It's been a busy, busy week with rounds two and three of our Spring Break Presby-palooza on Monday and Wednesday respectively.
Monday's study revealed Ron's duodenum (first section of intestine just past stomach) collapses into itself when he's lying flat on his back, keeping things from passing from the stomach into his intestines. It will then periodically "burst open" releasing everything. Thus, one of the reasons insertion of j-tube was unsuccessful Friday. This is also a HUGE contributor to his nightly reflux.
Dr. D also said study showed he still had quite a bit of dye in his system from Friday's procedure and encouraged him to drink alot of water over the next couple of days to help flush out. Unfortunately, Wednesday's procedure also involved introducing more dye.
The high amounts of dye he was subjected to over a five day period really did a number on his system, thereby causing a need to stay close to home the remainder of the week; while also heightening the possibility of dehydration. Hopefully, by Monday it should all be behind him (sorry, just couldn't help myself!)
Wednesday's procedure was a success! Dr. D was confident it would go smoothly after having had a bird's eye view of how his digestive system works and said it would take 20-30 minutes...at most an hour. I was getting a little concerned once we reached the 2 hour mark and he was still in; then again, I should have expected it with my unique guy. . The j-tube insertion from stomach to duodenum did go smoothly; weaving his way through the rest of the duodenum and jejunum to get past the functionally blocked section was quite a challenge, since his does not take the normal path. The longest j-tube they have was b-a-r-e-l-y long enough to reach the area needed.
Recovery was a breeze, since he was awake throughout the entire procedure, and we were home by early afternoon. We're hoping for another added benefit - now that the j-tube is in place, it should help to keep the duodenum open (as opposed to collapsing into itself when he's sleeping), thus keeping the reflux at bay.
What now?
He is to inject 12 oz of water 3 times a day via j-tube for the next week to see how his body intestines tolerate. He is also to keep oral intake of food to a minimum since the j-tube is threaded through the g-tube (a tube within a tube); the g-tube will be more likely to clog thereby causing yakking. So far things are going ok. The tube feed (water) causes some cramping; he's had a couple of yakking episodes and one episode of tubing coming apart (that was a lovely mess to start St. Patrick's Day...what a way to go green!)
We are so very thankful both of these procedures were able to be performed as outpatient. Nothing beats sleeping in your own bed at night; and napping in your own recliner during the day!
We kept things pretty low-key the rest of the week, with the highlight of Spring Break being keeping our girls while both mommy and daddy worked Friday.
One of my favorite things I look forward to over Spring Break is planting flowers. With everything else going on, as well as finances being as they are, I didn't think I'd have the opportunity. However, we were blessed with an unexpected financial gift by some sweet friends which allowed us to pick up some flowers, potting soil and mulch today. I've been one dirty, sweaty, happy camper as I've pulled out the old, dead stuff and planted beautiful, blooming hibiscus, Mexican heather, alyssum and a few others. Tomorrow afternoon, I plan to weed my rose bed and spread mulch, yippee!!!
There's just something therapeutic about working in the soil. As we were making our selections; I was thinking how many analogies there are in the Bible making comparisons of our lives/hearts to plants/planting/soil:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit; while very branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1
"I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5
The parable of the four soils: Luke 8:5-15 (selected):
"A farmer went out to sow his seeds. (The seed is the word of God) As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path (the ones who hear and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved)....Some fell on rock (those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root...in the time of testing they fall away). Other seed fell among thorns (those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Still other seed fell on good soil (those...who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop).
John 12:24
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
1 Peter 1:23-24
"You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, all men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever"
Thank you, Father, for speaking in ways that I may understand, and retain (some of the time!).
Happy Spring!
Christie
No comments:
Post a Comment