Hi everyone.
Well today was truly a long day.. luckily, we started out earlier than I thought we would because we got caught up in the mess on I-95S this morning on the way to the appointments.
We saw the one surgeon and he took out all the stitches in Joe’s nose, the staples from the incision on his neck area and his thigh, also the drain left in his neck area that was still draining considerably when he was discharged.. oh yeah and a stint that was in the back of his reconstructed throat.
Some of the procedures became a bit messy… when they were trying to get the stint out, the dr kept making Joe gag… and up came his liquid breakfast.
After they checked his swallowing… which seemed much easier for Joe after they took the stint out… they let him try to eat applesauce. It was a success… so now he can eat a very soft diet… he was glad to hear that I am sure.
Next stop, the cancer dr/surgeon. At his visit, they took out the stitches that was helping to hold the re-constructed airway. This made Joe cough tremendously..kind of bloody as well.
They did place his tracheostoma tube back in, but the dr told him he can begin taking out for periods of time during the day.. make sure it is in at night.
We did find out that the cancer truly was being aggressive and I believe they said that even though the margin around the sites where the cancer was growing---which was pretty extensive—the dr believes it may have entered the blood.. which gives it quick access throughout his body.
So he gets evaluated and measured for radiation treatments tomorrow and he starts chemo treatments on Nov 28th. We are not completely sure when the radiation will start, Joe and Dad will probably find that out tomorrow when they talk to that dr.
The good thing we did find out.. at least radiation treatments, are not given on weekends… so Dad, or friends or me.. will have to drive him to that treatment. We are not sure about the chemo schedule just yet.
We did find a shuttle service for Joe to use from the treating hospital, that will take him to and from his treatments for a nominal fee! That takes that stress off of Dad especially.
After such a long day,,,, Joe was just wanting to get home.. I can fully understand. He had many post surgical procedures done and lots of discussions to absorb.
I am glad Mom did not go, and we did just do a conference call between us and the dr. IT was WAYYYY toooo much waiting and sitting and she would not have made it through even the first one. (esp since dad shared that she was already using her TENS unit, from the other days escapades, this morning.
I was kind of hoping to hear when they think Joe would be able to master the electrolarynx, but I guess that is for the speech therapist to evaluate.
I was able to find him a text-to-speech gadget on Ebay.. so I hope this helps him communicate until he masters the electrolarynx.
Finally sitting with a HUGE cup of coffee… and going to put my feet up.
That is where he stands as of now… very tired but I think still positive. ( he was probably glad to see us leave him tonight) LOL
Brenda
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