This has been the reaction I have gotten from a lot of people when I tell them Justin is in the hospital. Now think of the reaction when I follow that up with, and he just had his large intestine removed on Monday night.
The first 12 hours after surgery were really tough on Justin. I said in the last post that even though they kept upping the dosage of morphine, he wasn't feeling any relief to his pain. In addition, he was itching terribly all over his legs and back and the benedryl they gave him was no relief. So approximately 12 hours after being brought back to his room was when the discovery was made. Justin had a slight allergy to morphine and (maybe it was because of the allergy) it was not helping him with pain at all. He was switched to demerol and was then able to sleep for a couple hours.
Later on Tuesday (less than 24 hours after surgery began) he took his first walk out in the hallway - what a difference the right pain medication makes! Anyone who has had their abdomen cut open knows that moving around is not an easy task. Wednesday, he took 2 walks around the hallways and said he felt better than he had for months, in spite of the pain from the incision which was much better since he was no longer on morphine. He also spent quite a bit of time sitting up in a chair instead of laying in bed. Also yesterday they let him have clear liquids for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Today he was feeling pretty sore though, probably from the moving around he did yesterday. The more he moves around - even though it makes him sore - the better it is for him and his healing. So he went on 3 walks around the hallways today. They also moved him on to full liquids today - which we are happy includes foods with milk (no lactose-free diet!).
We are guessing that he will be coming home on Tuesday, but we won't know for sure when he will be discharged until they come into his room and say he will be going home that day. We do know that he has to be eating normal foods and having his body process them and digest them correctly before he can leave the hospital.
Even after he comes home he will have a few weeks of rest and recovery at home before he will be released by the doctor to go back to work. And the doctor said that he shouldn't do anything strenuous for about 2 months or so post surgery. The lengths Justin goes to in order to avoid doing yard work!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
What?!?
Posted by Julie at 11:19 PM
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3 comments:
I've been dying for an update! Thank you for posting this. I'm SOOO glad, grateful and elated to hear he is progressing so well and so fabulously! Rock on, Justin!
Sounds like you guys have your humor and are making the best of it. Way to be awesome!! I'm so happy Justin already feels better...wow...talk about the pain he must have been in.
And, I agree. Demorol is lovely! :)
How's the belly doing, Julie?? :)
So glad to hear that Justin is doing better. You both have been in our thoughts and prayers.
Sounds an awful lot like a c-section, but without the joys of a baby to distract you. Hope the recovery goes well. Does Justin have the hunched over, it hurts to stand up straight shuffle? And you probably better not make him laugh for a few weeks . . . it hurts too much. So glad that he can have dairy products. When you blogged about all the things he had to eliminate from his diet, I felt really sad for you. Enjoy that cheese!
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