Sheduled For A Photo Session

[LCHIEN]

Best wishes for a speedy and successful recovery. Hang in there.

L.

[Pappy]

Update

Things got worse for me. I went back in the hospital on the 18th or 19th of Aug. On the 20th my Gastro had me transferred to San Antonio to be near a surgeon he wanted. I was going to be put on a med that would give us a reaction one way or the other within 24 - 48 hours but it wasn't available anywhere in the area. Another was used that would take 7-8 days to act.

On the 21st my colon perforated and I was taken into emergency surgery. All but about the last 2" of the colon was removed and the intestine connected to an illoscopy bag. It has been a steady diet of various antibiotics to fight the infection caused by the contamination from the perforation along my nutrition and the standard fare of fluids until last Monday, the 1st.

Once they were sure I could tolerate solids, I was transferred on Thursday to a Long Term Acute Care hospital in Luling, TX. A lot of insurance hassles back and forth with Medicare and the wife ended up make the hour drive with me in the van. (Tricare would have covered it but we couldn't get the hospital admin to contact them.) We got here about 11 PM and they got me checked in and settled down around midnight. Got all the evaluations done on Friday and started therapies (physical and occupational) on Monday. I also go into a Hyperbaric chamber 2 hrs a day where the oxygen is increased to 2 atmospheres to pump up the red blood cells and promote healing. Sometime this week I will get a dressing that draws a vacuum at the incision which also speeds healing and helps fight infection.

All in all, I am getting stronger every day. The plan is to have me home by the end of the month. It will be about 3 months before I know if the remaining colon can be reconnected or if the bag is permanent. In the mean time I will be looking hard at my finances and the possibilities of retiring earlier than I wanted to should I have to live with the bag.

Hopefully I will be checking in every couple of days now until I get home.

[phrog]

Things got worse for me. I went back in the hospital on the 18th or 19th of Aug. On the 20th my Gastro had me transferred to San Antonio to be near a surgeon he wanted. I was going to be put on a med that would give us a reaction one way or the other within 24 - 48 hours but it wasn't available anywhere in the area. Another was used that would take 7-8 days to act.

On the 21st my colon perforated and I was taken into emergency surgery. All but about the last 2" of the colon was removed and the intestine connected to an illoscopy bag. It has been a steady diet of various antibiotics to fight the infection caused by the contamination from the perforation along my nutrition and the standard fare of fluids until last Monday, the 1st.

Once they were sure I could tolerate solids, I was transferred on Thursday to a Long Term Acute Care hospital in Luling, TX. A lot of insurance hassles back and forth with Medicare and the wife ended up make the hour drive with me in the van. (Tricare would have covered it but we couldn't get the hospital admin to contact them.) We got here about 11 PM and they got me checked in and settled down around midnight. Got all the evaluations done on Friday and started therapies (physical and occupational) on Monday. I also go into a Hyperbaric chamber 2 hrs a day where the oxygen is increased to 2 atmospheres to pump up the red blood cells and promote healing. Sometime this week I will get a dressing that draws a vacuum at the incision which also speeds healing and helps fight infection.

All in all, I am getting stronger every day. The plan is to have me home by the end of the month. It will be about 3 months before I know if the remaining colon can be reconnected or if the bag is permanent. In the mean time I will be looking hard at my finances and the possibilities of retiring earlier than I wanted to should I have to live with the bag.

Hopefully I will be checking in every couple of days now until I get home.

Pappy, it sounds like you've been through it. Sounds like things have finally taken a good turn for you. Hang in there. I'll be praying for your speedy recovery.

[jking]

I will pray for your continued recovery.

[bigstick509]

Hang in there Pappy, wishing you a speedy recovery.

[gerti]

I liked the

All in all, I am getting stronger every day.

part, hope it continues for you! All the best.

[KenBurris]

Wishing a speedy recovery Pappy

[ironhat]

It's good to hear you say that you're getting better every day. It sure does the body good to (don't get scared now) meditate on that good feeling and get some alpha waves going in your brain. Since you really are feeling better the focusing on that shouldn't be too hard. If you fall asleep, that's normal. Continuing to pray for you with the Mrs.

[billwmeyer]

Get well soon Pappy. We need you around here.