It has been a whirlwind since my last post!
Anesthesia does funny things to people.....or so I have been told! Roger finally got his food---oreo cookies by the handful within 2 hours post-op. Whole nuther story for later!
I came home late Christmas Eve so thankful for so many things! I knew Roger was still far from out of the woods and there could be some serious complications involved! Since it was late and nothing was open for food I headed down to the Hospital Cafeteria to get something to take home. I ran into the Anesthesiologist who confirmed that the anesthesia does funky things to people!
When I got home there was the most awful smell in this house. One has to stop and think that with 5 dogs..well, 4 that night...and 3 of those 4 loose in the house that something icky could have happened. My Aunt Charlotte had been taking care of them and letting them out each day so they didn't have to cross their legs......
It was SHELLIE! We have a turtle who is in the basement for the winter. She usually lives out in the back yard in her turtle villa...complete with a pool, filters, ramp to get out and lay eggs in the mulch and a shade mesh cover over part of it.
In the winter she has to come in to the basement because she would freeze to death. She is 10 years old and is almost 12" long. She is a red-eared slider with a personality like a dog. Roger is her primary care giver......he has her pool in the basement (one of those BIG plastic kids pools) along with her ramp, a heat lamp and a UV lamp hanging down from the ceiling and another pool with mulch in it for her to get out and bury herself in.
The smell was coming from her pool because I had turned the filters off to feed her a few DAYS earlier.....OOPS! The water runs thru big Canister filters to clean it and keep it moving. She usually eats in a separate tub to keep her water clean--not with me--I threw food in and ran back upstairs.......It is NOT STINKY ANYMORE--I had to clean it!
So, back to the Roger Chronicles.....I was so exhausted that I collapsed in bed and didn't wake up until 2:00 pm Christmas Day. I had my phone by my head in case something had happened and I was sure Roger would be out of it for awhile. I got up, called his phone immediately which was in his bag.....and then got ready to go to the Hospital.
The Hospital called and said they had GOOD NEWS....he could go home....GOOD NEWS FOR WHO????? He was less than less than 24 hours post-op, has pneumonia and who knows what his body is doing since they have been in there so many times?
I am not sure who was the driving force behind the release.....but, the Dr. managing his care in the hospital was OK with it and the surgeon was called at home and said it was OK for him to go home. They handed me the paperwork when I got there that HE had already signed to be released and said he could go whenever we were ready.
There was a script in there for an antibiotic for the pneumonia and when I asked where in the world I could get it filled on Christmas Day the nurse said--oh, there has got to be something open today...NOT SO MUCH! She said--well, if you fill it first thing in the morning he will have only missed 3 doses by then......WHAT???????????????????????
So, away we went! They tried to wheel him out with just a short sleeved coat on....did I say he has pneumonia? I got out of the car and went running with a coat to put on him to get to the car. GEEZE LOUISE!
He came home.....and Nurse "Lisa" took over....I have had as much medical training as.....well, I have had NONE!
The worse part is that my entire body ached and I knew I was getting sick myself. How in the world was I suppose to take care of Roger when I was sick?
On Friday, I slept...I was so sick I could barely lift my head off of the pillow. We slept on the couch Thursday night and last night. It is a big sectional and is pretty comfy...thank GOD! I had to get up and go to get a room humidifier and his script which took about all of the energy I could muster up.
The girls were coming home today at 3:00 and were expecting to have their "Christmas" here with us....they knew what was going on with Roger......but, when you are 12 and 6...gimme the presents! I had planned on shopping this past week...not so much! by the grace of God, I was able to get it taken care of TODAY before they got here!
When I got back from the store today I had the greatest surprise---Roger had been up and had taken a sponge bath and looked better than he had in 5 days! I don't think I slept that first night--he had so much fluid in his lungs that every time he coughed I had a near panic attack that something was happening!
We are all sitting here on the couch watching NCIS as usual. Rae is chief in charge of Roger's medications.....she was in charge of the 9:00 antibiotic...she just gave him the ROGER--TAKE YOUR MEDICINE NOW!......I MEAN NOW~!
She is also chief in charge of making sure he has his tweezers on him at all times as the Dr. ordered. They are long handled, special tweezers.....to help remove stuff from his airway. He had them both in the bathroom and walked out and Rae asked where they were.....she snapped her fingers at him and said-"UH, NO WAY MISTER....THEY NEED TO BE ON YOU AT ALL TIMES!" "GOT IT?"
We are all smarter than messing with Rae.
Just wanted to make sure I let you all know that he is home.....doing better....and we are so thankful for your thoughts and prayers!
I am so sorry for no update for a few days---I was sick and didn't even have the energy to type-
Love,
Roger, Lisa, Meghan and Raegan
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Still in the waiting room-7:48 pm
I am still sitting in the waiting room--the board says Roger (well, his number PATIENT 51271) is in recovery.
They have not come to get me yet to let me go back into recovery.
I have not been that scared in a long time! Well, can't remember ever being that scared! A million things go thru your mind--what if he has troubles.....oh, you know--just a million bad things.
I called my Mom--she said PRAY!
This place is a ghost town.
I pulled a chair up in front of the monitor and sat and watched it scroll no less than a jillion times. It kept saying PATIENT IN SURGERY.
The surgeon came out long before it was updated...they said that would probably happen.
He came bearing the greatest Christmas gift ever---who knew they could be so excited to get a gift of a USED...and not just a slightly used...I mean REALLY USED and ABUSED pencil eraser and it's metal buddy. Well, me!
He is long from out of the woods...there was a ton of puss in the lung which the surgeon tried to suck out.
Roger has pneumonia (we already knew that part) and will be here thru the weekend at this point so they can keep IV antibiotics in him.
He is going home with a nurse on a mission...that would be ME! You never really know how much you love someone or can't or don't want to be without them until you almost lose them--
NEVER EVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED! EVER!
They just called and said I can go back to his room--he is in recovery and will be headed back to his room within the hour.
I am headed to the Chapel--they said they are holding a service for Christmas Eve. Since we missed The Vineyard Christmas Eve service....I am going to go to this one.
I will write more later--
thank you again for the prayers---
Lisa, ROGER and Sweet!
They have not come to get me yet to let me go back into recovery.
I have not been that scared in a long time! Well, can't remember ever being that scared! A million things go thru your mind--what if he has troubles.....oh, you know--just a million bad things.
I called my Mom--she said PRAY!
This place is a ghost town.
I pulled a chair up in front of the monitor and sat and watched it scroll no less than a jillion times. It kept saying PATIENT IN SURGERY.
The surgeon came out long before it was updated...they said that would probably happen.
He came bearing the greatest Christmas gift ever---who knew they could be so excited to get a gift of a USED...and not just a slightly used...I mean REALLY USED and ABUSED pencil eraser and it's metal buddy. Well, me!
He is long from out of the woods...there was a ton of puss in the lung which the surgeon tried to suck out.
Roger has pneumonia (we already knew that part) and will be here thru the weekend at this point so they can keep IV antibiotics in him.
He is going home with a nurse on a mission...that would be ME! You never really know how much you love someone or can't or don't want to be without them until you almost lose them--
NEVER EVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED! EVER!
They just called and said I can go back to his room--he is in recovery and will be headed back to his room within the hour.
I am headed to the Chapel--they said they are holding a service for Christmas Eve. Since we missed The Vineyard Christmas Eve service....I am going to go to this one.
I will write more later--
thank you again for the prayers---
Lisa, ROGER and Sweet!
The after the surgeon came e-mail
Here is the e-mail I sent before I switched computers......
THANK YOU!There is power in prayer--I am going to send this and switch to my personal laptop (AT&T pleaseforgive me)
The surgeon was able to remove the eraser---a successful eraser-ectomy!
Roger will be in recovery soon.I am switching computers and will not log back into this e-mail untilFriday morning.
My personal e-mail is gottabeleeve@yahoo.com
Thank you again--I will update the blog from my other computer in a bit!
God Bless You and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Welcome to the world baby Jesus!
THANK YOU!There is power in prayer--I am going to send this and switch to my personal laptop (AT&T pleaseforgive me)
The surgeon was able to remove the eraser---a successful eraser-ectomy!
Roger will be in recovery soon.I am switching computers and will not log back into this e-mail untilFriday morning.
My personal e-mail is gottabeleeve@yahoo.com
Thank you again--I will update the blog from my other computer in a bit!
God Bless You and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Welcome to the world baby Jesus!
After the surgeon talked to Roger
Here is the e-mail I sent requesting prayers for Roger and what the surgeon said---it is not all that he said.....I wanted to just get the jist of it out there and there is some stuff I just shouldn't repeat!
______________________________________________
From: GUNTER, LISA, ATTOPS
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:11 PM
Subject: Prayers are needed NOW for Roger!
I am sending this update to everyone as this is pretty serious.> > I have been updating the blog with what is going on....I have tried to keep the tone "light" to keep a smile on Roger's face.
The surgeon came in to the pre-op (PACU) to talk to Roger prior to taking him back into the OR. Have you ever had the "I am going to throw up--this is really bad" feeling? As he spoke, it was all I could do not to burst into tears!
He pretty much stated it this way---
> > YOU MUST HAVE A SET OF TWEEZERS ON YOU AT ALL TIMES!
> > DO NOT STICK ANYTHING OTHER THAN THOSE TWEEZERS IN YOUR AIRWAR EVER AGAIN!
> > THIS COULD VERY WELL KILL YOU!--this is where the serious--gonna throw up part started!
> > 2 OTHER SURGEONS WILL NOT TOUCH THIS--AND, THERE ARE NOT MANY IN THIS CITY THAT CAN DO THIS! (he was not cocky--just matter of fact!)
> > IF I CANNOT GET THIS FROM YOUR LUNG--YOU WILL LOSE MORE THAN 1/2 OF YOUR LUNG!!!! Ok, we went from the lower lobe to 1/2 of it.
> > IF YOU THINK IT IS HARD TO BREATHE NOW---TRY DOING IT WITH 1/2 OF A LUNG! IT IS NOT GOING TO BE PLEASANT!
> > Again--he was not being cocky--just trying to convey the seriousness of this!
> > YOU WILL MOST LIKELY END UP ON A RESPIRATOR ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AFTER THIS!
> > IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT YOU WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS!
> > THERE ARE SERIOUS POSSIBILITIES FROM THIS SURGERY--
> > DEATH, SEPSIS, INFECTION, LOSS OF THE WHOLE LUNG, INFECTION SPREADING> TO YOUR BODY, BLEEDING OUT,
( I had heard about enough now--I was really scared and shaking!!!)
I still am! I am in the surgery waiting room at Riverside...all alone..with the exception of Sweet!
I am scared! Really scared!!!
If he cannot get the eraser out--Roger will be put on a ventilator until Sunday when the Thoracic surgeon will come and remove what he needs to from his lung.
My legs are shaking so bad I can hardly type!
Please say some prayers for Roger and the surgeon!
Lisa
______________________________________________
From: GUNTER, LISA, ATTOPS
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:11 PM
Subject: Prayers are needed NOW for Roger!
I am sending this update to everyone as this is pretty serious.> > I have been updating the blog with what is going on....I have tried to keep the tone "light" to keep a smile on Roger's face.
The surgeon came in to the pre-op (PACU) to talk to Roger prior to taking him back into the OR. Have you ever had the "I am going to throw up--this is really bad" feeling? As he spoke, it was all I could do not to burst into tears!
He pretty much stated it this way---
> > YOU MUST HAVE A SET OF TWEEZERS ON YOU AT ALL TIMES!
> > DO NOT STICK ANYTHING OTHER THAN THOSE TWEEZERS IN YOUR AIRWAR EVER AGAIN!
> > THIS COULD VERY WELL KILL YOU!--this is where the serious--gonna throw up part started!
> > 2 OTHER SURGEONS WILL NOT TOUCH THIS--AND, THERE ARE NOT MANY IN THIS CITY THAT CAN DO THIS! (he was not cocky--just matter of fact!)
> > IF I CANNOT GET THIS FROM YOUR LUNG--YOU WILL LOSE MORE THAN 1/2 OF YOUR LUNG!!!! Ok, we went from the lower lobe to 1/2 of it.
> > IF YOU THINK IT IS HARD TO BREATHE NOW---TRY DOING IT WITH 1/2 OF A LUNG! IT IS NOT GOING TO BE PLEASANT!
> > Again--he was not being cocky--just trying to convey the seriousness of this!
> > YOU WILL MOST LIKELY END UP ON A RESPIRATOR ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AFTER THIS!
> > IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT YOU WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS!
> > THERE ARE SERIOUS POSSIBILITIES FROM THIS SURGERY--
> > DEATH, SEPSIS, INFECTION, LOSS OF THE WHOLE LUNG, INFECTION SPREADING> TO YOUR BODY, BLEEDING OUT,
( I had heard about enough now--I was really scared and shaking!!!)
I still am! I am in the surgery waiting room at Riverside...all alone..with the exception of Sweet!
I am scared! Really scared!!!
If he cannot get the eraser out--Roger will be put on a ventilator until Sunday when the Thoracic surgeon will come and remove what he needs to from his lung.
My legs are shaking so bad I can hardly type!
Please say some prayers for Roger and the surgeon!
Lisa
Pre-op closed for Christmas....they moved him to PACU
Even the Pre-op at Riverside closes for Christmas! They came in and said that they were closing the pre-op and were going to move Rog to PACU to wait on the surgeon....so, that is where we are.
He is wrapped up like a burrito in warm blankies since it is so cold in here.
I just had the Nurse go and get moist air for his airway since he has been off of it since we left the room.
No news yet--just waiting on the surgeon to finish the procedure ahead of Rog's so they can get the room ready for Rog.
Say some prayers!
Roger's breathing has become raspy. They already said that he is developing pneumonia in the right lung from this...they have the antibiotics pumping into him and fluids.
The Nurse just came and said that it will be at least 20 minutes because they are getting ready to close on the surgery in progress and then have to turn the room.
I am going to go back to a post I started earlier about how we got here to begin with.
R, L & S
He is wrapped up like a burrito in warm blankies since it is so cold in here.
I just had the Nurse go and get moist air for his airway since he has been off of it since we left the room.
No news yet--just waiting on the surgeon to finish the procedure ahead of Rog's so they can get the room ready for Rog.
Say some prayers!
Roger's breathing has become raspy. They already said that he is developing pneumonia in the right lung from this...they have the antibiotics pumping into him and fluids.
The Nurse just came and said that it will be at least 20 minutes because they are getting ready to close on the surgery in progress and then have to turn the room.
I am going to go back to a post I started earlier about how we got here to begin with.
R, L & S
In Pre-op....still
We are still in Pre-op. Roger is the only one here. He said they all went home for Christmas:-)
Sweet! is laying on his bed with him.
I figured if I started to type this that someone would come and be ready for him...isn't that the way it always works?
Here is a photo of Roger and Sweet! in the room before they came to get him to bring him down here to pre-op........which one is ha
ppier?
ppier?Here is a photo of Rog and Sweet en route to pre-op.........I left her in the "pokey" so that she didn't bail on the way---didn't think she would....but, who wants to chase a dog thru the Hospital?
And now they are on the bed in pre-op....the surgeon was just starting a procedure when they brought him down here so we knew it would be a bit.
I will start another post to tell you how we even got to this point anyway.......stay tuned!
Roger, Lisa & Sweet!
Roger is headed for the OR
OK--had to digress from my digressing....
They just came in to say they are coming to get Roger to take him to the OR.....
I am going down to pre-op to talk to the surgeon--
They are going to attempt to go in with a bronchoscopy and go thru his airway--
In the event they CANNOT remove the varmit from his lung, they will leave stop the surgery and leave him on a ventilator until the Thoracic surgeon is available which will be FRIDAY--so, he would move to ICU on a ventilator--
TIME FOR PRAYERS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ERASER ECTOMY!
If they can grab it with the scope--he will come back to this room--
Gotta go--
Lisa and Roger....and Sweet!
They just came in to say they are coming to get Roger to take him to the OR.....
I am going down to pre-op to talk to the surgeon--
They are going to attempt to go in with a bronchoscopy and go thru his airway--
In the event they CANNOT remove the varmit from his lung, they will leave stop the surgery and leave him on a ventilator until the Thoracic surgeon is available which will be FRIDAY--so, he would move to ICU on a ventilator--
TIME FOR PRAYERS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ERASER ECTOMY!
If they can grab it with the scope--he will come back to this room--
Gotta go--
Lisa and Roger....and Sweet!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)