We've had an exciting week, which I doubt seriously that you want to hear about since it involves drainage from the chest tube hole. I've been in touch with Dr. Jones' nurse, and have taken Ray to see our local doctor twice since my last post, and several times to the coumadin clinic to get his blood thinner stabilized, and I think things are going pretty well despite the inconvenience of an unhealed hole in the side of Ray's chest. Anyway, we've been assured that this, too, shall pass.
We will be going over to Charlottesville Monday (3/1/10) afternoon to stay overnight for an early morning appointment for an XRay and Ray's follow-up visit with Dr. Jones, his surgeon at UVA. Will post to the blog the afternoon of 3/2/10 when we return home.
Thoughts and prayers are still very welcome.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
WONDERFUL NEWS!
We received word today that Ray's pathology report shows that his lymph nodes are clear. The only cancer was the spot in the lung, and that's now gone thanks to his surgery on Jan 28. He is now CANCER-FREE!
Friday, February 12, 2010
We're Still Home and Feeling Better
I was just talking to a friend who chastised me for not doing another post so she would know if we were OK. So here goes ...
We've had our trials, but we are OK. It has taken some work to make Ray realize that there are some things he shouldn't do (like lifting things over his head), and that a pain pill goes a long way in relieving what he calls pressure in his chest (I call it pain). So now, he takes one of the pain pills the docs sent home with him every three hours. He had such a bad night last night, he even took two this morning.
As for me, I've been working my you-know-what off, since Ray can't do any of the physical things he usually does, like getting the trash together, washing clothes, shoveling snow, etc.
Friends have been bringing us food that we can reheat, which is really wonderful, because Ray usually cooks for us, and this saves me having to take on still two more tasks (grocery shopping and cooking) in my caretaker role, which I appreciate more than I can say. Besides which, it's such good food.
We did have another day-and-a-half snow storm on Tuesday, and Wednesday about noon, it stopped. I looked out the window and there was Frank, our neighbor, snow-blowing our driveway before even taking care of his own. So I went out and shoveled the 6-8 inches high snow away from our door and from around our SUV, then cleaned off the SUV (no easy task), so we could get out if we had to. I've also taken a couple of turns trying to shovel the snow off our deck, but it's been melting down and is so heavy, which--of course--is why I would like to get it off the deck. But 73-year-old women have to be careful about that stuff, especially if they're taking care of a 73-year-old man who's recovering from surgery.
I had to take Ray to the coumadin clinic last Tuesday to get his coumadin levels checked and he's supposed to return next week for another check. (He was off coumadin for two weeks preceding a colonoscopy and his lung surgery, and was just put back on a couple of days before he was discharged from the hospital.) He's also supposed to go see our family doctor on Monday to have the stitches remove, then he has an appointment on March 2 for a follow-up visit with Dr. Jones in Charlottesville.
I won't be posting as much to this blog in the future, but you can contact us at Ray's blog address by clicking on his picture, then clicking on the Email link under the word "Contact" on the left of that page. I'll answer any emails we receive, so let us hear from you.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and notes and good food, and everything you've done for us. Much love, Kay
We've had our trials, but we are OK. It has taken some work to make Ray realize that there are some things he shouldn't do (like lifting things over his head), and that a pain pill goes a long way in relieving what he calls pressure in his chest (I call it pain). So now, he takes one of the pain pills the docs sent home with him every three hours. He had such a bad night last night, he even took two this morning.
As for me, I've been working my you-know-what off, since Ray can't do any of the physical things he usually does, like getting the trash together, washing clothes, shoveling snow, etc.
Friends have been bringing us food that we can reheat, which is really wonderful, because Ray usually cooks for us, and this saves me having to take on still two more tasks (grocery shopping and cooking) in my caretaker role, which I appreciate more than I can say. Besides which, it's such good food.
We did have another day-and-a-half snow storm on Tuesday, and Wednesday about noon, it stopped. I looked out the window and there was Frank, our neighbor, snow-blowing our driveway before even taking care of his own. So I went out and shoveled the 6-8 inches high snow away from our door and from around our SUV, then cleaned off the SUV (no easy task), so we could get out if we had to. I've also taken a couple of turns trying to shovel the snow off our deck, but it's been melting down and is so heavy, which--of course--is why I would like to get it off the deck. But 73-year-old women have to be careful about that stuff, especially if they're taking care of a 73-year-old man who's recovering from surgery.
I had to take Ray to the coumadin clinic last Tuesday to get his coumadin levels checked and he's supposed to return next week for another check. (He was off coumadin for two weeks preceding a colonoscopy and his lung surgery, and was just put back on a couple of days before he was discharged from the hospital.) He's also supposed to go see our family doctor on Monday to have the stitches remove, then he has an appointment on March 2 for a follow-up visit with Dr. Jones in Charlottesville.
I won't be posting as much to this blog in the future, but you can contact us at Ray's blog address by clicking on his picture, then clicking on the Email link under the word "Contact" on the left of that page. I'll answer any emails we receive, so let us hear from you.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and notes and good food, and everything you've done for us. Much love, Kay
Monday, February 8, 2010
We're Home! We're Home!
That's thanks to the efforts of our neighbors who dug out our driveway so we could get to our door! And that was no easy task!
The trip home was OK most of the way. VA 29 was clear; VA 3 was less clear, but OK.
And already, we've received a pot of soup for lunch, and will receive dinner from another neighbor this evening. I'm so tired, and so grateful to our friends and neighbors that I could easily cry. First, though, I think I'm going to take a nap.
More later.
The trip home was OK most of the way. VA 29 was clear; VA 3 was less clear, but OK.
And already, we've received a pot of soup for lunch, and will receive dinner from another neighbor this evening. I'm so tired, and so grateful to our friends and neighbors that I could easily cry. First, though, I think I'm going to take a nap.
More later.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
24 Hours Later
Well, here we are, almost 24 hours after getting released from the hospital, and we both feel so much better after a good night's sleep for probably the first time in 10 days!
We "ate in" last night, thanks to delivery service from a nearby local restaurant. The motel is at "The Corner", a favorite haunt for UVA students with several restaurants up the street. I didn't know cheeseburgers could taste so good! And this morning, we feasted on breakfast bars and clementines that I brought with me from home. Then after a morning nap, we went for a walk down to the lobby and outside for a few minutes, then back upstairs to our 7th floor room. Now Ray's resting up for the Super Bowl game.
But the highlight of the morning was the telephone call we just got that Frank--our next door neighbor--along with other of our neighbors has already dug us out!!! So, we'll give Rt 29 and Rt 3 one more day to get a little clearer and will be heading home tomorrow about midmorning. I'm so excited!!! And so grateful to our wonderful friends and neighbors! We'll have to have a "bash" in a few weeks when Ray is feeling stronger!
Whoopee!! Yah!! Way to go!!!
We "ate in" last night, thanks to delivery service from a nearby local restaurant. The motel is at "The Corner", a favorite haunt for UVA students with several restaurants up the street. I didn't know cheeseburgers could taste so good! And this morning, we feasted on breakfast bars and clementines that I brought with me from home. Then after a morning nap, we went for a walk down to the lobby and outside for a few minutes, then back upstairs to our 7th floor room. Now Ray's resting up for the Super Bowl game.
But the highlight of the morning was the telephone call we just got that Frank--our next door neighbor--along with other of our neighbors has already dug us out!!! So, we'll give Rt 29 and Rt 3 one more day to get a little clearer and will be heading home tomorrow about midmorning. I'm so excited!!! And so grateful to our wonderful friends and neighbors! We'll have to have a "bash" in a few weeks when Ray is feeling stronger!
Whoopee!! Yah!! Way to go!!!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Free at Last!!! Well, sort of ...
We're out of the hospital and trapped at the Red Roof Inn.
One of Dr. Jones' residents stopped by early this morning and told us that the most recent xray looked good, the air leak has sealed, and that Ray would be released this morning. So after a trip to the hospital pharmacy by me, and a bath and having the last intravenous port removed from his wrist, we made our way down to the Emergency Room Entrance where we waited for a taxi, which arrived within half-an-hour, and a very nice driver ferried us the three blocks on snow-covered streets and got us safely in the door of the motel. Once in our room on the 7th floor (PRAY that the electricity doesn't go out; I'm not sure I can make it down, much less up, 7 flights of stairs in the dark), Ray parked himself in the chair behind the little desk in our room and I scurried back downstairs to get him a subway sandwich at Jimmy John's, just next door through the Inn's lobby. It was really good, too, especially after almost 10 days of hospital food.
So, anyway, I guess we'll be here until our neighbor Frank calls us and tells us that our road and driveway are clear enough to welcome us home.
I don't even like being away from home this long on a vacation, so keep praying and send positive energy! Love, Kay
One of Dr. Jones' residents stopped by early this morning and told us that the most recent xray looked good, the air leak has sealed, and that Ray would be released this morning. So after a trip to the hospital pharmacy by me, and a bath and having the last intravenous port removed from his wrist, we made our way down to the Emergency Room Entrance where we waited for a taxi, which arrived within half-an-hour, and a very nice driver ferried us the three blocks on snow-covered streets and got us safely in the door of the motel. Once in our room on the 7th floor (PRAY that the electricity doesn't go out; I'm not sure I can make it down, much less up, 7 flights of stairs in the dark), Ray parked himself in the chair behind the little desk in our room and I scurried back downstairs to get him a subway sandwich at Jimmy John's, just next door through the Inn's lobby. It was really good, too, especially after almost 10 days of hospital food.
So, anyway, I guess we'll be here until our neighbor Frank calls us and tells us that our road and driveway are clear enough to welcome us home.
I don't even like being away from home this long on a vacation, so keep praying and send positive energy! Love, Kay
Friday, February 5, 2010
A Day Of Ups and Downs
When I arrived at Ray's room this morning at 6:05 AM, he was laying in bed surrounded by young doctors discussing his case. The lead resident indicated that he was still leaking air and that he would have to talk to Dr. Jones about the situation. Sometime later, Dr. Jones stopped by and said, yes, there was still a small air leak, but he thought it would be OK to remove the chest tube. So the resident doctor returned sometime later and removed the tube, and covered the resulting hole with gauze pads. I got the impression from the conversation that they were thinking about releasing him sometime today, and I was literally on the verge of panic because I knew that the hole in his chest was going to continue draining copiously and I didn't have any medical supplies at the motel or any way to get any since it was snowing and I wouldn't be able to leave Ray to get any.
Just before I had a heart attack, the resident doctor returned to say that they were keeping him, and would be around again shortly to take him down to xray so they could see how big the leak was. So we waited and the hole did indeed drain copiously, soiling his hospital gown, his bed and my nerves. After harrassing the staff twice to change the dressing on the hole, they finally decided to put a stitch in it, and that stopped the major drainage, although it potentially caused another problem, i.e., if the fluid in his chest could not drain, it would stay in his chest and potentially cause pressure on the lower lobe, exacerbating the air leak. (Can you imagine coping with this at a motel in the middle of a record snowstorm!!!!) When they took another xray, and everything looked the same.
And so the day has gone. They'll be back in the morning, but this time, I'll already be here when they come, instead of having to set the alarm at 5 or 5:30 and rush over here, hoping not to miss the doctoral gathering. I am so going to enjoy sleeping on this window seat tonight.
Ray has been antsy all day, wanting to go home even as the snow continued to get worse, because he felt we would be in worse shape by Monday or Tuesday, because the roads and our street and driveway wouldn't be clear if there was, indeed, over two feet of snow. But I said, I was more willing to take our chances on that than try to get home today with the uncertainty of his medical condition. After having to get the stitch, he was much more amenable to staying, and for the first time in several days, my stomach finally settled into place and I was actually able to eat supper without feeling sick.
Mr. See is back on 4 West, with color in his face, and enthusiasm in his voice and demeanor. Amazing what a new lung will do for you!
I'm sorry I can't send out email on the hospital's network in reply to those we've received, but we are grateful to hear from you and thank you for you thoughts and prayers and positive energy.
Just before I had a heart attack, the resident doctor returned to say that they were keeping him, and would be around again shortly to take him down to xray so they could see how big the leak was. So we waited and the hole did indeed drain copiously, soiling his hospital gown, his bed and my nerves. After harrassing the staff twice to change the dressing on the hole, they finally decided to put a stitch in it, and that stopped the major drainage, although it potentially caused another problem, i.e., if the fluid in his chest could not drain, it would stay in his chest and potentially cause pressure on the lower lobe, exacerbating the air leak. (Can you imagine coping with this at a motel in the middle of a record snowstorm!!!!) When they took another xray, and everything looked the same.
And so the day has gone. They'll be back in the morning, but this time, I'll already be here when they come, instead of having to set the alarm at 5 or 5:30 and rush over here, hoping not to miss the doctoral gathering. I am so going to enjoy sleeping on this window seat tonight.
Ray has been antsy all day, wanting to go home even as the snow continued to get worse, because he felt we would be in worse shape by Monday or Tuesday, because the roads and our street and driveway wouldn't be clear if there was, indeed, over two feet of snow. But I said, I was more willing to take our chances on that than try to get home today with the uncertainty of his medical condition. After having to get the stitch, he was much more amenable to staying, and for the first time in several days, my stomach finally settled into place and I was actually able to eat supper without feeling sick.
Mr. See is back on 4 West, with color in his face, and enthusiasm in his voice and demeanor. Amazing what a new lung will do for you!
I'm sorry I can't send out email on the hospital's network in reply to those we've received, but we are grateful to hear from you and thank you for you thoughts and prayers and positive energy.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Anticipating Spending Two Nights on a Window Seat
That's right. I'll be up at 5:30 in the morning trying to get to the hospital where I'll stay for the duration of the storm. I can't bear the thought of staying over here at the motel all alone while Ray is just 3 blocks away.
On the other hand, I keep running into people who make me feel really fortunate. I met a lady in the elevator when I came "home" from the hospital whose husband is supposed to check into the hospital tomorrow morning at 5:30 for surgery. She didn't know she could get a taxi over there, and I can't imagine what a hassle it would be to have to drive over in your own car and find a place in the parking garage, especially when you're under the kind of stress she's under, and are unfamiliar with the area.
I can't seem to send out emails on the hospitals network, but you can call me on my cell phone, and I will try to post to the blog several times tomorrow and next day.
On the other hand, I keep running into people who make me feel really fortunate. I met a lady in the elevator when I came "home" from the hospital whose husband is supposed to check into the hospital tomorrow morning at 5:30 for surgery. She didn't know she could get a taxi over there, and I can't imagine what a hassle it would be to have to drive over in your own car and find a place in the parking garage, especially when you're under the kind of stress she's under, and are unfamiliar with the area.
I can't seem to send out emails on the hospitals network, but you can call me on my cell phone, and I will try to post to the blog several times tomorrow and next day.
Looks Like We're Staying for the Storm
The leak is still leaking so it looks like they're going to keep Ray overnight again. And keeping him overnight means we'll be there until Sunday or Monday, or whenever the roads are passable after this weekend's big storm. (The taxi driver who brought me back to the motel this morning at 6:15 AM to get my car and drive home, says he has a 4-wheel drive, so if I can get him again, maybe I'll be able to go back and forth to the hospital. Otherwise, I'm going to end up staying one place or another, and I'm going to op for the hospital. They moved Ray's bed to the window side of his room and there's a window seat that I can stretch out on.
At the moment, I'm at home washing clothes and replenishing my supplements and meds. Cliff and Anne are going to drive me back early this afternoon in their car and mine, because I'm not sure I'm up to another drive.
Will post again tonight when I know more. Kay
At the moment, I'm at home washing clothes and replenishing my supplements and meds. Cliff and Anne are going to drive me back early this afternoon in their car and mine, because I'm not sure I'm up to another drive.
Will post again tonight when I know more. Kay
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Did I Really Say ...
... that we would know more this afternoon? Dream on. I left the hospital at 8 PM, and we still don't know any more than we knew this morning at 6:30. So crank up those thoughts and and prayers, folks, and get us home before the big snow storm.
Will post again in the morning.
Will post again in the morning.
Still No Release Today, Either
I was so tired yesterday that I went back to the motel about 4:30 PM and was asleep almost before I got my my shoes off. When I awoke a couple of hours later, I splurged on a subway sandwich for supper from the little shop immediately next door to the motel, took a shower, checked my email, watched TV until my hair dried, then passed out again. That's when I discovered that the old saying "early to bed, early to rise" isn't just an old saying; it's the literal truth. My eyes popped open at 5 AM and there was no going back to sleep. So I was up by 5:30, downstairs waiting for a taxi by 6, and in Ray's room before the doctor's made rounds (for the first time).
He still has a tiny "leak", so they still can't remove his chest tube and release him. Even with the delay, he's a little happier this morning than he was yesterday because they swapped out the bed he's been in since they brought him back from the operating room, which is very high and difficult to get out of. Now he's in a lower bed, and can get in and out by himself. (Ah! The return of self-control! So great!)
Ray and I both have been a little confused about this "leak" business because he has a dressing around the tube where it enters his chest which has to be changed several times a day, so we weren't sure whether they were referring to that leaking fluids or the remaining lobe of his left lung leaking air. Since I was here for rounds this morning, with my usual questioning, we learned that they are talking about an air leak. Apparently there is not a clear demarcation between the lobes of the lungs, so when they removed the upper lobe, they had to "dissect" it away from the lower lobe, and the lower lobe was "nicked" leaving a small hole in it, allowing air to escape into the chest cavity where the upper lobe once resided. The chest tube allows both air and fluids to drain out of the chest cavity, and keeps the chest cavity from filling with air, and enough pressure to collapse the lower lobe. So they want that "leak" to heal before they remove the chest tube, else he will just have to return to the hospital and have another chest tube installed.
They will check the situation again this afternoon, and if the leak has sealed itself, they will remove the tube. Four hours later they will do another xray to see how things look, and if everything's OK, he will be discharged tomorrow.
So, obviously, your thoughts and prayers are still very muchneeded. We sure would like to be home before the big snow storm starts moving across Virginia on Friday! Love, Kay
PS: The times on these posts are West Coast time because that's where the server is located. So if you want to know when it was relly posted, add 3 hours.
He still has a tiny "leak", so they still can't remove his chest tube and release him. Even with the delay, he's a little happier this morning than he was yesterday because they swapped out the bed he's been in since they brought him back from the operating room, which is very high and difficult to get out of. Now he's in a lower bed, and can get in and out by himself. (Ah! The return of self-control! So great!)
Ray and I both have been a little confused about this "leak" business because he has a dressing around the tube where it enters his chest which has to be changed several times a day, so we weren't sure whether they were referring to that leaking fluids or the remaining lobe of his left lung leaking air. Since I was here for rounds this morning, with my usual questioning, we learned that they are talking about an air leak. Apparently there is not a clear demarcation between the lobes of the lungs, so when they removed the upper lobe, they had to "dissect" it away from the lower lobe, and the lower lobe was "nicked" leaving a small hole in it, allowing air to escape into the chest cavity where the upper lobe once resided. The chest tube allows both air and fluids to drain out of the chest cavity, and keeps the chest cavity from filling with air, and enough pressure to collapse the lower lobe. So they want that "leak" to heal before they remove the chest tube, else he will just have to return to the hospital and have another chest tube installed.
They will check the situation again this afternoon, and if the leak has sealed itself, they will remove the tube. Four hours later they will do another xray to see how things look, and if everything's OK, he will be discharged tomorrow.
So, obviously, your thoughts and prayers are still very muchneeded. We sure would like to be home before the big snow storm starts moving across Virginia on Friday! Love, Kay
PS: The times on these posts are West Coast time because that's where the server is located. So if you want to know when it was relly posted, add 3 hours.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
No Release Today, Either
Last night,I set a wake-up call for 7 AM, so I was a little confused when something woke me at 6:25. It was my cell phone buzzing, and it was Ray calling to tell me that his "team" had been by and he wasn't going to be discharged today. I don't know whether that was because he's still got an air leak or because I pitched a fit yesterday when somebody mentioned that some people go home with their chest tube. We are not going home with a chest tube! I feel a fit coming on just thinking about the possibility!
And that's about the extent of the news. At this point, it's just a matter of sitting around and letting nature take its course.
And, Tibby, my cold subsided a couple of days ago. I still have some very minor congestion, but seem to be OK, except--of course--for being so tired. Last night, I got down to the ER entrance, where I get a taxi to go to the motel, and discovered that I didn't have my purse, so I had to hoof it back across the hospital and up to the fourth floor and then back down to the ER entrance. I was literally dragging my tracks out by the time I got to my room about 9:30. I think I may go "home" early tonight.
And that's about the extent of the news. At this point, it's just a matter of sitting around and letting nature take its course.
And, Tibby, my cold subsided a couple of days ago. I still have some very minor congestion, but seem to be OK, except--of course--for being so tired. Last night, I got down to the ER entrance, where I get a taxi to go to the motel, and discovered that I didn't have my purse, so I had to hoof it back across the hospital and up to the fourth floor and then back down to the ER entrance. I was literally dragging my tracks out by the time I got to my room about 9:30. I think I may go "home" early tonight.
Monday, February 1, 2010
No Release Today
The morning news is that Ray still has a "leak", so he won't be released today. I think the word "leak" means pretty much the same thing in this context as it did when he had the biopsy, i.e., that a small amount of air is leaking from the lower lobe, and they know this because when he coughs, the tube in his chest "gurgles". (Don't you just love all this precise medical terminology?!!)
So, his orders for today are to walk as much as he can, and I must say that we're fortunate that Ray is so motivated to stay in shape, because we weren't very encouraged this morning when a Physical Therapy person showed up for the first time and offered to get a walker so he could take a stroll down the hall. Instead, Ray popped out of bed, paused long enough for me to tie his gown so his rear end wouldn't be exposed to the world, and took off down the hall with the PT guy bringing up the rear. The PT guy was really impressed, while I was thinking, "My goodness, a less motivated person would have to stay another week!"
Anyway, the word is that he will be released tomorrow or Wednesday, and as soon as we know when, he will move over to the Red Roof Inn for an overnight stay to ensure that we can handle everything out of the hospital. Our friends, Cliff and Anne, will be coming over to see that we're fed and get home safely.
News on Mr. See and his lung transplant: It turned out that the right lung he was supposed to get was damaged and could not be used, but the left lung was implanted last night. I saw Mrs. See this morning and she said they had been warned that something like this could happened, and that he would be able to manage fine with one lung, so she was delighted ... and also exhausted. She said she was also very happy with the doctor who did the transplant, even if she wasn't Dr. Jones.
OK, that will probably be it for today, unless something unusual happens. But I will post tomorrow when we know more about release time.
So, his orders for today are to walk as much as he can, and I must say that we're fortunate that Ray is so motivated to stay in shape, because we weren't very encouraged this morning when a Physical Therapy person showed up for the first time and offered to get a walker so he could take a stroll down the hall. Instead, Ray popped out of bed, paused long enough for me to tie his gown so his rear end wouldn't be exposed to the world, and took off down the hall with the PT guy bringing up the rear. The PT guy was really impressed, while I was thinking, "My goodness, a less motivated person would have to stay another week!"
Anyway, the word is that he will be released tomorrow or Wednesday, and as soon as we know when, he will move over to the Red Roof Inn for an overnight stay to ensure that we can handle everything out of the hospital. Our friends, Cliff and Anne, will be coming over to see that we're fed and get home safely.
News on Mr. See and his lung transplant: It turned out that the right lung he was supposed to get was damaged and could not be used, but the left lung was implanted last night. I saw Mrs. See this morning and she said they had been warned that something like this could happened, and that he would be able to manage fine with one lung, so she was delighted ... and also exhausted. She said she was also very happy with the doctor who did the transplant, even if she wasn't Dr. Jones.
OK, that will probably be it for today, unless something unusual happens. But I will post tomorrow when we know more about release time.
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