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.
as the utilisation rate is always 100%. MrEllen10's nurses are advocating strongly for him
