Monday, April 29, 2013

Cliff comes home today

He still feels lousy, and has to force himself to eat even the tiniest bit of food, but they've done all they can for him in the hospital.  I suspect just being home will make him feel better.  
He will have two drainage tubes still in place.  He will be removing the little containers from each tube and measuring the fluid contained in them, then disposing of the fluid.  The tube that goes to a bile duct is the tricky one, because he has to be very careful that nothing pulls or tugs on it:  It HAS to stay in place, and he will be left in place for months.  Yes, months.  A nurse is going to instruct us on the care of the tubes before we leave this morning.   
Can you read my apprehension here?  Right now, Cliff doesn't feel like doing anything, but when he feels better, I don't know how well he will follow doctor's orders about physical activity.  I think we may turn the cows in on the hay crop, then sell the bull (we were going to sell him anyhow) and calves this fall and just buy hay for whatever animals we keep.  I know Cliff isn't going to be lifting any small square bales, and because the big baler is so junky, nobody but him can operate it:  He has to get off the tractor for almost every bale and mess with the innards of the thing, which would be awfully risky as far as keeping the tube where it belongs.    
According to THIS ARTICLE, he isn't supposed to lift over ten pounds during this time.  I don't know how well he will follow this rule.  He sure didn't do too well with doctor's instructions on lifting after his open heart surgery, although no harm came from his disobedience at that time.  If he does too much and the T-tube is pulled from the bile duct, a whole different set of doctors would have to go through another procedure that places a stent in the duct.  That is not a desirable alternative, from what I've gathered on the Internet.  
So.  That's the story from where I sit this morning.    


10 comments:

  1. My mom went through the same thing. She had a stone lodged in her bile duct and had to come home with a drainage tube too. It was no fun at first but he will start feeling better soon. She did lose quite a bit of weight which was a good thing that came out of it. I'm glad he's coming home. I've been worried about him.

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  2. CityBoy and i both came home with drain tubes in place...we ended up pinning and/or taping the tube to our waistbands....helped a little with controling movement of the dang things.....Hope he feels better soon.

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  3. I'm glad he is coming home. Hope he feels better soon.
    It does seem the food is better and you can rest more.

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  4. This does present a problem for Cliff. I know how he likes to work and tinker around. I hope he feels better soon. I will be praying for both of you.

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  5. Just keep reminding him of what could happen if he doesn't follow the doctor's orders. It isn't going to be easy for him or you, but I am so very certain that you'll find a way to deal with it. If anyone can, YOU can!

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  6. I too had the drainage tubes after my surgery. It's not as terrible as it sounds. He can do this. PLEASE tell him to NOT LIFT, though. It can seriously cause him more trouble, I know. Time heals all wounds. And that's what he needs right now, TIME. He can't be impatient now that he's going to be out of the hospital.

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  7. Sending prayers for a safe and fast recovery.

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  8. I know all the medical procedures will be a little scarey at first when Cliff gets home. But you've been through much worse with the heart problems -- this stuff is just inconvenient. The first two weeks after the surgery is the worse because of the pain and the exhaustion. He will sleep a lot and probably be very cranky. You will need a lot of patience but after a couple of weeks of sleep and food and loving concern from his family / friends he will begin to perk up. Hang in there and ask questions -- looks like lots of your friends have been through this before. MGW

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  9. The doctor took the drainage tube out before I left the hospital when I had my gall bladder removed. However, I did have drainage tubes from my mastectomy and my husband would strip them and measure the liquid to report to the doctor's office daily. You may need to help Cliff with this, at least at first until he's feeling better. Gall bladder surgery was harder to recover from in many respects and I know I walked reaaaaly slow for quite a while.
    Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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  10. I'll say this for you---you are nothing if not a realist. Good for you. Sizing up the farm and what may have to be done and all. Some people--a lot?--either wouldn't want to think about it or would kid themselves or something. Good for you.

    Watching. As I said, hoping for the best for you both, for sure.

    Mo Rage

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