Descent into Hell

I've not posted lately, because I spent the last 9 days in the hospital.

2 weeks ago yesterday I had sugery to have a feeding tube implanted in my stomach wall.  4 days later I knew it had gone south when I caught a whiff of something I knew was wrong.  Sunday AM to the E.R and upstairs I went, Proteus infection.  Lots of nasty purulent drainage, enough to make you puke to smell it.

After 8 days of treatment with IV Invase, Flagyl and an antifungal drug, the infectious disease specialist said I could go home on some keflex capsules.

Of course, the pain of radiation damage to my neck and chemo treatments continued unabated. Plenyty of Dilaudid injections, days running together, hunger, (can't swallow most of the food), the whole catalog.

Boredom, incredible boredom. A nice fecal impaction after 2 days, that's not what you want to break up the boredom.

Just a day at a time, getting through.  3 of 6 chemo treatments over, 21 of 33 radiation treatments. left to go

Comments

[Valerie Longfellow]

Hank, I've been thinking about you and figured things weren't great. Sorry to hear about your feeding tube adventure. How is the dilaudid doing for pain mgt.? Does it make you sleepy or unable to concentrate? If you can stand reading, you might enjoy this: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121335690. Her story really struck a nerve with me and I've held on to it. Hope you start stringing a few good days together. You're in my prayers.

[hank]

Dilaudid is better in pill form, it lasts longer. I'm on Percocet at home. Those shots---they hit you like a 10 lb sledge. but 2 hours later you're hurtin' again. Got to be enjoying them too much, and mentally took the pain to stretch out the time between the shots.

I'll take a look at the story.

[Marty]

This is real trench warfare. You're in my prayers, too, Hank.

[Buffalopundit]

I didn't realize you were ill, Hank. You have my best wishes for a speedy recovery.