Every one of you have been such a blessing to us. I don't know how I would have made it without all of the encouragement and prayers that have come from this blog.
The liquid diet is helping. He drinks an ensure type drink 6-8 times a day. He added a little yogurt one day. No more pains. We know he can't go on like this but if everything will settle in there by doing this it will be worth it. A nutitionist is going to call tomorrow afternoon and maybe they will suggest what to add next.
Sounds like his digestive system is having to learn to take it slowly, like one day/week at a time. I'm sure those drinks are getting old by now. I've had to do that in the past and it isn't fun.
Well, Jim has had a terrible time with pain. Last time started Sunday and lasted about 24 hours. The best way I know to describe it is labor pains. They come every 2 to 5 minutes, escalate and then die down. He says they are about level 8, comparing 10 as holding your finger in fire. Sunday evening he finally threw up and got a little relief. He just paces the floor.
This has been going on since the hurricane. As you know, he had surgery the 10th of Oct and didn't even really get better in the hospital. This happens every couple of days. That surgery was successful because he can tell that things are passing that area....they are just getting stuck lower down.
We went to an appointment today with Dr Chang. He says it looks like he has a section of his intestine that was damaged by the radiation. It looks healthy to the doctor's eye but I guess there is nerve damage and it isn't pushing things through as it should. He wants Jim to go on Ensure and light food for 3 weeks to build his strength. It looks like it will be another surgery. Dr. Doesn't want to do it for 3 months but I don't see how Jim can wait. He has lost almost 22 lbs and the pain is really getting him down. He is pacing the floor and moaning right now. Today he only ate 2 pop tarts, a small helping of potato salad and few French fries. I don't see how he will be able to keep down 7 or 8 cans of Ensure.
I'm SO sorry! Poor Jim. This sounds so familiar to me, with the pain and the pacing.
Charting every bite I eat didn't point out anything obvious for me to avoid, so I thought I would try taking myself off all dairy. That was five days ago, and so far, it's working. I so wish Jim could find something to avoid, rather than face another surgery. You both are in my prayers.
Oh, Jim's pain sounds so awful! I know you wish you could do something to help him more than is humanly possible. We will all be praying for both of you.
Poor Jim! I am so very sorry that he is having to endure all this! I know he will be glad when this craziness is all over and can get back to normal. I have been thinking of him often!
It has been a roller coaster since we got home. Jim has lost another 7 lbs. He still has days of pains and misery, therefore, he doesn't want to eat much. He could afford to lose the weight but needs to quit now. He cancelled his appointment for Dr Chang Tues. thinking he couldn't do much right now for him. If it doesn't get better soon we will go back.
He did come home and teach that wed and Sun. We didn't think he would make it Sunday morning, both class and sermon, but he did. Sat on a stool.
Everything just needs to get back in sync. His small intestines were very irritated and the large intestines were not being used so they got lazy.
He is so tired of being sick. This has been going on for over a year. He hardly ever got sick before so this is especially hard on him.
I'm so sorry. I am very, very impressed he got up and taught. I didn't want to teach Bible class tonight because my allergies were bothering me. I will think about Jim next time I get whiny.
We got home early this afternoon. Jim had a rough night, pain and bloating but he had eaten a cheeseburger and needless to say, he shouldn't have. The docs said to take it very slow and easy. They took the staples out and put special tape on that will come off by itself. We go back the 28th to see Dr. Chang for a follow-up.
We came home to a stack of mail and bills so tried to get all the loose ends tied up so we could just chill out for a while. Besides Casper, my dog, my tub was what I missed most. It is an older one that slopes just right for long soaks. Felt so good!!!
