It is now 10 days since my operation. Not counting the day of surgery, I spent 4 days in the hospital and was discharged on Sunday, Aug. 30. My hospital stay was interesting. The hospital staff was (for the most part) friendly and attentive. And with LA as a whole, the hospital staff was very diverse. I also found it interesting the differences of how USC / Keck hospital and it's clinics are run compared to our smaller Utah facilities. The vast number and diversity of people in the waiting areas, the use of hallways for extra space, and lack of free parking were eye opening in this big LA system. Anyway, we have managed to success full navigate this jungle. And I don't even want to get into the traffic / freeway system.
As for the medical / procedure stuff, there was a lot more to the home care then I was expecting. I don't think just one care giver would have been enough at the beginning. First there are pills that need to be taken at certain times, then a shot that has to be given, then the big one - every 4 hrs. the catheter has to be flushed, then each night my port has flushed and cleared for IV water treatments every other day. I know this doesn't seem like much, but if you have never done anything like this before, it is scary.
Flushing the catheter is the most involved. Because the neo bladder, which is made from 2 ft of my small intestine, produces mucus, it is important to not let this mucus accumulate in the new bladder. To prevent this, we inject 50 ml of saline solution up through the catheter with a syringe and into the neo bladder. We then pull back on the syringe to suck back out the water with along any mucus that the neo bladder has made. This process usually requires a minimum of 4 attempts. The waste is squirted into a pan and disposed of. Unfortunately, it doesn't always go smooth and the syringe does not cooperate. Sometimes a suction is created and you can not suck any fluid back out. So you need to move or adjust the catheter till you are clear. Not easy if you have never done this before and it needs to be done every 4 hours. But I am very lucky to have 2 terrific caregivers (Barb and Cheryl) who are helping navigate this territory.
To be honest I have been doing well since I have left the hospital. Where the cut through my abdomen is healing and is strong. But I have been struggling with some other issues that make each day a challenge. They said the 2 most frequent complications are dehydration and constipation. Neither of those has occurred. The irony is that the opposite has occurred. I have had diarrhea pretty much since I have left the hospital. They were giving me a stool softener to counter act the pain pill. But I soon found that wasn't needed. Now I am on a BRAT diet to try and firm things up. But this diarrhea has me tied to the house and with a lack of energy. It is frustrating.
And now for the more amusing complication. I hope you can read this with a sense of humor, although it is truly uncomfortable for me. While in the hospital I noticed my genital area becoming enlarged or swelling. I asked the doctor and was told this is normal. On Monday, our 1st full day at the house, I received my 1st IV hydration. At bedtime that evening Barb, Cheryl, and I prepped for my bedtime catheter / bladder flushing. When my shorts were removed , we all gasped at the size that my genitals had become. My scrotum was now larger then a softball. My penis had swollen so large that it was barely recognizable. Of course, after the initial freak and shock, the humor and jokes started coming. I called it my medical freak show. Of course the doctors said it was normal. They also said it might take 6 weeks for the swelling to go down. Basically, the fluids in my abdomen and body need to adjust from the surgery - or so they say. There isn't much that can be done to speed it up either. So I waddle bowlegged through the house being careful when sitting. So in my recent facebook post, when I referenced AC / DC, I was referring to their song "Big Balls".
It is now Labor Day, as I am trying to finish this post for 3-4 days. One would think I have all kinds of time to do whatever I like, but to be honest I have spent a lot of time just lying in bed. I have been walking about 1 mile total each day and I hope to keep increasing. I try to keep my nutrition up with my toast and rice diet by drinking Boost. I miss a nice grilled cheese burger. But I am now half way through the process and hopefully soon on a airplane home and this behind me. Although Barb has left to head home, she was a great help and support to me while she was here. I am so thankful that Cheryl continues to help me. I know the sacrifice that both Tim and she are making on my behalf, and I am so grateful. Thank you again for all your prayers and support.
