This visit to Mayo's has gone pretty much to plan. We hope to head home tomorrow. Yesterday we had meetings with a nutritionist to discuss the feeding tube plan. I'll be getting enough calories to maintain weight through the tube. Then I'm free to eat through the mouth as much as I want and free to mix our own types of food to put down the tube for nutrition without worring about the calories. We'll follow that plan till I put 10 or 15 lbs on and then we can readjust as necessary. The tube was installed today. I was not under general anethesia but the versed sort where you don't remember a thing. I'm taking some painkillers now and they figure that will last a week or so and then it will get to normal where I don't have to take anything.
We also had some meetings with PT and they tried some ankle braces for helping my feet when I walk long distances or do stairs. It's the type of thing I can experiment with to find when they help and when they don't. They just velcro around my calf and fit inside my shoe.
I'm hoping to go back to work next week. I've been keeping up via email but it's not the same. As far as prayers, pray that I can feel more energetic and engaged not just in work but also the family. It is harder for me to get around these days. We don't know how much is being in the hospital for 4 weeks vs tumor progression. It's tempting to just sit around but I need to do as much as possible to get my strength back. We have lots of people helping us and that's great, but if I can do just a little for Leann and the family, I will feel better.
Thanks to everyone for all the cards and emails we have received. When we were home late last week it took me quite a while to get through the mail.
Love,
Derek & Leann
We think of you often as you go through this, but none of us really understand all the trials you are going through because we aren't experiencing them ourselves.It is so good to hear some of your struggles so we can pray for you. That is what our faith is about. We pray for God's strength in whatever you are faced with.
ReplyDeleteMichael & Rachel Messner
Thanks for the update. I've never actually thanked God for the ability to just eat whatever I want and not worry about a tube. These are huge reminders for me to be thankful for the body parts I never think about.
ReplyDeleteWe're praying for you here in WA.
-Stef {Doug & Brooke's friend)
I am wondering how you have been doing this past week. I check daily for a progress report. I spoke with Meg Koch and she stated that you were back to work. Is the feeding tube doing its job of providing you with nutrition/energy? I praise God for each new morning you awake and serve.
ReplyDeletePeople on feeding tubes can have real food too. http://justfoodblends.com
ReplyDelete