Round 3: Here we go again!

 Lin is sleeping (with only minor snoring) in her own bed. She is a very happy miracle/perfect patient right now! We’re home for about 3 weeks and then back to our Ontario family (as long as her recovery continues). Life is good🤩👯‍♀️

 👏🏻🤩👯‍♀️👍🥳👣👣👣 Yes!! Those feet are leading us out of this hospital TODAY!!! I’m sitting with the ‘perfect patient’ (yes, that’s really what the Docs said this morning) waiting patiently for the final discharge papers to be completed. Then it will be off to our home away from home at the Reid’s. And home to Vernon tomorrow!!  We are beyond grateful to Dr. MacNeill and her team.  We equally thankful to all our friends and family who hung there with us over all the hills and valleys.  It does take a village……. Our thanks 😊 

 Good morning! Lin has started complaining about hospital food, another good sign! She’s been on a low fat diet to alleviate the chyle leakage and now we’re searching for recipes that are low fat but tasty. Any suggestions?? The docs are very pleased, numbers are trending the way they should! Still thinking we’ll be back in Vernon sometime this weekend…HURRAY!!! I haven’t told you much about my adventures. This is one from yesterday… I’ve learned the transit system because Judi is visiting some relatives. I haven’t been on a bus in decades. Yesterday, on my way back to Tanya’s, I could hear a guitar when I got on the bus and sure enough, a dread-locked man in the back seat was drinking beer and singing about the bus…quite well and with good volume! It was a lovely serenade😃

 The remaining staples were pulled this morning without a problem. Now she’s sitting up for her lunch. Everything is about food now!! 

 A wonderful day! Staples came out without any problems. Lin had her IV replaced with minimal discomfort. Lots of walks, stairs tomorrow! I took a bus home; I haven’t been on a bus in maybe 4 decades.

 Things are progressing!! Today every second staple in her incision will be removed. Yesterday one drain was removed. The docs have started using the ‘H’ word. Bloodwork will determine when happens but all those pesky numbers that were a bit too high are trending down towards a more normal range. Life is good🤗

 Good morning! The docs visited this morning, having spoken earlier with Dr. McNeill, and the decision moving forward is to let all this stuff going on in her body resolve itself. So back to the very low fat diet and probably more bloodwork!

 So, we’re kind of in a holding pattern. No drain was inserted today because Lin’s bloodwork came back this am showing that there may be some kind of leak from the pancreas and the docs want to make sure that any drain is inserted exactly where it can do its job. So more bloodwork tomorrow and then there will be a decision made whether to insert a drain or repeat the CT Scan. But no fever, no elevated white blood cell count, BP is good. And the docs who visited Lin today said she looked and sounded really good!

 An eventful day! Lin had a CT scan which showed that the chyle leaking from the lymphatic system was forming a collection in her abdomen. So tomorrow a drain will be inserted close to the collection site . If you’ve read the first 2 blogs, you’ll know that any kind of abdominal collection can become an infection. So relieved that the docs have figured this out quickly and have a plan to deal with this bump in the road. Other than that, incision is healing nicely, BP is good, and her sense of humour is keeping her nurses smiling!!

 Hi! Well, another wee bump in the road. Lin has developed a leak from her lymphatic system which can be hopefully dealt with a low fat diet. That has started and will continue during the weekend, then another assessment on Monday. She’s still in good spirits!

 Quick post. Lin continues to improve! Detached from the pole!! Many walks! Docs are pleased.

 And another day on the road to recovery! Lin had a few bites of toast with peanut butter this morning and everyone is very pleased that it has not caused any problems! A lovely day here in Van! Hoping we can get to the 4th floor deck for some fresh air, maybe after a snooze.

 An absolutely wonderful day🤩! The nausea has left the building.

 What a difference a day makes!! (No, I’m not going to burst into song!) Much better today, no nausea! Lin even came with me to the 2nd floor cafeteria, watched me eat perogies while regaling me with updates on The Young and the Breastless. I know she’s feeling okay when soap operas antics are part of our conversation!

Good morning! We’re hoping the docs have found the source of that continuing nausea, a urinary tract infection. Lin is now receiving good antibiotics for that. I’ll know more once I check in with her nurse.

 Oops! The nausea has returned and we’re in a holding pattern as to whether the blasted NG tube needs to be reinserted. The concern is loss of fluids, possible dehydration. A decision will be made soon about this. But not a totally bad day, the liver surgeon/doc came by and is pleased with her recovery from that surgical nick so that drain will be removed.

 Sorry about not posting last night. I had trouble accessing the blog and as many of you know, I am not the computer whiz in our family! Lovely visit with our Miracle girl last night. We ventured off the 9th floor to the cafe on the main floor where Lin watched me eat a delicious peanut butter/toffee treat. No huffing/puffing on the way there or back👏🏻. We’re hoping today will bring the introduction of some liquids, maybe even jello into her system. She’s doing really well, folks!

 Woohooo!!! And the NG tube has been removed. Mild nausea after and now that has settled. And she can swallow now with minimal discomfort. All her other numbers are good! Snoozing now.

 Woohoo!! The NG tube comes out at noon! A cause for major celebration. Not only does it mean the gut is doing what it’s supposed to do, but also that wretched irritation of her throat will stop! I know how fortunate I’ve been to have the care and support of two remarkable women during Lin’s battle against this beast. In Calgary, Tracy saved me TWICE and here in Van, Judi has kept me grounded and made me laugh. I cannot thank these two women enough for their kindness and generosity.

 Lin just messaged to say…NO NAUSEA! Thank goodness!! We’re back on track and the NG tube will be pulled tomorrow. Good night, hug somebody you love😘🤗, sleep well.

 Wow! Lots done in the past hour! Dressing is gone from her abdomen, 30+ staples, and only one small section that is still oozing a bit, the rest is well on the road to healing! Other dressings around drains also changed, all looking healthy. Temp, blood pressure good! Having a wee rest, then it’s more walkies 👯‍♀️

 NG tube pulled another 5 cm brought some immediate relief and this brought a smile to her face…

 The nausea problem is not completely resolved. Now waiting for someone to pull the NG tube out another 4 cm. But she’s such a trooper, sitting up, walking.

 Well, we’re hoping they have figured out the nausea issue! Tonight, our nurse pulled the NG tube 5cm out of her body and now we’re waiting to go for an X-ray to make sure that the end of the tube is where it should be rather than where it has been causing problems. Lin really does have a complicated body!  We’ve had a few requests about visits but we’re thinking we need to wait until Lin has been moved from this Step Down unit and we have absolutely no idea when that might be…no predicting when the docs will decide she’s ready to face more of the world. Thanks for understanding 🤗

 Still nauseous, but no vomiting. Snoozing lots! Good drugs!! And another short walk👯‍♀️

 Good morning. Last night was rough. Lin’s nausea continued to be an issue, increasing to the point where she was projectile vomiting. Obviously, this was cause for concern. An ultrasound was ordered and done in her room which showed no signs of a blockage or any anomaly in the abdominal area. A doctor from the surgical team came, assessed the ultrasound and situation, and did not offer any useful medical advice. More anti- nausea drugs were administered and when I left, she was still experiencing nausea, but not as severe as earlier in the evening and she was able to close her eyes and doze for short periods. I talked to her nurse this morning. Still nauseated, but sitting up and no projectile stuff. Stay tuned for more info as the day progresses.