Dr. Berkowitz, Dr. Russell, and Dr. Fleming came to see Mom at 11:55. Dr. Berkowitz examined the infection in Mom's incision. He said he thought it looked pretty clean. If it stays clean for the next few days, they will start chemotherapy on Thursday with a discharge likely soon after. Unfortunately, the incision will need to stay open to heal and the chemotherapy will delay the wound's ability to heal. Dr. Berkowitz explained, however, that the open wound is an inconvenience, while the cancer is life-threatening. The chemotherapy needs to be started right away. Also, in the long run the chemotherapy will help the healing because the cancer will stop robbing Mom's body of nutrition.
Also, Mom's bowel is not "awake" yet. It may not wake up until after the chemotherapy treatment because the cancer nodules are disrupting the small bowel's nervous system.
This means that Mom will likely go home with a need for TPN (intravenous nutrition) and an open wound in her stomach. The doctors will try to connect us with a visiting nurse and a company that will deliver the TPN, but Mom is quite concerned about the process of going home. She fears being in such a helpless state with the demands of family. The hospital has been a contained environment - home is less predictable. The idea of the open wound made her cry.
Stephen
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5 comments:
Hello all,
Regarding the wound healing, there is a medical food product called Arginaid that helps wounds heal. It helped Grandpa Kowalski's wound heal. Can this be used or is the Arginine put into the TPN making it redundant?
Also, a side effect of pain medication is constipation. May this be contributing to the bowel not waking up?
Mary
Joanne,
We are praying for you throughout each and every day, for all of the new details, and especially for complete healing. We sang an anthem yesterday and I felt lead to share the words with you. Think of a regal 2/2 almost Colonial American type sound.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!
Your righteousness, what joy abounds.
Your holiness, Your mercy free,
Your mighty hand protecting me.
A firm foundation, Thou art Christ.
The everliving Sacrifice.
The Prince of Peace, you are to me
and King of Kings, you'll ever be.
O Lord we thank You for Your love,
for life and breath and heaven above.
For You alone are worthy of our hymn of joy and grateful praise!
Lord we rejoice in all Your ways.
Amazing power and majesty!
True wisdom only comes from Thee.
Your sweet, sweet Spirit fills the air.
Your loving Presence everywhere.
Oh Lord we thank You for Your love
for life and breath and heaven above,
For You alone are worthy of our hymn of joy and grateful praise,
Lord we rejoice in all Your ways.
Love from the Hatfields
We posted a comment for last night regarding the open wound. It really isn't a big deal. It isn't painful. Someone will have to change the packing twice a day but that's all. If you're not queasy about looking at layers of skin, it's not disgusting or anything. Our family thought it was fascinating really.
You can marvel at how your inward parts are fearfully and wonderfully made when you change the packing!
Love, The Powders
Oh Joanne -- I am so sorry -- I feel so helpless but you are constantly on my mind...
I hope this doesn't seem impertinent or overly impersonal to leave this comment here, but I just read something, (which makes logical sense on reflection...), but it said that if you are going through chemotherapy, to avoid antioxidant vitamins -- or antioxidant anything i would assume, as it works against the chemo.
Much love and prayers friend, Jen
I used cold laser therapy on one of my patient's who had colorectal cancer surgery when his incision was not healing and became infected and it worked quite rapidly and effectively. 635nm visible (red)light aimed directly at the wound but with the laser wand/emitter held a cm above the wound. Scan over the wound slowly, stay at infected areas 15-30seconds, for a total of 3-4 min. treatment duration.
Michael
PS sorry for putting in my two cents, but I just had to after reading about this for the last couple of days. And dont worry it won't burn a hole through you, it is COLD laser, 1% of the energy of Hot laser, but very effective, FDA approved(whatever that means), and you do not feel a thing. It actually speeds up the wound healing.
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