I went to the hospital to see Michael twice today: this morning I stayed for about an hour and a half, and this afternoon I went back after Finn and Lilah were down for naps and stayed for a couple of hours. All the going back and forth is hard, but really that's the least of it.
So Michael is doing . . . okay, I guess. He is definitely having pain management issues. His pain level was quite a bit higher all day today than they had expected it to be. He's got a self-controlled pump for pain meds, and they even increased the dosage, but he's still in a lot of pain. When I was there this afternoon, the nurse said she was going to talk to the doctor about changing to a different pain med because this one just doesn't seem to be bringing his pain down to a manageable level. It's really, really difficult to see him like this, and I spent a lot of time there fighting to keep my composure (and not doing a very good job).
His coloring is bad - just pale and ashen looking. He's still got a nasal cannula for oxygen because the pain is preventing him from breathing deeply enough to keep his oxygen sat at a high enough level.
He was in and out of consciousness all day. It seemed like he was falling asleep and waking up in 30-second increments. He would fade off in mid sentence and then either startle awake, or fade back in and try to pick up the sentence where he left off, but having lost his train of thought, he would just mumble. At one point he said something about making his own garlic bread, which I took to mean he was talking in his sleep. A lot of this would have been rather amusing if it weren't so awful to see him like this.
Somehow, they got him up and walking a bit twice today (I wasn't there), which blows me away because just trying to shift himself and inch or two in bed was bringing on excruciating pain. So it just makes me cringe to imagine how they got him out of bed and upright.
I left the hospital in time to feed the kids dinner (leftover pizza from last night . . . I feel terrible that my kids are eating pretty much nothing but crap right now, but I just don't have the energy to cook - maybe tomorrow), give baths, read stories, and put them all to bed. Before bedtime, they all sat down and made cards for Daddy (Kevin even had Finn scribble on a piece of paper), which I'll take to the hospital tomorrow. I know he misses the kids terribly, and they are really missing him. And I miss him too. Really, there is just this void here.
I am trying to think of all the things to be grateful for: that the surgery is over and he made it through, and that the surgery marks about the halfway point in his overall treatment; that Michael's sister has been such a big help, and that so many friends are sending support and well wishes. But the tears just keep coming and coming. This sucks. It just absolutely sucks. And there is still such a difficult road ahead.
4 comments:
Hang in there Lisa - I know his guts have to be hurting him - I remember my very small incision from college appendectomy that hurt like HELL - you don't realize everything you do you use your stomach muscles and when they have been cut through it hurts to do everything. But hopefully it will get better for him quickly :) Do you want me to bring you dinner tomorrow??? Friday??? Let me know - weekends too...L
Lisa, Keep strong, my girlfriend. It's gotta be hard seeing your strong husband weakened by the surgery, but I am so hopeful that within the next 24-48 hours he will be feeling much better. I almost wonder if they were able to get him up and about because he felt like he had to put on his strong face for the nurses or something, you know? Like, to save "face" whereas with you he knows he can be honest about what utter shit he feels like. I dunno. I guess that doesn't even matter. I love that the kids made cards for him, I am sure that will be a HUGE perk for him. And don't worry about dinners right now, Lisa. Not even a smidge. That is NOT going to make or break a thing. You've got enough going on without making yourself crazy over that. You are a STRONG woman. Halfway home.
Sending you even more hugs. I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are doing awesome. You are a fierce woman with a strong husband and family. You are all going to pull through this.
Here's to the second half being underway and hopes of this soon being a distant memory.
After seeing my dad so wiped out after his relatively small surgery - I cant begin to imagine how much pain Michael is in. I hope they get it under control soon. You are doing amazing - keeping everything going - its OK to let your feelings out - its better out than in - or its going to come out another way! Sending hugs your way.
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