And another night in the ER

No, but I can see how my stories would make it sound like that. He usually caths himself, but when his numbers are out of wack, and we end up in the hospital, I usually have to remind him, and maybe help him with stuff.

The nurses don't want to wake him, so tonight, I told them that he wakes at home every 4-6 hours, and he will be ready.

Yesterday, I discovered another great tool at the hospital. I brought one home, thinking I would order some for us, but then couldn't figure out how to order, because there was no name, except the maker.

Finally, I figured out what it is....it is an eme-bag....a bag for emesis. A barf bag, if you will. It's portable, flexible, and graduated, so you can measure output easily, and then dump, flush, and toss.

I ordered a case for us here at home, so we don't have to use those plastic containers that always crack.

His numbers are good enough that I think he'll come home tomorrow. And then he can bitch and moan all day here, instead of there.

sigh.....

It will be good to have him home.

Stephany in Iowa

I remember when i was at the Cleveland Clinic last Dr. Gill was about to do a revision on an Indiana Pouch of a man who was holding l600 cc's.......pouch got floppy......Has Doran ever cathed himself...he does have the Indiana right?
don't tell me you do it for him?....Pat

not silly, but a good one.

And when I stopped back this afternoon, I found out that they had gotten 1200 out again this afternoon.

I stopped and talked to the nurse, in front of the doctor, and told her they must cath more often.

I'll go back after supper, and see if they have!

Stephany in Iowa

Good Lord Stephany l200!!!....he'll get a floppy bladder on top of everything else.......tell them to cath him every 3 to 4 hrs........why can't Doran cath himself?........is that a silly question?
Pat

This morning his hemoglobin was 11, and his inr was down to 1.4, so he's going back on the coumadin. They won't let him go home until they get his cultures, and he's really really unhappy about that!

I took him some milk toast, but when the smell hit him, he barfed.

They hadn't cathed him lately. How do I know? We got 1200 ml out.

So I guess I'll have to check more often. To their credit, they don't know anything about the pouch, and don't know what to watch.

He's just really owly, but getting better. I wish I could help.

Stephany in Iowa

Thanks, Pat. It just seems that this is one of those things we had to learn on our own. Actually, his hemoglobin was OK at the last check, but my memory will not tell me when. I remember his PA calling and telling me that.

So, now we can probably plan that he will need blood with every chemo, and maybe that will prevent this from happening again.

He's grouchy, not eating much, but eating. He just called from the hospital to complain about the bed.

He does remember the fall that broke his jaw, enough that he has expressed regret that it happened, so that was a sign that his memory is better, too.

I took him a bed pad (foam) and some soup. I put the pad on the bed, and made it up with the sheets, and gave him a taste of the soup.

He didn't like the soup, but thought the bed might be better.

I've got my fingers crossed.

Stephany in Iowa