General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

For those following along on Mr Ellen10's journey.

After going back onto a regular full diet on Monday, Mr Ellen10 thoroughly enjoyed a Massaman curry and rice (lip smacking delicious said he!)
Unfortunately about half an hour after finishing, we got up to go for a walk and his face dropped. coming out of the drain was the dreaded milky white substance. We showed the nurse and she messaged the surgeon who was away on the long weekend. That evening we mulled over certain scenarios, quite devastating for Mr Ellen10 after just getting over this latest round. Could he go home and eat only fruit and steamed fish and veges for the rest of his life, with vitamin supplements, would I stay on in Sydney again, (its been 2 weeks this round). Another operation? A sleepless night for us.

The next morning the surgeon came in early, I was not there. He discussed the next challenge and will perform another operation today. This time he will not use the original scar/wound, but will cut him more to the centre of his chest and prise open his ribs. They are trying a different technique as the leak is further in and seal it, dry up the area with a type of talc and the rest was lost on Mr Ellen10. The doctor was very apologetic and disappointed with everything and is determined to fix the problem for good. We are still confident in him to fix this, he is highly regarded here amongst all staff.

The anaesthetiist came to see him late last night and said she has worked with the surgeon since 1998. Many heart and valve ops and in that whole time there has only been about 6 chyle cases and with the new procedure, less invasive, like Mr Ellen10's this is the first. She said they have established the locations where they need to avoid them and can only explain that his is positioned in a slightly different area than usually expected.

So the operation is this afternoon and he will again go to ICU and they will phone me when he is awake.

P.s. a little joyful side bar. The staff at the hospital have been amazing and so vested in Mr Ellen 10's comfort and recovery. One of the nurses Paola who is always fussing over him, outsourced a recliner chair (apparently rare as hen's teeth) to the ward and had it moved into his room, so that he could recline with his feet raised throughout the day, she said all he needed then was a margarita!
The nurses, dietician, physio etc all cheer him along.
The lady who brings his afternoon cup tea and is always apologetic because he could only have a cup of black tea on his diet. When he was briefly on the full fat diet, she brought him two plates of delicious cakes for us to share and clapped!

So many kindnesses to brighten his day.

Oh dear. You are both going through such a process. The staff sound so caring. Make sure you take care of you.

 

[Quickstatus]

dry up the area with a type of talc

Thats called talc pleurodesis
After they fix the leak, they put talcum powder into the space where the fluid was accumulating. The talcum powder acts as an irritant and causes the surfaces of the space to become sticky. Hopefully that would close up the space

It is often used in collapsed lung from an air leak from the lung causing air to buildup in that space or , fluid buildup like Mrellen10 or from cancer.

Recliner chairs are extremely rare and there are never enough. It is a constant nursing battle to get it. Usually that means someone else didn't need it as the utilisation rate is always 100%. MrEllen10's nurses are advocating strongly for him

 

[Seat0B]

Hang in there @ellen10. I’m sure you must be quite exhausted by it all. Please try to find a moment to care for yourself in this whirlwind. I hope the new procedure is the fix mr ellen10 so desperately needs.

 

[love_the_life]

Sending positive and healing thoughts for MrEllen10. Hopefully this time they will be able to fix the problem once and for all.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Have doggy osteoarthritis knee and had a somewhat sore hip for a few days, almost couldn’t walk yesterday. Today with TENS and heat and ice was ok. Coming up back steps this arvo think I twisted leg on top step and very painful, almost unable to walk! Prednisone and more TENS or Wesley on weekend I think…

 

[TheRealTMA]

Wesley Emergency were excellent on Saturday. Seems to be Hip Bursitis. Opiate pill to help with pain, injection in the hip muscle has calmed it down. No MRI available on weekends so booked in for tomorrow.

Still alive!

 

[tgh]

I was wondering how you were.. good luck with the MRI

 

[ellen10]

Thats called talc pleurodesis
After they fix the leak, they put talcum powder into the space where the fluid was accumulating. The talcum powder acts as an irritant and causes the surfaces of the space to become sticky. Hopefully that would close up the space

It is often used in collapsed lung from an air leak from the lung causing air to buildup in that space or , fluid buildup like Mrellen10 or from cancer.

Recliner chairs are extremely rare and there are never enough. It is a constant nursing battle to get it. Usually that means someone else didn't need it as the utilisation rate is always 100%. MrEllen10's nurses are advocating strongly for him

Yes @Quickstatus you are spot on as usual.

Well the journey continues. The ICU staff wonderful as usual said "as much as we like you, don't come back"!

MrEllen10 returned to the ward after ICU and guess what, the recliner chair was in his room, how nice was that.

So the next couple of days with the usual pain meds, drains (he has two now) and kind care from staff. Doctor went in through the same incision, but extended it further across. He glued, stitched and placed a type of material/mesh over and then did the talc process.
The low fat fruit/low fat diet continued.

On the Saturday the doctor came in, after looking at the X-rays, said we will try to introduce fats. So Mr Ellen10 was going to get a nice lunch, but meantime had a mini banana muffin with his cup of black tea. Half an hour later, I was sitting beside him and looked down and my heart dropped, the drain tube was filling up with the awful milky substance. One small muffin! We sat there in silence for about 10 minutes, we were devastated. I walked down to the nurses station trying to hold back the tears, that I didn't want to show Mr Ellen10.

Photos were taken, messages sent to the doctor. It was a very rough day and night wondering what is the next move. Sunday rolled on and it was very sombre, we discussed some scenarios together. I could not extend where I was staying, so packed up Monday morning, Mr Ellen10 wanted me to go home and have a break, but I did not want to go, we had got into a good routine to idle away the days and I wanted to stay strong for him.
We didn't see the doctor until just after lunch. on Monday. He decided to split the two drains into two separate containers, to see where the chyle may be coming from, although MrEllen10 was on the low fat diet, so minimal chyle flow. So now every time he has to get up and go to the loo he has to disconnect the two suctions and pick up two drains and carry. A bit tricky during the night.

We had our best friends come up to visit on the Monday and I reluctantly went home after 3 weeks, I needed to clean out our fridge (we had originally planned for a 1 week stay), collect mail, pay bills, etc and catch up with the grand kiddies.

Doctor has been in each day and after viewing todays X-ray he will gradually introduce a small amount of fat tomorrow. Hoping that the leak has had more time to heal, fingers crossed!I am full of praise for MrEllen10's resilience, because some days have been very hard! Physically and mentally.

I am heading back up tomorrow, for I don't know how long but we will see. Hopefully the corner is turned.

I would like to finish on a nice little sidebar. When I came in to see MrEllen10 in ICU after the last operation. I asked at the information desk, which direction to ICU. An older gentleman introduced himself as Bob, he said "I will show you the way." We walked down to some central lifts chatting, went up two floors and he walked me all the way to ICU and buzzed in for me. He was a lovely man 87, retired, and volunteers 2 days a week at the hospital, we had a lovely friendly chat. The little things.

 

[Pushka]

Yes @Quickstatus you are spot on as usual.

Well the journey continues. The ICU staff wonderful as usual said "as much as we like you, don't come back"!

MrEllen10 returned to the ward after ICU and guess what, the recliner chair was in his room, how nice was that.

So the next couple of days with the usual pain meds, drains (he has two now) and kind care from staff. Doctor went in through the same incision, but extended it further across. He glued, stitched and placed a type of material/mesh over and then did the talc process.
The low fat fruit/low fat diet continued.

On the Saturday the doctor came in, after looking at the X-rays, said we will try to introduce fats. So Mr Ellen10 was going to get a nice lunch, but meantime had a mini banana muffin with his cup of black tea. Half an hour later, I was sitting beside him and looked down and my heart dropped, the drain tube was filling up with the awful milky substance. One small muffin! We sat there in silence for about 10 minutes, we were devastated. I walked down to the nurses station trying to hold back the tears, that I didn't want to show Mr Ellen10.

Photos were taken, messages sent to the doctor. It was a very rough day and night wondering what is the next move. Sunday rolled on and it was very sombre, we discussed some scenarios together. I could not extend where I was staying, so packed up Monday morning, Mr Ellen10 wanted me to go home and have a break, but I did not want to go, we had got into a good routine to idle away the days and I wanted to stay strong for him.
We didn't see the doctor until just after lunch. on Monday. He decided to split the two drains into two separate containers, to see where the chyle may be coming from, although MrEllen10 was on the low fat diet, so minimal chyle flow. So now every time he has to get up and go to the loo he has to disconnect the two suctions and pick up two drains and carry. A bit tricky during the night.

We had our best friends come up to visit on the Monday and I reluctantly went home after 3 weeks, I needed to clean out our fridge (we had originally planned for a 1 week stay), collect mail, pay bills, etc and catch up with the grand kiddies.

Doctor has been in each day and after viewing todays X-ray he will gradually introduce a small amount of fat tomorrow. Hoping that the leak has had more time to heal, fingers crossed!I am full of praise for MrEllen10's resilience, because some days have been very hard! Physically and mentally.

I am heading back up tomorrow, for I don't know how long but we will see. Hopefully the corner is turned.

I would like to finish on a nice little sidebar. When I came in to see MrEllen10 in ICU after the last operation. I asked at the information desk, which direction to ICU. An older gentleman introduced himself as Bob, he said "I will show you the way." We walked down to some central lifts chatting, went up two floors and he walked me all the way to ICU and buzzed in for me. He was a lovely man 87, retired, and volunteers 2 days a week at the hospital, we had a lovely friendly chat. The little things.

You are both having such a long hard journey. Keep the faith.

 

[Quickstatus]

He was a lovely man 87, retired, and volunteers 2 days a week at the hospital

They are angels and often never recognised

 

[LinaLee]

Yes @Quickstatus you are spot on as usual.

Well the journey continues. The ICU staff wonderful as usual said "as much as we like you, don't come back"!

MrEllen10 returned to the ward after ICU and guess what, the recliner chair was in his room, how nice was that.

So the next couple of days with the usual pain meds, drains (he has two now) and kind care from staff. Doctor went in through the same incision, but extended it further across. He glued, stitched and placed a type of material/mesh over and then did the talc process.
The low fat fruit/low fat diet continued.

On the Saturday the doctor came in, after looking at the X-rays, said we will try to introduce fats. So Mr Ellen10 was going to get a nice lunch, but meantime had a mini banana muffin with his cup of black tea. Half an hour later, I was sitting beside him and looked down and my heart dropped, the drain tube was filling up with the awful milky substance. One small muffin! We sat there in silence for about 10 minutes, we were devastated. I walked down to the nurses station trying to hold back the tears, that I didn't want to show Mr Ellen10.

Photos were taken, messages sent to the doctor. It was a very rough day and night wondering what is the next move. Sunday rolled on and it was very sombre, we discussed some scenarios together. I could not extend where I was staying, so packed up Monday morning, Mr Ellen10 wanted me to go home and have a break, but I did not want to go, we had got into a good routine to idle away the days and I wanted to stay strong for him.
We didn't see the doctor until just after lunch. on Monday. He decided to split the two drains into two separate containers, to see where the chyle may be coming from, although MrEllen10 was on the low fat diet, so minimal chyle flow. So now every time he has to get up and go to the loo he has to disconnect the two suctions and pick up two drains and carry. A bit tricky during the night.

We had our best friends come up to visit on the Monday and I reluctantly went home after 3 weeks, I needed to clean out our fridge (we had originally planned for a 1 week stay), collect mail, pay bills, etc and catch up with the grand kiddies.

Doctor has been in each day and after viewing todays X-ray he will gradually introduce a small amount of fat tomorrow. Hoping that the leak has had more time to heal, fingers crossed!I am full of praise for MrEllen10's resilience, because some days have been very hard! Physically and mentally.

I am heading back up tomorrow, for I don't know how long but we will see. Hopefully the corner is turned.

I would like to finish on a nice little sidebar. When I came in to see MrEllen10 in ICU after the last operation. I asked at the information desk, which direction to ICU. An older gentleman introduced himself as Bob, he said "I will show you the way." We walked down to some central lifts chatting, went up two floors and he walked me all the way to ICU and buzzed in for me. He was a lovely man 87, retired, and volunteers 2 days a week at the hospital, we had a lovely friendly chat. The little things.

I’ve been following this and was so hoping this is time it’s a good fixed. The heart dropping part feeling I can so relate. So sorry this is happening. Beyond frustrating for MrEllen10 and you too. Been there myself lately and was hoping history does not repeat but 2/2 hematoma post surgery for same procedure. The second time was worst as lost 1L of blood. Sending positive thoughts that this time it’s just a mini hiccup on the road to recovery for MrEllen10