Larry's Progress

annieg · Regular Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 48 Location: London

Dear Jenny and Larry

All very good news. Dear Larry keep those breathing and toe wiggling exercises up, they are so important. Your determination doesn't surprise me at all, always been the same. All love to you both. Jenny, make sure you look after yourself too, Larry is in the best hands there are, so make sure you get rest and eat properly. Shall I bring chicken soup? Look forward to hearing the latest installment.

Love to you both
Annie

jennysking · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:48 am Post subject: Re: Larry's Progress

Thursday morning

Thanks to all for kind postings and loads of emails.

Larry had a bad night - pain kept him awake and stressed. However, this morning the pain is back under control. He is extremely tired and I'm hoping that he will get some quality sleep this morning.

Some small blisters have risen up on the side of his shoulder and arm - this is probably from either a reaction to plaster/strapping or a type of pressure sore from a position he was put in during surgery. The nursing staff are not too concerned but are keeping an eye on them.

He is past a crutial stage. He's persisted with his breathing excercises and coughing is obviously so painful but his lungs are in good shape.

The various drains all seem to be satisfactory with the right colour and quantity of gunk being expelled.

I'm shattered today - it's an emotional roller-coaster and the ride is far from over - I wonder if they'd like to give me the bed next to his and some quality drugs for a couple of days?

Larry's mum is hoping to see him later today - I hope he's up to it. I know how much she wants to visit.

Well I'll post again later - hopefully with cheery news of his super hero achievements.

Love to all
_________________
Jenny

Martin sp8 · New User Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 6

Hi

You are both super heroes, just one looks better in the tights.
hang in there, and try and get some sleep
Kisses
Martin

arvsco · Regular Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 24

Keep the updates coming. We are constantly thinking of you both.
Rania & Andrew

jennysking · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Larry's Progress

Thursday evening

Hello to all

His 'nibs' has had a better day. They gave him a chest x-ray this morning - which confirmed his good progress and pleased the whole medical team (who with the exception of one stunted Cruella DeVille - Sister Psyco) are all delightful. Thier compassion and committment is inspiring. Although I'm not sure I could ever get to be that nice!

He was comfortable to sit up for around 3 hours. And the epidural line was removed from his spine.

Earlier today he was on 5ml per hour of morphine, by this evening this was down to 1ml and he was in no pain. He is however very disorientated and vunerable. He gets an impressive cocktail of pain killers. He 'snaps' into a confused awarness repeatedly - which must be most scary. He asks 'did' it go well' or 'am I okay' each time his eyes look startled - a kind of 'groudhog day' effect. I know that within a few days this will pass. And he will have no memory the early days. So I write.

I hoping he and you have a good night.
_________________
Jenny

iaindowns · New User Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 6

From Boston.

Surpisingly nice (Boston).

Very pleased that things seem to be going well.

Please tell Mr R. that this conference is validating all our beliefs ...

love

Iain

Oli & Donna · Regular Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 38

Jenny & Larry,

Very pleased to see these updates and here Larry is making fine progress, nothing less expected!

Our thoughts are with you!!

Oli & Donna

jennysking · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:15 am Post subject: Re: Larry's Progress

Friday Morning

Larry had another restless night - the morphine was upped - but even then he didn't get to sleep until around 1am - only to be awake again at 5am.

I'm hardly surprised to hear that the nurses feel he may be over doing it with the coughing and the waggling. Yesterday he kept asking 'what can I do?' meaning how can he help his recovery. He's so determined - so getting him to take it a little more gently today won't be easy.

Even with a truck load of drugs in him, his core character traits rise to the surface - I see this as a good thing and hopefully later today he will be more lucid.

He's been washed and pampered this morning and gone back to sleep.

The phisyo rocks in around 11am at which time they will get him up - I know that she is hoping to get him to take a few steps today.

On a personal note, thank you so much for all your posts and messages - I'm sorry I can't answer them all but they give me huge strength and they constantly remind me of how much Larry is loved by his friends and family around the world.

That's all for now folks - updates to follow.
_________________
Jenny

annieg · Regular Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 48 Location: London

Dear Jenny and Larry

It sounds as if the number73 bus is not coming too often (nothing new there then), and mainly as a night bus. Hang on in there. In my nursing days the 3rd day post op quite often used to be testing. So by tomorrow he should be tap dancing. Thinking of you both. With lots of love.
Annie

jennysking · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Larry's Progress

Friday afternoon update

Larry has had an awful day so far. Every bus in the depot is out to get him!

Pain is the problem and the cocktail of drugs is a never ending discussion. They are keen to get him off the morphine but this seems to be the one drug that gives him relief.

He was climbing the walls from mid morning until about 2pm when he finally drifted off into a fitful sleep. The anethtist is going in to see him - but what he'll recommend I won't find out until later. In the meantime, I am trying to contact his surgeon in search of some reassurance and advice.

It's very difficult to stand by and see the pain in his face and the terror in his eyes, knowing that soothing words and gentle strokes aren't worth diddlysquat when you think someone is driving a red-hot poker through your body.

I'm sure within a day or so this will subside but it's almost impossible for him to believe that all is well when the pain is so dreaful, so the panic and fear rises up through the drug-haze.

Sorry not to bring more cheery news - the purpose of these notes are to give Larry an accurate record of these days, and tell it how it is. - So sorry guys.

I will be back with better news - promise - even if it takes a day or two.

Catch up again later.

Love to you all
_________________
Jenny

dcsara · Regular Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 10

OK Larry - know this - your post is the most popular!! Well honestly it's tied with one other esophageal forum and I would try to make neck-and-neck comments right about now because in these situations I have to be the one making the dumb joke to make everyone smile.....boy I wish I could be there stockpiling jelly beans for you!!!!

Johnny, Cecilia and I are thinking of you and Jenny every day and know you will come through this because you are Super Larry!!!!

We love you!!!!!!
Sara

john p in dc · New User Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 4

Hi Jenny and Larry

thanks for all this info- no news would be bad news while we are all thinking so much about you both- we really are glad you are keeping us in the loop-0 and that you are over the first hurdle- hang in there! lots of love from all of us...john sara ceci sam makoa

Martin sp8 · New User Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 6

I am with everyone else on this one!! we do love you and my thoughts and prays are with you both !!l

annieg · Regular Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 48 Location: London

Dear Jenny and Larry

The pain relief WILL be sorted, they are very good at that sort of thing, sometimes it just takes a while to get the combination of drugs right. Just remember that Larry will remember little if any of this, and Jens the memory will fade, I promise you. Try to keep thinking positive, I know that it is very difficult, but when they get the cocktail in the right measures, everything will improve. Try and keep your chin up.

Thinking of you both

Annie

jennysking · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: Larry's Progress

Friday 7pm

Okay we have calmness. Larry is sleeping heavily and all the numbers/stats are looking good.

The anaesthetist (finally got that right!!) has upped the morphine - also another heavy pain killer (that can badly effect the kidneys) - so an increase in IV fluids and stuff to make him pee. But they are having the desired effect - no pain, good sleep, steady breathing/heart/temp/etc

Have spoken with the charming Mr Hanna - who has reassured me. He stresses that all the numbers are good and his recovery is on schedule. I have asked him to do all he can to reassure Larry - as in his stressed state he is still questioning whether all is fine - and he's not easy to convince!

Hanna will not allow sleeping pills such as tamazipan (breathing difficulties) so we can but hope that he'll have a peaceful night on the existing cocktail of goodies.

He was much more lucid today (that was before the increase in drugs) so I know he's in there somewhere.

His folks did visit yesterday - and from what I can gather - he opened his eyes, focused, and asked them to leave - oh well I can but try. He was adamant that he did not want any visitors, but knowing how much they wanted to see him, I was hoping that he'd be too zonked to really notice or care. Another fine mess I got myself into!

His family are really stressed by it all and this is not helped when the nurses in ITU tell them that all is fine and I'm painting my tortured picture as a lay-person. The delirium, stress, and anguish are all part of a normal recovery for the nurses - it's just damn freaky to us mere mortals.

My family have been great. From the religious fanatics to the fanatical atheists they have taken it in thier stride and love them for it. They know me well and have given me the space I need to cope in.

Larry has had a very tough few days and I take comfort in the knowledge that he'll remember none of it. One can only guess what he will think of this 'blog' when he finally goes through it.

Tomorrow is another day and as usual I am confident that we move closer to wellness. This is normally where Larry would call my optimism fantasy and he would defend my accusations of pessimism as realism (we have such fun debates!)

A quote from my childhood memories springs to mind

'Fear knocked on the door, faith answered and there was no-one there'

(I have a few of these and I'll resist posting too many!)

I'm signing off for now and will post again tomorrow.
_________________
Jenny

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