Bill was in ER until 2:30 pm today, Friday, and has been returned, now, to the 6th floor, to a really deluxe private room.
There is no treatment yet except his continuing suction of his stomach and small intestines through his nose, with no improvement in the blockage.
The doctors are at a loss to figure it out, at this point. That's a real confidence builder, isn't it? We have no idea what will happen next.
He is back on IV fluids and has pain if he is jostled at all. It's all in a new area, his left side, where the blockage was detected by xray, right near the spot where they yanked out the big stomach tube a few hours before sending him home.
He is exhausted, has no appetite, tired, but seems better than last night. The nose tube suction has a really helpful effect on removing everything at the top of his digestion system. It's like having a clogged drain and nothing will go past the clog, but they don't know what the clog is or where it is.
Still, my guess is they will take a laparoscopic look in there to see if they can find the cause/source.
He's being kind of naughty right now, though. They told him if he walks more, he might get home sooner. So he took that to mean he should go out and walk really fast, a really long way, until his side started killing him.
I said,"Bill, what are you doing?"
He says, "I figure it's like situps. If you do it till it hurts, it makes you better."
I made a noise of Great Exasperation and explained that situps and an intestinal blockage are not comparable. He wouldn't listen.
So, I'm still kind of exasperated. Also, a doctor asked him how he is, and he said, "I feel great."
I said, "Why did you say that? It's not true." [Insert: sound of Beth sighing dramatically...again]I suspect (he denies) that he thinks this kind of answer will get him home faster.
Do you see the lack of logic I'm dealing with on this point?
If he "tricks" them into letting him out early and it happens again, I don't know if I could go through all that again, and come over here again. The last 24 hours was something I hope never to repeat!
Maybe Emma can scorn some sense into him when she gets here. I'm out of ideas!
No, wait. I DO have an idea.
Maybe if I take away his cowboy outfit till he starts behaving in a medically responsible manner...now there's a plan.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Just got home from my cousins' house and caught up. Haven't checked anything else yet.
ReplyDeleteThey're right about the walking -- but not at a super fast speed. For some reason, walking helps get the GI tract going and, um, moving things through... It's the same reason why certain breeds of dogs need to be taken on walks in order to, um, not get blocked up... I've been asking about it for a very long time and nobody quite knows why... Most convincing theory I've heard is that the rotation of the head of the femur in the hip socket provides a gentle massage that stimulates the very tiny constant contractions of the GI tract... I'm not sure I believe it, but it's the best answer I've been given yet. It's from a vet, not a doctor -- people in the medical field just tell me, "It just does -- it doesn't matter why. Is there a reason you're always asking why?!"
It does actually help get things moving -- PROVIDED you don't do it to excess. ;)
I'm glad to hear that he's well enough to be mobile and not in the ER any more!!! And to hear you drove there safely...
On the bright side, if he's there, he'll be limited in what he is able to do while his stitches have time to heal so he is less likely to split them open...
Maybe you should try making him a sign for over his bed or cross stitching him a stomacher that says "This too shall pass." Tell his intestines to listen to the wisdom of Solomon...
*hugs* So much drama -- and none of it the fun kind :((((((
Lord, have mercy.
ReplyDeleteChrist have mercy.
Lord have mercy. We love you both, Margaret and Van