We have gas!

Celebrating flatulence here in hospital land!

Marty's gut has woken up enough for him to cautiously proceed with clear liquids. He requested vegetable broth, and enjoyed some teeny sips without event.

His surgical team believes he is doing well, but they don't want him to rush intake of fluids so that his digestive system can be gently eased into further activity. He is more tired today, which the surgical team explained as the wearing off of both surgery drugs and necessary adrenaline. Despite his more weary state, he went for two extended walkabouts with me in his fashionable hospital get-up, and with his I.V. pole as trusty company. His bladder evidences healing to the extent that he may be freed of the catheter before he returns home, which is great news indeed.

His excellent nurses and PCT's are deeply kind and skilled, and have extended their warmth to me as well. I am very grateful for their great care of him, and touched by their kindness to me.

We are hoping for release either Tuesday or Wednesday so that he can continue his recovery in the comfort and quiet of his own home, with Carmella in charge of both of us rather than only boring tired me.

Walkabout as escape method...

In the surreal hospital environment, lighting, noise and lack of privacy are all challenges to serenity. When I arrived to see Marty this morning, he was sitting in his chair looking quite well for a person with major surgery just a few days behind him. His surgical team arrived, and declared his progress quite good. However, after listening to his gut, they advised going slowly on liquids by mouth, so no popsicles or broth for him yet.

His roommate had a huge crowd of visitors and Fox News on full volume. So, with his nurse's permission, I took Marty and his I.V. pole companion out for a lengthy walkabout escape. Nothing like loud discussions of football and Fox News to get him moving quickly and with purpose! I am, of course, providing Alexander direction to keep him from pulling down as he walks.

After our hallway walking tour, I gave him a sponge bath and dressed him in clean gowns and socks. He's some sort of fashion statement in green striped snap-on flowing garments with I.V. lines as accent and hospital non-slip yellow socks.

We are hoping for a Tuesday release if gas production goes well. No this is not fracking support, but farting enthusiasm.

Oh, and Marty was able to sing on the phone to my sister for her birthday, which is evidence of improved abdominal engagement.

Here's to singing and farting!

One less tube, hurray!

Marty was sitting up in his bedside chair when I arrived at the hospital today. He had already been out for two lengthy hallway jaunts, and went out for a third walkabout shortly after my arrival.

He has reduced morphine drip use significantly in hopes of healthy gut activity. As you all likely know, opiates suppress intestinal actions dramatically. The delicate balance of controlling excessive pain and recovering interior functions thus proceeds.

The nasal vacuum tube had been disconnected for some hours as most of the yucky gunk (technical term) from his stomach had been effectively removed. This was important as any remaining gunk would make him very nauseated. Vomiting after extensive abdominal surgery is not an experience anyone wants for Marty! A member of his surgical team removed the nasal tube (a distinctly uncomfortable but thankfully swift procedure). Much relief for Marty to be free of the invasive and noisy nose tube!

He will attempt clear liquids tomorrow, meaning broth, apple juice and a popsicle. He is especially looking forward to the popsicle as he has a well developed sweet tooth. If the clear liquids go well, he can slowly proceed to more solid food. Once he passes gas and can take pain meds by mouth, and thus relinquish epidural and drip pain meds, we can consider the wonderful prospect of his return home! No sure date for that happy outcome yet.

In addition to above considerations, Marty has to have the strength to walk up stairs, as we live in a 3rd floor walkup apartment. Given Marty's determination and spirit, I am confident he will make steady progress in this regard.

His nurses and PCT's are kind, skilled and very smart. Marty is humorous with them, and they all not only enjoy him, but are also deeply interested in his progression to full healing.

Carmella prefers her full staff available, of course, and is eager for his return. She is keeping me company in her amusing and delightfully demanding fashion. We are both looking forward to our family being reunited at home.

Thanks to Lissa for her kind ride to the hospital today, which gave me more time with Marty.

Further Progress:remarkable Marty!

When I arrived at the hospital today, Marty was sitting up in a chair, and had already been for a hallway walk with his lovely PCT (patient care technician). The oxygen tube in his nose has been deemed unnecessary, so he is a little freer to move. Pain is well under control.

Once I was there, his PT arrived and took him for another hallway walk. He was really cruising along with his I.V. pole! She also gave him a series of chair exercises to keep his legs strong and to stimulate both breathing and bowel activity. I added my Alexander 2 cents, of course..

No intestinal activity yet, so he still has the very uncomfortable and restricting nasal vacuum tube which draws gunk from his stomach. Given that he is able to walk more, intestinal rumbles will hopefully follow relatively soon. Then, he can get rid of the nasal tube, take in clear liquids by mouth, then actual food, and, when he passes gas, come home!

The bandage on his incision was removed this morning so I could view his 8 inch incision. Very Frankenstein! Maybe Young Frankenstein!

His nurses are terrific, and of course he is a charming and delightful patient. His spirits are good!

Thanks again to Delia for cookies for the nurses (a big hit!) and for all who have expressed concern and support via email and text. We are blessed with wonderful family and friends!

Carmella and I are doing well. We are eager for his return home, but sleeping and eating and playing in the meantime.

Please: No Visitors

Local people, please have consideration for Marty and do not visit with him in the hospital. Once he is home and rested and does not have to wear a flimsy hospital gown with tubes connected all over his weary self, then visits and phone calls will be possible. Now he needs sleep and privacy, or as much sleep and privacy as one gets in a hospital. If you care for Marty, please do not visit.

Those who disregard this request will have to deal with me in ways you really wouldn't like very much. Enough said!

Sit, stand, walk...

Marty was far more comfortable this morning with combination of epidural pain meds and morphine drip. His color was in the pink range rather than last evening's gray hue. Before I got the the hospital early this morning, he had already sat up and stood up (with help, of course)! Once I arrived, his very smart and attentive PT assisted him in not only sitting and standing but walking about 5 steps! All of these activities require management of his nasal vacuum tube, catheter, oxygen tube and I.V. connections.

We talked quietly for much of the day, but as the afternoon wore on in the surreal hospital environment, I noticed that he became much more spacey and his hands were like ice. His blood pressure, which is typically low anyway, dropped dramatically. The "pain team" (medical folks who manage pain meds, not an S&M cult) and his nurses adjusted his epidural to lower delivery levels, and he improved very quickly.

Pain meds are a delicate balance after major abdominal surgery. His impressive incision requires enough pain relief so he can move with some measure of comfort. It is important that he can comfortably manage sitting, standing and walking not only to keep respiratory function on a good level, but also to stimulate bowel activity. Too much medication defeats all of the above, as well as diminishing his ability to detect important changes in functioning. Having an advocate on hand (that would be me) helps especially if Marty is too medicated to know he is too medicated.

A member of his surgical team talked with us this afternoon. He described Marty's lower intestinal tract as "looking like a hand grenade went off in there". No wonder he has endured such digestive distress! His insides were a bundle of gnarly adhesions, all of which have now been removed.

Progress is literally step by step, but I am very encouraged by Marty's spirit and resilience, as well as the excellent care he is receiving.

Thank you, everyone, for your kind and thoughtfully brief emails expressing love and support!

Post surgery report

It was a long day for Marty and for me, of course, and I am hoping my weary mind can find some measure of verbal clarity for this report.

The surgery went well, in that a tremendous amount of scar tissue in Marty's small bowel was removed, along with about 16 inches of intestine. Some scar tissue was adhered to his bladder, which required a small hole being made in his bladder. Dr. Froines said this would heal fairly easily as, as he put it, "the bladder is very forgiving". Marty will have a bladder catheter for about a week until the hole in his bladder heals. Psoas nerves were injured, which will result in numbness in his leg, probably permanently.

The surgery was over 3 hours in length. Once Marty was released to recovery, the medical folks had a very hard time controlling his pain levels, which were extremely high. I had waited for him in the surgery waiting room for 4 hours, and then in his hospital room for another 4 hours. At lastI was called to the recovery area to see him, as they were still struggling to reduce pain to "acceptable" levels. Marty was extremely pale, with a huge incision on his abdomen. He was astonishingly clear thinking, despite huge discomfort, and insisted I go home, as I couldn't stay in the recovery room with him. Thus, I reluctantly left him there, in very capable hands, with kindly and skilled nurses.

The length of his hospital stay will depend on how his bowel heals and begins to function again.

My deep thanks to all who sent emails and texts wishing him well for his surgery, and for texts to check up on me while I waited all the long hours. Huge thanks to Matt for his gracious ride to the hospital today. Thanks to Delia for cookies for the nurses, which were much appreciated.

Once I see him tomorrow, I will report further. I am weary to my bones, but also relieved that the issues of concern were addressed, and the scarred tissues removed successfully. No wonder his digestive system has been so very challenged, as the amount of scar tissue was enormous!

More to follow! Thanks again and love to all who have been so supportive on Marty's behalf!