The urologist finished operating on Dad by 9:00am today. He was able to scrape out more (most? all?) of the tumor from inside Dad's bladder. He was not able to put in a stent during this operation as hoped.
There was a back-up of urine in the system, which is now getting flushed out by a saline solution flowing through Dad's bladder. Dad has a catheter as part of this. However, the nurse told me that he seems comfortable. This is a big change from Dad's last catheter experience, which was painful.
Next Dad will have surgery to add a stent or tube, if I understand right, through the back to the bladder, to allow urine to flow. This might happen as early as tomorrow morning.
A big thanks to Cousin Sean who will volunteered to transport Mom to and from the hospital most days this week.
Dad expecting surgery on Monday, 7/14/2014
Dad is having bowel movements again.
His white blood cell count also seems to be improving enough that they think he will have surgery for putting in a stent sometime Monday.
Dad still has no appetite but has been forcing himself to eat the food he is being brought.
He still has no pain, but suspects it is part due to pain killers. One type of food gives him heartburn, but he feels it as a pressure, not as a pain.
His white blood cell count also seems to be improving enough that they think he will have surgery for putting in a stent sometime Monday.
Dad still has no appetite but has been forcing himself to eat the food he is being brought.
He still has no pain, but suspects it is part due to pain killers. One type of food gives him heartburn, but he feels it as a pressure, not as a pain.
Dad resting better, awaiting better white blood cell count
The urinary tract infection is reducing. As a result, Dad is able to urinate a bit better. That means he is able to go longer between times. So rather than getting up every 15 minutes at night, he was able to sleep for a few hours at a time. This made him look better, and he seemed less emotional as well.
He is still constipated, and his body has not responded to the laxatives given for this.
He is walking well still. He walked too fast for the short nurse who escorted him around the floor hallways.
The antibiotics should improve the white blood cell count situation, so Dad can get his surgery done early next week. They delayed it at the last moment because with the low white blood cell count (at least for the ones that fight external infection), they were afraid of galloping bacteria spreading infection.
He is still constipated, and his body has not responded to the laxatives given for this.
He is walking well still. He walked too fast for the short nurse who escorted him around the floor hallways.
The antibiotics should improve the white blood cell count situation, so Dad can get his surgery done early next week. They delayed it at the last moment because with the low white blood cell count (at least for the ones that fight external infection), they were afraid of galloping bacteria spreading infection.
Dad to have surgery Friday 7/11/2014.
The doctors seem to have decided Dad can have his surgery tomorrow, Friday.
If I understand right, it is to have his bladder scraped out, a stent put in to improve flow, and to drain fluid from his kidney.
It will probably be in the morning.
Depending on how scan says things look inside, they'll go in from the front or maybe from the back, which is worse.
If I understand right, it is to have his bladder scraped out, a stent put in to improve flow, and to drain fluid from his kidney.
It will probably be in the morning.
Depending on how scan says things look inside, they'll go in from the front or maybe from the back, which is worse.
Dad to get stent in urinary tract to help with infection and tumor blockage
Mom did not think Dad looked in very good shape yesterday.
Dad is still having trouble resting due to frequently urinating small amounts.
This is due to both the tumor blocking things up and urinary tract infection.
The urinary tract infection seems resistant to the first antibiotic they gave, so they are using another now.
The doctors want to put in a stent to provide a path from the bladder out.
However, they have to wait until some of Dad's regular medications, such as blood thinners, are out of his system.
Work to clear out Dad's urinary tract was originally scheduled for 7/11, Friday, even before the recent issues. However, due to some misunderstanding, I cancelled it. Therefore Dad did not stop taking the blood thinners earlier. Dad thought the 7/11 surgery was to remove his bladder, and he knew that since there was cancer on the liver that removal was not a near term step.
Because of worries of the infection spreading to others, Dad was moved to a private room. That is a bit of worry for his claustrophobia. Hopefully the window and open door will be enough to keep him comfortable.
Also because of worry of infection, Mom is not supposed to touch nor kiss Dad now. That adds to the sadness.
Dad is very sad, in part because he worries greatly about Mom.
Dad seemed encouraged by the visits of family.
Thanks to Aunt Vera and Cousin Sean who have taken time out of their previously scheduled lives to take Mom to the hospital so far this week.
I plan on taking Mom today at around 2pm.
Dad is still having trouble resting due to frequently urinating small amounts.
This is due to both the tumor blocking things up and urinary tract infection.
The urinary tract infection seems resistant to the first antibiotic they gave, so they are using another now.
The doctors want to put in a stent to provide a path from the bladder out.
However, they have to wait until some of Dad's regular medications, such as blood thinners, are out of his system.
Work to clear out Dad's urinary tract was originally scheduled for 7/11, Friday, even before the recent issues. However, due to some misunderstanding, I cancelled it. Therefore Dad did not stop taking the blood thinners earlier. Dad thought the 7/11 surgery was to remove his bladder, and he knew that since there was cancer on the liver that removal was not a near term step.
Because of worries of the infection spreading to others, Dad was moved to a private room. That is a bit of worry for his claustrophobia. Hopefully the window and open door will be enough to keep him comfortable.
Also because of worry of infection, Mom is not supposed to touch nor kiss Dad now. That adds to the sadness.
Dad is very sad, in part because he worries greatly about Mom.
Dad seemed encouraged by the visits of family.
Thanks to Aunt Vera and Cousin Sean who have taken time out of their previously scheduled lives to take Mom to the hospital so far this week.
I plan on taking Mom today at around 2pm.
Dad much more comfortable after chemo and hospital admission
This morning Dad looked bad and was very shaky. He was wondering if to cancel chemo or not.
He was convinced to go.
He got chemo, including hydration, and including comfort drugs that normally would not get because he usually drives himself.
He was told to go to the hospital, which he did not like. However, he did.
He is now in South Macomb hospital, fifth floor. Dad is in the hospital due to lack of recent digestion movement. Almost none in, no solids out, very little liquid. The hospital will work to make sure he is not blocked up inside. They are wanting to get food and drink input and output working well again.
By the time he got settled in a hospital bed, Dad looked a lot better. Everything seems fine now, at least comparatively. When Mom left the hospital today, Dad looked and sounded comfortable, and said he felt OK. That is something he had not been for a few days, at least.
Mom seems to understand that she should not be driving alone with her short term memory loss. She feels taxis are outrageously expensive, so we'll have to taxi her to/from the hospital for visits while trying to teach her that professional taxis are not so bad.
He was convinced to go.
He got chemo, including hydration, and including comfort drugs that normally would not get because he usually drives himself.
He was told to go to the hospital, which he did not like. However, he did.
He is now in South Macomb hospital, fifth floor. Dad is in the hospital due to lack of recent digestion movement. Almost none in, no solids out, very little liquid. The hospital will work to make sure he is not blocked up inside. They are wanting to get food and drink input and output working well again.
By the time he got settled in a hospital bed, Dad looked a lot better. Everything seems fine now, at least comparatively. When Mom left the hospital today, Dad looked and sounded comfortable, and said he felt OK. That is something he had not been for a few days, at least.
Mom seems to understand that she should not be driving alone with her short term memory loss. She feels taxis are outrageously expensive, so we'll have to taxi her to/from the hospital for visits while trying to teach her that professional taxis are not so bad.
Dad losing hope; Mom coping
Dad seems to have no hope, or is losing what little hope he has, of recovery right now.
With the aggressive liver cancer, the chemotherapy has been harsher. As a result Dad has been feeling it, unlike before. He has been sicker than a dog the last couple days. He is thinner again, due to poor nourishment.
With the aggressive liver cancer, the chemotherapy has been harsher. As a result Dad has been feeling it, unlike before. He has been sicker than a dog the last couple days. He is thinner again, due to poor nourishment.
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