March Madness

Whew, just when we thought everything was finally getting back to normal, the medical issues began again.

It was Feb 23rd when I took hubby to the ER as he was in pain, shaking, vomiting and just miserable. This is all part or due to his ongoing battle with pancreatitis (also gallstones).  On going since Feb 2nd I should say, prior to this, no health issues to speak of, okay?

Potsdam Hospital ran a few tests and quickly decided this was way over their heads and he needed to go to Burlington, aka Fletcher Allen Medical Center in Vermont.  That's a good three hours from us and he would go via ambulance.  so with about an hour to get ready, Kelly and I went home and packed for what we thought would be a few days in Vermont (wrong thinking and we'd be wearing the same jeans day after day, and clothing was getting worn more than one day too. I would also run out of my pills, etc).

On Sunday, Feb 24th Patrick went in for a very risky emergency surgery at 10:05 pm.  We would hear the results around 1:30 a.m.  He had an exploratory laparotomy, drainage of pancreatic cyst and omental patch repair of perforated duodenum.  The surgeon checked his gallbladder, did not feel any stones ( he could have passed them) and he would have removed the sucker but Pat's blood pressure was dropping so he felt it best to get out and close him up.

He was now gonna spend some time in ICU and in due course another drainage tube would be inserted, via guided imagining at the head of the pancreas to drain fluid from that area (about the size of a tangerine).  He had an epidural inserted back a few days earlier and this numbed his stomach and kept him pretty pain free.  However, we did learn that the duladen (dilaudid) they gave him for pain causes severe confusion. Hell, he had no idea where he was and barely knew his family.  And he was having breathing issues, so they changed his oxygen mask, which forces him to take deeper breaths.

AS of today, he was stable, alert, knows where he is, responds to commands and altho still a very sick man, it looks like he is finally catching a break.  Still in ICU but hopefully he will be moved to ward this week.

Yes,both kids were with him.  Kel and I from the get-go and Dean arrived at the Burlington Airport last Monday.  I just took him to the local airport so he could get his flight back home.  Kel and I plan to head back to Burlington around 10 this morning, for another week of hospital visits, etc.  We came home Saturday and it sure felt good to sleep in my own bed and just chill for two days.

I was out of my pills, which was bothersome to some, laundry definitely was an issue and repacking to insure we have suffice clothes for a week's stay, etc.  Plus Kelly wanted to see and be with her 3-year old son for a few days who missed his Mommy and wanted her to come home. All in all, we hated to leave Patrick with no family but he is in good hands, being well cared for and come on, we needed a break, at least I did.

So that is the update and we thank you deeply for your prayers and warm thoughts. This is gonna be a long haul, as he has weeks of recovery and rehab ahead of him.  No idea when he shall be home but for now, Fletcher Allen is where he and where he'll remain. Positive thoughts people, positive thoughts.