Exactly One Week!

It is exactly one week today since Roger's original operation, and 4 days since the emergency operation took place. Two general anaesthetics in 3 days plus the epidural pain relief had taken it's toll. It seemed to cause what I would call "mental fidgeting." With wires and tubes connected to him everywhere when I went to visit, he had me lining them up so they all ran parallel and nothing was kinked or twisted. Even though they all worked perfectly well as they were, he kept saying "I like to be tidy!" I was quite exhausted by the time I left!
Next came the "push button" Morphine machine,operated by the patient only. This has been sending him on "magic carpet rides" all over the place. Several visits to Crete,one to attend a meeting which the staff nurse was chairing,also a couple of visits to Chiltern Edge School for some strange reason. Our sons went there, but that was years ago! Roger said " It's been interesting, but I'll be glad to get off this machine!"
Sunday 25th. Roger said he wanted to get the "telly" going, which we did. This was a positive, as he just hasn't been remotely interested before.
Monday it was decided to try him on solid foods for the first time. This was another sign of improvement,as up until then his diet consisted of soups,yoghurts,icecream and some kind of food supplement drink.
Although his hands and forearms now look like pin cushions, alot of the tubes around his face have been removed, which means he can get a decent shave.
I went to see him this afternoon. I was full of optimism, as to date he's been so positive. However,It was soon clear that he wasn't having a good day. The solid food thing wasn't a success at all, so this had been stopped. He felt sick. They had given him a couple of drugs to try and cure it, but they didn't seem to be working. He's very sore, which must make him miserable,and also he's had hiccups since 10.00am yesterday(over 24hrs.)and of course,he can't sleep because of the hiccups and also it hurts him to hiccup. They've tried everything, but can't stop them. All in all he's not in a happy place just now.
Hope the next blog will be more positive.
Suzanne

Three Days in!

Well! it was my intention to update the blog today. To bring you all up to speed etc. I was going to tell you that Rog was doing very well, considering! That he is not being given blood transfusions anymore and that he is not being given oxygen anymore, and the big step of removing the epidural pain relief was done last night, and that things were progressing nicely.

Can you feel a BUT! coming on? Unfortunately, at 6.15am I got the dreaded phone call from the Royal Berks Hospital to say that Roger was in considerable pain, had been x-rayed, they didn't know what was the matter yet, but the doctors had been called in, the decision to operate was taken. Please could I make my way in at once!!

As a scary moment it was right up there with originally hearing that he had bladder cancer in Jan.2003 and certainly up there with the "3 agressive tumours" announcement in mid Sept.2009.

Rob and I were in the ward before 7.00am. Roger had gone to theatre at 6.30am.
Nurses were lovely as usual and offered us toast & tea. The tea we accepted. Our appetites had escaped us.
We sat in that awful day room for what seemed like an eternity, but was about 3 hours.

Eventually Mr. Shah, the consultant appeared and said "Let's go to another room!" I could not move. I was rooted to the spot. I grabbed the surgeon's arm and searched his face for clues. I did not move until I heard him utter the magic words "He's going to be alright!"

Mr. Shah took us into sister's office, sat us down & explained what had happened. Apparently, with this type of operation, there is a 1 in 200 chance of a hole appearing in the bowel. A tiny hole had appeared in Roger's bowel, and his system was being infected by leakage. It was tiny and didn't show on the x-ray, but the registrar noticed that the urine was dark and suspected what was going on and acted quickly. Mr. Shah said that if it had gone on for a couple of days before being discovered, then it would've been very serious indeed! Let's hear it for the registrar!!

OK! what they've done; They have washed the whole system through, and plumbed him up for a colostomy bag.

My darling husband seems to have got into the habit of collecting bags, and he's always telling me off for doing that!

Anyway! this time it won't be a bag for life, but just for 6 weeks, until the section of injured bowel repairs itself. They will then do a reversal.

He's in recovery as I write this and he won't be back on the ward just yet. This has put him back about 7 days, and obviously you won't be able to visit him yet a while, but I know you will understand.

Trust Rog! 1 in 200 and it had to be him! Apart from that the morning went quite well!

Surgery Day!

Roger has had "The Big Op". All went well and nothing else untoward was found in the process.

Surgery started at just after midday and yours truly was ringing the ward every couple of hours for an update. I finally decided to make my way in to visit him, reaching the ward at 5.15. No sign of Roger or his bed. The only sign that he had been there was his rolled up dressing gown on the bedside chair.

Sister informed me that he hadn't come back from theatre. She rang down, to be told they were still operating. She told me he'd be in the recovery room for a "long time" but to ring later on.

I met up with Rob & Suze in the foyer and related the tale to them. We decided to call it a day, and go back to our place for a curry.

On the way home, the surgeon rang me on my mobile. Impressive or what? We are talking NHS here!! He told me that it went well and they were very happy with the result. That Roger would be in recovery for the rest of the night, but back in the ward tomorrow and would most probably sleep for the whole of tomorrow. He and I both!

I am now going to bed, tired but relieved!!

Suzanne

Back from Vamos!

Got back from Crete on Tuesday 13th Oct.

Had a GREAT time, the weather was amazing for October 26-28 degrees, the sea warm and food great, as ever! Ben, Rob and Suze joined us for the second week and it was good to spend some quality time!! with them.

We found a book of walks around the Vamos village and as long as we went early, before the heat of the day it was fine. Vamos got the thumbs up from the folks which was encouraging as they may come out to see us more!!

All we did was eat, sleep and swim, with a little walking!

We got the final plans for the house on the last day - but only with Hilary's stirling efforts! They are now before the Crete planning department!!! guess who invented bureaucracy?!! If you'd like a look it's at Goggle Earth 35' 24' 24' 71 N, 24' 12' 17' 89' E and http://www.vamossa.gr/en/home has some more good stuff about the area. http://www.thecic.eu/ is an interesting local mag.

Bit of a hiatus now till I go in on Monday evening ready for the opp on Tuesday.

Please keep leaving you comments!