I didn't know they made binders just for ostomy people. Yesterday he felt awful. hardly eating anything at all, Had a chill in the evening and his temp was 101.1 Our instructions were to call if the temp was 101.5 so I didn't call. With the tylenol that is in the lortab, it did bring his temp down and he could rest better. We had a routing post hospital follow up with our PCP today and his temp was 102. So he is going to have a Cat scan of abdomen, chest x-ray and lab work tomorrow. He got started on his antibiotic tonight. The doctor offered to put him in the hospital if we wanted to. I wish he would have just said I am going to admit you. With me being a nurse and Charlie a Pharmacy tech, he lets us make a lot of decisions. But that would have gotten the Cat scan and lab work done tonight, and be on IVs and IV antibiotics. So he has had several glasses of water tonight. We are both getting very tired of this and I am seeing my husband get older by the week.

Oh doydie,
I just finished my prayers with "special" intentions for you and Charlie. doydie, just because you were/are a nurse, please don't feel that you should not take advantage of the help offered; hospital or whatever. You have not faced this sort of thing before. This is all new to both of you.

A thought on the bed so Charlie or you won't strain as much. Do you think; just until he is better able to get up without straining that it might be good for him to sleep in your bed for a while and you in on his mattress.??

Praying,

Gerry

Thanks for the thought Gerri. My bed is a double and his is a queen. He doesn't like my length plus I don't know what the cat would do if he were in my bed. She is so used to sleeping with me. Mine is a sleep number and I have tried to get him to take a nap in mine just to see how wonderful it is. He will say he is ready to go get one but then when the time comes it's a no go. Our daughter and I have talked about just putting his bed on the frame we have in storage, he used to be normal and have a bed the normal way. But he overheard it and said if we do it that he would take it off. Now I don't know if he would in the shape he is now or not.

The cT scan showed a big abscess where the gall bladder was. So it is going to be drained tomorrow in out patient. I hope he will be admitted afterward. Now who will drain it is still a question. I called the surgeons office today and the nurse said we should have called them instead of have our family doc see him. I couldn't get them to understand we had this appointment already set up, I didn't call him instead. So when our family doc called us today to let us know the result and what he was going to do, I told him I had called the surgeons office and what they had said. So I strongly urged him to let them know what is going on. so he is going to do that tomorrow. As far as my stress test, maybe they should just scan me now, I am under enough stress! One stress test I had done was on the day that my daughter's labor was induced. So I drove straight from the stress test to Lexington, Ky and got there in time to see her being born.

My husband has not had one day, one hour, one minute, one second that wasn't in pain of some kind since his diagnosis of ulcerative colitis last April and he had been having severe diarrhea for a couple of months. Then 2 months ago the ileostomy and now last Tuesday the gallbladder and now this. What with his Parkinson's he is really aging.

OK, my cry is over with.

This is wayyyy too much going on. The abscess seems really nasty. You might want to talk with your surgeon beforehand about admitting Charlie. It's unfortunate your doctor asked rather than telling you he needed to be admitted.

The only reason I suggested changing beds, at least for a little while, was to avoid the strain with Charlie low on the floor. Don't want to risk the straining, especially with the possibility of abdominal incisional hernias; recurrence is worrisome; even caused diastasis reci (separation of the abdominal muscle). Strain is a real culprit.

It appears if it is out there; Charlie risks getting it. I feel so badly that both of you are dealing with one thing after another. The stress comparison to your daughter's induced labor says it all.

Thanks so much. Really appreciate receiving the info.

Thoughts and prayers are with both of you.


Gerry

Oh Doydie!!!! Poor Charlie! I certainly hope things go well today. Maybe you can tell them that you want Charlie admitted. Abscesses are not fun. I had them after both my surgeries. I had JP drains for both of them. The second surgery I had not only an abscess but wound infections, bladder infection, and c. diff. It was rough and I needed to stay in the hospital longer due to having to be on IV antibiotics and was also readmitted because that darn c. diff. didn't want to leave me (plus, apparently I had a kidney infection on the 2nd admission that I didn't know I had). I had it for a few months before I finally tested negative. I think Charlie may be better off in the hospital right now until he's a little better. He probably needs more care than you can give him right now (such as IV fluids as the infection can dehydrate him so quickly especially with the ileostomy), despite you being a nurse. At least this way if things start going awry, he will be there and they can take care of it right away.

I pray for you both every day but will add an extra prayer. Please let us know how Charlie is doing.

Well gals my man is doing pretty good. Despite the worries about him having a needle put in him while he is on his blood thinner, a radiologist put the drain in yesterday, and got 2 ounces of pus out and he is connected to a drain. The drainage is clear but darkish brown. Last night he drenched the bed in sweat so I guess his temp broke. He is eating well, breathing well, can take in deep breaths and today looked wonderful. Cultures take 48 hours to come back and surgeon said he will be in the hospital through the weekend so I don't know if that means possible discharge on Monday or not. I just know I am beat. This is a smaller hospital but they have the elevators way back from the patient units so there is a lot of walking. I even got a parking spot in the second row close to the entrance and I called for security to pick me up. That's how tired I was today. and I only stayed long enough to see the surgeon and then came home. Hung up the clothes I had done last night and put another load in, loaded the dishwasher. I picked up food in the cafeteria on the way out so I wouldn't have to cook. I have never heard of pecan cobbler. But it was so good. And I'm sure it is on a diabetic diet. So I think we are on the mend. Thanks for holding my hand

Good news doydie. It's must be a relief to have Charlie's issues being taken care without weighing on you. That poor guy. The pressure of all that pus......
And you; good for you taking advantage of security picking you up. You have been under physical and mental stress. Enjoy whatever time you have to pick your feet up and rest.


Gerry

Wow...I've been AWOL-you & DH have sure been through a lot...prayers for quick healing and for some rest for you, sweetie!!

Gerry, I had a boat load of medicine that I reordered from Sam's club. We love the personal service and prices there but I sure wish they had a drive up window. I was so tired from being at the hospital that I used one of sam's scooters to go back to the back of the building which is where the pharmacy is. Like is said, wish they had a drive up window. If he is discharged tomorrow, we will have to go to Walgreens since Sams is closed on Sundays. Now they do have that nice drive up window.

doydie,
I guess there are plus' and minus'; Walgreens or Sam's club... Orrrr, he may not be discharged til Monday. How does Charlie feel about being in the hospital? Maybe another day would not be a bad idea. What type of meds are they giving him? This has to be a bit of a relief for you; not having to shoulder all of this on your own. Hope all goes well; it's time to be on the mend.

Prayers are with both of you.

Gerry