My parents, in-laws and other family members have been calling and visiting regularly.
I've also had a great outpouring of support and help from the ward and stake. The High-Priests group leader asked some other quorum members to look after my home teaching families until I can get out again. The Bishopric has visited me a couple of times. I have a great home teacher. The Relief society has been a great help too.
A member of the stake high council is going to cover my speaking assignments in April. A member of the stake presidency is filling in for me in some of my other assignments.
I've also received many well-wishes and thoughts from my blogging friends as well.
I'm so grateful for all the thoughts and prayers that have been directed my way. It can be overwhelming, if you thing about it -- but on the other hand, its what I need at this time.
Here is an example of what my daily routine is these days:
7:00 am - Start first IV (takes two hours to infuse).
7:00 am - Take oral antibiotic
9:00 am - Start second IV (one hour)
10:00 am - disconnect from IV
10:00 am - Flush and Drain the drain tubes. Measure and log the net output from each drain.
10:15 am - Wound Care. Clean and dress wounds surrounding where the tubes make their entrance.
12:00 - Take Oral Antibiotic
Some free time in the afternoon, time to take a shower (a complicated process). And maybe take a nap.
5:00 - Take Oral Antibiotic
7:00 pm - Start IV (two hour version)
9:00 pm - Disconnect IV
9:00 pm - Flush and drain Tubes.
9:15 pm - Wound care.
10:00 pm - Take Oral antibiotic.
The pain has gone down substantially. I still get a little achy from time to time, but usually Tylenol will take care of it. I've tried to use the Lortab sparingly.
We had a follow-up CT scan last Monday. The abscesses have still not completely closed off. When they injected dye into the abscesses, they found traces of the dye going into the liver, and into the colon. Ideally, we want the abscesses to completely seal off - that way they won't be spreading infection.
We have another follow-up CT scan set for this coming Monday.
Should the abscesses NOT seal off, then I am looking at the possibility of needing surgery remove the abscesses, and seal up the organs. A portion of the colon could also be removed.
For now though, I'm hoping and praying the drains do their jobs.
6 comments:
Glad to see you are doing as well as can be expected at the time. I was worried you had gone back into the hospital. Take care of yourself, and do everything your sweet nurse tells you to do!
MAN O MAN! Well, we're all praying for you Big D, and hoping you get a lot of terrific attention and pampering.
Here's hoping a tube-ectomy comes soon! In the mean time (and ain't it mean!) take every opporunity to veg-out and recover.
David, here's hoping you can avoid more surgery! I'm sure it is tiresome to stay home and do that routine and all, but try to relax and enjoy it. I'm glad you are having company and people to help with your assignments. That takes a load of your mind and lets you concentrate on getting well. Prayers for you and your wife!
Prayers, prayers and more prayers.
it's good for an update.
Hope your getting the rest ya need!
Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers. I'll have the tubes for at least another week. Now I'm just trying to get my strength back.
Thanks for your encouragement.
David, Thanks for the update. What an ordeal! I hope and pray that they seal off soon and you can avoid surgery. I am glad that you are being so well taken care of.
It can be hard to need to have others take care of us. That has been my experience the past 16 months as well. Yet, I have watched my husband and son really grow from the experience. It has helped me too. I have had to really humble myself and rely completely on my Faith in God to get us through.
You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted, if you can.
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