update on my husband's RC/IC

8 years 3 months ago #50207 by jimswife
Replied by jimswife on topic update on my husband's RC/IC
Glad that it's to home today! Wishing you an wonderful Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year!

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8 years 3 months ago #50203 by wifeofmike
Replied by wifeofmike on topic update on my husband's RC/IC
If all goes right, Mike will be coming home today! His surgeon came in while I was there yesterday and said everything is going well. He will send Mike home with oral medication for the infection. He said he'll probably keep the JP drain in because it's still draining a fair amount. That's ok, one of the nurses yesterday showed me how to drain and "strip" it.
He's still not eating all that great, but I showed him your posts, George, about grazing and lots of fluids. Good thing he likes cranberry juice! I think once he's home he'll eat better because we have things in the house that he likes. I tried some of his hamburger and fries last night that he ordered for dinner. It was ok and the fries were a little soggy.
It's amazing how many nurses don't know how to change a bag! When I went to visit him after work yesterday, I thought I detected a urine odor. I checked his bag and only saw one stent in it. He told me another nurse said his bag was leaking and "fixed it." I was a bit worried because he told me that he thinks she "broke off one of the wires." I told him that there are no wires, its stents coming from his kidneys and you can't break them off. Here when I checked, one of the stents was under the wafer attached to his skin and draining urine on him and the bed!
I got his nurse and told her, then I changed the wafer and bag and cleaned him up! I was a little upset about that. When his doctor came in, I told him and I told him how I cleaned him up and changed everything.
All in all, this has been a big learning experience for me. I feel a little proud of myself that I learned how to do this for him. He knows how to empty the bag periodically and attach the night bag. All that is his responsibility, but I'll help him for a while changing the wafers and bags.
Thank you everyone for your support and suggestions. This site is full of valuable information. I'm going to tell my husband's surgeon about it the next time I see him and of course, I'll still be posting and asking questions.

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8 years 3 months ago #50194 by CatherineH
Replied by CatherineH on topic update on my husband's RC/IC
I'm glad things are going well with adjusting to the bag, but sorry to hear he has the infection. Hopefully that can be dealt with quickly.

Just getting out of the hospital will be the best medicine. I remember after my surgery, and after a 300-mile drive to get home, getting out of the car and walking into my house was the best feeling ever. And, yes, the luxury of a nice long shower is therapeutic! Hopefully that will happen any day now.

Best wishes... Catherine

TURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN

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8 years 3 months ago #50191 by GKLINE
Replied by GKLINE on topic update on my husband's RC/IC
I am loving this news!
His sense of humor is keen and that will help the recovery process.
As for the eating thing...... He will just have to learn the art of "Grazing"
And that is a wonderful thing. NO big meals, but a constant visit to the fridge for small bites of anything. I remember it well.... I gained back the 20lbs I lost int the hospital in a year.
Your last post is really quite good news! Small snacks(constantly) Plenty of fluids(cranbery juice), sense of humor and a loving support team(you) and things are looking good for the both of you.

Merry Christmas. I hope you are together at home.

Geoge

Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he's warm forever.

08/08/08...RC neo bladder
09/09/09...New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]

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8 years 3 months ago #50188 by wifeofmike
Replied by wifeofmike on topic update on my husband's RC/IC
My husband is still in the hospital. Today is 2 weeks since his surgery. Around the end of last week his nurse told me that his white blood count was elevated, which means an infection. He didn't have a fever and he felt fine. They cultured his blood and urine and the weekend covering physician said the cultured urine "grew something" so he was given an antibiotic.
He is on semi-solid foods but he doesn't eat much. After not having solids for close to 2 weeks you really can't eat a lot. He'll need to work his way up to that or eat a few smaller meals a day.
He's doing well with his bag. A WOC nurse taught both of us about changing the bags and wafers and taking care of the skin around it.
All in all, I think he'll be so much better when he gets home. He'll be able to move around better once all those IV tubes are out.
He said the first thing he'll do when he gets home is take a hot shower for 1 hour!!!!!

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8 years 3 months ago #50138 by GKLINE
Replied by GKLINE on topic update on my husband's RC/IC
Please don't despair about this. Remember, he just had his intestines all discombobulated, and recovery takes time. I am surprised that he was given any food after so few days. I was in the hospital for 12 days and I never had any solid food. Although passing gas is a festive goal that shows the digestive system is coming back online.

I hope this is just a small bmnp in the road and he continues to improve. We have to remember that this is Major surgery and the chance for some detour in the road is always there.

Keep your spirits up and know that there will be some setbacks. But in the end, we want him to be cancer free.

George

Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he's warm forever.

08/08/08...RC neo bladder
09/09/09...New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]
The following user(s) said Thank You: wifeofmike

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