Today is August 25th, 11 weeks post surgery and we had a checkup with the surgeon, Dr. Boudreaux. He is very pleased with my progress and reiterated that recovery would be very slow, given the 15% weight loss prior to surgery along with the 14hrs of prolonged surgery, 4 units of blood, and 2 weeks post hospital stay. I continue to desire faster and greater recovery but must live with what I have been able to accomplish.
On the plus side, he has written me an authorization for a return to work on September 8th as tolerated. I plan to start back to work on the 8th, doing 20hr days, working a 9-1 schedule, working in all my doctors, PT, and other appointments in the afternoon. This also gives me plenty of time to nap in the afternoon if needed and to take a slow start to the workday in the morning.
As to the future, we are currently planning short simple surgeries to address the tumors around the rectum. We will be performing minimally invasive surgery using nanoknife with an entrance through the anus to try and ablate the tumors as much as possible. There is so little room in the pelvis to work, the hope is to reduce the size of the tumors with the minimally invasive surgery so that a major surgery has much less to do when/if it occurs.
This surgery is scheduled for November 11th with an MRI on November 9th and a clinic appointment on the 10th. Surgery will then be on the 11th if possible or the 13th if not. Potentially, I could be released the day after surgery but Dr. Boudreaux is planning on keeping me in the hospital a few days as we ween me off of the Sandostatin drip.
The advantage of using nanoknife is that the only external wound I will receive will be large needle pokes through the wall of the rectum. Since I currently have an ostomy, there is little possibility of infection and the healing is very quick. Nanoknife works well for ablating tissue in sensitive areas as the area between the ablated tissue and the non ablated tissue is very sharp, allowing one to get close to good tissue without damaging it. Of course, it still is surgery and that always caries risk but this, compared to the 14hrs two months ago is almost a walk in the park.
If this is successful, we may return for treatment every 3 months or so and evaluate when a major surgery may take place to complete the debulking and to address the ureter. This could be next summer but we don't know much at this time.
So, in two weeks, I head back to work and life starts another big step forward. Thanks for all the support so far and the well wishes that I have received. Now to get back home and out of this insanely oppressive New Orleans heat/humidity!
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Gaining strength and endurance
Recovery is progressing, probably at the rate that doctors may expect but at a rate slower than I desire. I left the hospital with all my muscles atrophied to an extent that I had not realized. My first walks at home were just three houses down the street and back home which took almost all I had. My arms have lost tremendous amounts of strength and that is saying something, given my lack of musculature that I had before the obstruction. Upon coming home, I was able to do only about 20 arm curls with my left arm with a less than 1 pound weight.
I am now able to make 2 mile walks, even with a significant hill coming back home. My arm curls have now progressed to 3 pound weights 30 times but it is a stretch getting to that 30th curl at this point. I am still very weak but I do see the progress and know that it is just going to be a matter of time until I am closer to whole again.
Stephanie and I head out to see the surgeon in New Orleans on the 25th of August and hope to get his clearance to return to work at least part time. shortly there after. I may delay it until after Labor day to ensure that I am able to tolerate both the time at work along with the drive and walk into work that I anticipate. That will mark 13 weeks post surgery which is still ahead of the rule of thumb of 1 week for every hour of surgery (14 in my case) but I have the months of lack of eating to make up for as well. That said, part time will be more tolerable than a full time schedule and is something that works well with the long term disability policy that Metron has provided.
I am also looking forward to playing hockey once again but that is dependent upon my regaining sufficient strength as well. I still have to struggle back to my feet when I am on my knees and I worry about how well I will or won't be able to move my glove hand (right arm) with the additional weight and resistance of goalie gear. The next session of hockey will likely start on August 31 but the next game is Labor day and I am hoping I may be able to return to the ice for that game. First, I need to try skating and perhaps go to a sticks and pucks session or two to evaluate my readiness.
The other issue causing me concern is my colostomy. Losing 25 or so pounds has changed my body shape quite a bit and it is causing issues with keeping things in place. I am experimenting with new products and new techniques, hoping that they can solve some of these issues which must be resolved before a return to work or hockey can occur.
I am being somewhat successful in eating which is a good thing. I am now up to about 146 pounds and am gaining weight at about half a pound a week. My stomach seems to be expanding again and I can eat more at a single setting than I could a month ago. I do also continue to consume supplements such as Ensure or protein bars and I try my best to plan my meals and food around calories and how this will benefit my weight gains.
Finally, I am receiving physical therapy to address the numbness and tingling in my left arm. The therapist always asks if things feel better and it is extremely hard to evaluate. The same way that it is difficult to notice someone's weight gains or losses on a day to day basis, it is difficult to evaluate these changes for me. Fortunately, on my first day of therapy, they performed some tests that have a definite ability to measure changes and we will re-evaluate the changes at a later point to give a measure of certainty. For now, I just need to believe that they are doing things that will help make my disability better.
Overall, things are looking up. I have come a long ways from the brutal surgery that I endured and the bizarre post-op period in the ICU. I am on my way to full recovery and look forward to seeing everyone at work and play!
I am now able to make 2 mile walks, even with a significant hill coming back home. My arm curls have now progressed to 3 pound weights 30 times but it is a stretch getting to that 30th curl at this point. I am still very weak but I do see the progress and know that it is just going to be a matter of time until I am closer to whole again.
Stephanie and I head out to see the surgeon in New Orleans on the 25th of August and hope to get his clearance to return to work at least part time. shortly there after. I may delay it until after Labor day to ensure that I am able to tolerate both the time at work along with the drive and walk into work that I anticipate. That will mark 13 weeks post surgery which is still ahead of the rule of thumb of 1 week for every hour of surgery (14 in my case) but I have the months of lack of eating to make up for as well. That said, part time will be more tolerable than a full time schedule and is something that works well with the long term disability policy that Metron has provided.
I am also looking forward to playing hockey once again but that is dependent upon my regaining sufficient strength as well. I still have to struggle back to my feet when I am on my knees and I worry about how well I will or won't be able to move my glove hand (right arm) with the additional weight and resistance of goalie gear. The next session of hockey will likely start on August 31 but the next game is Labor day and I am hoping I may be able to return to the ice for that game. First, I need to try skating and perhaps go to a sticks and pucks session or two to evaluate my readiness.
The other issue causing me concern is my colostomy. Losing 25 or so pounds has changed my body shape quite a bit and it is causing issues with keeping things in place. I am experimenting with new products and new techniques, hoping that they can solve some of these issues which must be resolved before a return to work or hockey can occur.
I am being somewhat successful in eating which is a good thing. I am now up to about 146 pounds and am gaining weight at about half a pound a week. My stomach seems to be expanding again and I can eat more at a single setting than I could a month ago. I do also continue to consume supplements such as Ensure or protein bars and I try my best to plan my meals and food around calories and how this will benefit my weight gains.
Finally, I am receiving physical therapy to address the numbness and tingling in my left arm. The therapist always asks if things feel better and it is extremely hard to evaluate. The same way that it is difficult to notice someone's weight gains or losses on a day to day basis, it is difficult to evaluate these changes for me. Fortunately, on my first day of therapy, they performed some tests that have a definite ability to measure changes and we will re-evaluate the changes at a later point to give a measure of certainty. For now, I just need to believe that they are doing things that will help make my disability better.
Overall, things are looking up. I have come a long ways from the brutal surgery that I endured and the bizarre post-op period in the ICU. I am on my way to full recovery and look forward to seeing everyone at work and play!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)