Recovery Day 84

This is the song that never ends! It just goes on and on my friend! Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was. And they'll continue singing it forever. just because... This is the song that never ends!

That sums up the last 12 weeks. Yup, 12 weeks. 12 long weeks since surgery. 

I have updated in a while because there just hasn't been much to update. After our meeting with Karen, we have just continued to flush and measure the drain twice a day and doctored/monitored the new wound in the incision. 

Early last week, Alan sent two emails! The first was a long detailed email to Dr. You. He outlined the output from the drain, the continued fever, and any other symptoms. This resulted in a CT Scan Friday afternoon and appointment with Dr. You today. 

Dr. You had become by far our favorite of the team. She is just as frustrated as we are. Wednesday will be 4 weeks since this drain was inserted. CT showed that half of the pelvis fluid pool is emptied. BUT the drain is needing to be moved. It's now past the remaining fluid. So they need to adjust it. 

Additionally a second and larger pocket of fluid has presented itself. It is the source of the wound in the incision. So while Interventional Radiology is shifting the current drain, they will place a second drain in the current wound to drain that pocket. 

After the pockets are more drained, she wants to do a retrograde study. That means to insert contrast into the drains and let it lead to the origin of the fluid. She is just as baffled by what is going on as we are. She is convinced there is a source somewhere. So we, three, are determined to find answers to this infection. 

We shared many laughs with her! My favorite was when I said that we would need to come by whenever we see IR for the new drain to get the suction bulb. She responded with, no we will just give you the bulb; you know what to do! 

So that's the plan forward for the infection! 

The second email sent last week was to Dr. Morris. The CT DNA results aren't back and we were wondering why. The first tumor sample sent had inadequate cellularity. So they are having to redo the tumor analysis and then the blood analysis. So who knows when we get those results now! 

In general, today we had hoped to have a plan for drain removal and instead he is back to "more drains than brains!"

Prayers Requests:

1. Quick IR Appt for drain insertion and drain move
2. Quick fluid removal
3. Clear picture of where the fluid originates. 
4. Patience
5. Patience
6. Patience
7. Patience
8. Patience
9. Patience
10. Life stuff

-Mel