look to the Lord
I will wait
He will hear me
He will do
the Right Thing
at the Right Time
Not too soon
Never too late

Keep looking
Keep waiting
Keep the lines of communication
coming and going
Keep the door open
to Him
who gives us
Abundant Living.

Even in the midst of suffering
He is our safety net.
Our all in all

Do not enter the door
that leads nowhere
the door of stagnant living

Focus on the Lord
and He will guide you
along the Best Path always.
(c) CMOL

Jim had blood work this morning. Also chest x-ray of front and side view of chest at 5 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

A tube with a "whoopie cushion" in it is attached to the pigtail drain that will alert Jim if he is leaking air. Blood will be drawn every day for now because of the coumadin.

The scuttlebutt is that Jim is going home today. We have heard it from the social worker and his nurse, Sonya. At 2:15 p.m. one of his doctors, Jason Chang, came in and said it is true. He heard it from Dr. Parekh -- Jim is going home today.  Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

The pigtail drain remains in and is to be removed (as well as the whoopie cushion gizmo) next Thursday, May 28. We have to call Dr. Parekh's office on Tuesday and set up a time.

We left UIHC at 6:33 p.m. and got home at 7:15 p.m. Kayla, a visiting nurse from UnityPoint, came at 7:30 and left shortly before 9 p.m. He has enough nutritional drink to last 12 hours or slightly longer, so between 8 and 9 a.m. Friday, I'll be changing out the old with a new supply of Osmolite 1.2.  By 10:15 p.m. I had crushed all his night pills (3 total), mixed them with his liquid meds, and between Jim and I, we managed to do all the required steps to get them into his feeding tube heading to his tummy.

It is now 11 p.m. - he's in bed and I'm updating this blog.

So, that's all for tonight folks.

FACEBOOK COMMENTS

• Marla J. Owens Praise the Lord!

  Like · Reply · May 21 at 4:13pm
• 

  Paulette Titus Praise God!!!!

  Like · Reply · May 21 at 4:52pm
• 

  Marcia Elliott Praise God!

  Like · Reply · May 21 at 5:16pm
• 

  Barbara Scanlan Feeney Praise and Glory to God!

  Like · Reply · May 21 at 5:46pm
• 

  Paul D. Plavnick So glad to read this update. ><>+<><

  Like · Reply · May 21 at 6:38pm
• 

  Carolyn Larson Raymond So happy for you both.

  Like · Reply · May 21 at 8:23pm
• 

  Jan Baxa Hip hip hooray!!!!

  Like · Reply · May 21 at 11:41pm
• 

  Patricia Smith glory hallelulia!

  Like · Reply · May 22 at 6:29pm

Recovery - Day 8

It still looks like the plan is for Jim to be released today, however, we do not have a definite yes. We have a NO. Not Today. Not Yet. Jim called at 11:17 this morning as I was enroute to Iowa City to tell me the sobering news.

A front and chest x-ray was done and apparently some fluid was found - my guess at the site where the chest tube had been. They  had it clamped yesterday and then removed it at 2:30 p.m. The doctors are talking about putting a drain in.

His heart is still in rhythm. Yeah!

He will also have an echocardiogram this morning.

A verse my friend Lorraine sent me ... what a great verse, I don't remember seeing this before. I think it is because of the translation/version. In the New King James Version it reads different. I like how it reads here.

Psalm 42:11 (TLB): "But, O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!" 

Our hope for Jim to be released today remains in God's control. No matter how much we would like him home, God knows he needs to stay in the hospital for now.

The chest x-ray shows bubbles in his lungs, so a pigtail drain will be put in where the chest tube had been. So once the doctor is out of big-time surgery, he will do little-time surgery on Jim in his bed in his room. I think I will be absent during that period.

As for his heart, although for the most part it is staying in rhythm, it will at times go out and in and out again. The doctors are concerned of clotting elsewhere in the body or of stroke. So they are considering some type of blood thinner - they have two thoughts .. coumadin or lovenox injection which Jim could give himself.

We don't yet know the results of the echocardiogram.

He did get to take a shower today. First time in over a week. So if you consider visiting, he's clean.

The bedside surgery took place at 2 p.m. The drain was not put in the same place where the chest tube (his right side) had been, but on the front, closer to ride side of neck. At 6:30 p.m. he was given heparin and at bedtime will get the blood thinner coumadin. The doctors say surgery patients get coumadin vs other types of blood thinners. They also seem to think use of the blood thinner is not permanent - that as Jim heals, at some point he will be taken off of it. I pray that is so.

The doctor (Jason Chang, a Fellow with Dr. Parekh) who did the bedside surgery, said they want to see how the drain and the coumadin do for a couple days, so Friday would be the earliest that he might go home.

When Jim told him our plans for going to Northeast Missouri (LaGrange/Hannibal area) over Memorial Day, he suggested we not stray too far from the metro area.  So we will be staying local, whether in our home (which would be first choice) or the hospital.

We've started watching movies in the afternoon/evening. Today it was "The Jersey Boys."

I'm sure I'm doing my part in keeping the service stations in business. Three times this week I've filled the tank.

If you're hard up for something to do, come see us wherever we are. You are most welcome.

Recovery - Day 7

Today it has been a week since Jim's surgery. Today, already before 7 a.m., he has had blood work, an EKG, x-ray, bladder scanned and catheterized. He doubts today will be the day to go home, but says things could change. His heart, which stayed in rhythm for 24 hours, went back into Afib. The doctors are concerned about this and are trying to figure out why. The chest tube remains too wet, etc., etc.

I actually arrived in time to see his doctors. Dr. Parekh said they may replace the chest tube with a smaller one, something called a pigtail (I call pigtails something else and it has nothing to do with tubes). His heart is back in rhythm without being on heart medicine. One of the heart doctors came in and visited with us. They are monitoring his heart today. Jim had another chest x-ray at noon. We haven't heard the results of that yet.  One IV was taken out.

He is more tired today. His roommate had a rough night, which made for little sleep.

Dr. Parekh said it is a definite maybe re: going home on Wednesday. I see that as more positive than the tentative maybe since Sunday.

Jim and I talked about letting God direct our steps. We have all these plans, and I have come to realize in the last few days that neither one of us has been very good at letting God guide our steps. We've been doing the planning and the directing, and along with that, we have succeeded in failing to be all He desires of us. We have a different plan today, one that is more His desire than ours.  I know and Jim knows, once we reminded ourselves, the more of our focus that is on the Lord, the more of His peace we will have.

Jim's chest tube was removed this afternoon. The chest x-ray looks great. Two doctors and a nurse have spoken of the likelihood of him going home tomorrow. This is the most promising it has been since Sunday. His heart is still in rhythm. Thank God and thank you!

Seek peace
pursue peace
Stay aware
of His Presence
go where He directs you
Be still  and listen
Do not follow the sound
of your own thoughts
Unless it is the Lord you hear
and respond to,
you are hearing only Noise ....
worldy noise
(c) CMOL

Recovery - Day 6

Jim called shortly after 7 this morning. He already had blood work drawn and another x-ray of his right side and back.

He said he woke at 3 a.m. with a full bladder, but couldn't release it on his own. Please pray he can accomplish this before going home. It is not a requirement to go home, but would definitely make things easier at this end if he didn't have to deal with a catheter.

Today's devotional led me to Isaiah 55:8-9, which reads: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." 

We are challenged continually to trust the Lord and search for His way throughout each day.

An email received from my friend Lorraine brought more Scripture from the prophet Isaiah (43:5) - "Do not be afraid, for I am with you!" 

Do not be afraid
Do not be anxious
Do not be disappointed
Do not be frustrated
Do not be distressed.
I AM with you!

He, the almight God
Is with me!
and with Jimmy!
to help us
to comfort us
to sanctify us
to save us
He is with us
as a kind, benignant Father
He is with us
in every place, every trouble, every conflict
He is with us
through our journey and for evermore
He is with us
through our sicknesses
He is with us
to hold communion
He is with us
to listen to our sighs
to number our tears
to secure us from all injury

Appearances may be very dark; the night may seem very long; and your pains, weakness, and fears may be many and great. Still, if the Lord is with you, you may sing,

 "Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty--yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

We are thankful the Lord has blessed us with so many friends and loved ones.

Jim called me around 10 and said he would not be going home today. Still waiting for the chest tube to be drier.

Because of many errands I had to run this morning, I didn't arrive at Jim's side until later.  Dr. Parekh (his surgeon) said the chest tube might come out tonight. A swallow study with barium will be done at 1 p.m. in X-ray. It will show how well the sutures are holding and if there is any leakage. Pray there is no leakage. 

The final pathology report indicates all is fine. There is NO CANCER. Praise God!

Later this afternoon, I learned results from Jim's swallow study were just fine -- the sutures are holding, meaning there is no leakage.

The challenges to seek the Lord's way throughout this day instead of our own way I'm sure brought disappointment to Him. I'm sure grateful He continues to love us and gives both of us each second and third and fourth chances and more to be His greatest desire for us.