Beginning late Sunday afternoon when different groups of doctors made rounds, Lee was told that if he continued to do well, he would probably be discharged on Monday. As you can guess, Monday was spent in preparation for the visit by the only doctor who could officially discharge him. Finally, she arrived around 4:00 p.m. and discharged him with instructions to return in one week to her clinic for removal of sutures.
We finally arrived at the hotel around 5:00. Lee was very tired from the packing, dressing, and all the issues that are necessary in order to leave. We decided not to drive the three hours during most of the rush-hour traffic through Durham, Greensboro and Winston Salem.
After a night of rest, we were on the road by 8:30 the next morning. Lee did well on the ride, but did not drink enough water. Today he has had a low blood pressure and some arrhythmias. I have been forcing fluids today. He is feeling better, but the BP is still low. It will probably take 24 hours of extra fluids to refill his blood volume!
The graft on his forehead and scalp looks good, and all the suture areas around his face are showing signs of healing. The grafted area on his right wrist is still very painful as well as the donor site on his left leg. The donor site on his leg must be kept open to air, so we are glad the weather is warm enough for shorts. Unfortunately these next two week-ends are filled with graduation and we will not be able to attend them. Don't believe short pants would be acceptable at those, especially since the site must be open and exposed!
We will miss seeing our daughter-in-law, Donna be awarded her Master's degree in psychology and counseling. Lee will not be able to attend granddaughter, Michaela's high school graduation, but am hoping that I will since she is only 30 minutes away. There are so many events that are on our schedule for the next two months and right now we are putting everything on hold.
We are grateful that the doctors feel 100% sure all the cancer was removed, and that there was no cancer in the lymph nodes along the side of his face, neck and ear. We will get the report on the pathology of the parotid gland on Monday. It has been suggested that radiation should be the next phase of his treatment. We are waiting to discuss that on the next appointment. Lee views radiation as negative, so do not know what his decision will be.
The anti-rejection drugs have been reduced by one-half in an effort to try to reduce or prevent any further skin cancers. That, of course, opens the door for possible rejection if his immune system begins to get stronger. It is a precarious balancing act of trying to find the middle ground between the rejection and the complications of the anti-rejection drugs.
Lee accepts all of this so much better than I. Each time he experiences another episode of complications, I am the one who grieves and he comforts me in my distress. Again and again, I am thankful to have my background in the medical field. I suppose, this one thing helps me realize that Yes, we can get through this, and Yes, I can be the nurse, the wife and the caregiver to one who means so much to me.
More Later.............................................Brenda
The one thing
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Updates on Lee
Most of you know that Lee had surgery on Wednesday or yesterday. For those of you who continue to follow my blog, I will pick-up where I left you on the last writing:
On Monday, April 28, Lee had appointments @ Duke with an EENT, and a Micro-vascular surgeon. The appointments had been made the previous Saturday by the Dr. who removed the large tumor/cancer on his forehead that had extended more centrally onto his scalp. We were under the impression that these appointments were in regards to a planned skin graft.
Imagine our surprise when after the consult with each one, we learned that not only would he have a graft, but that it would be one that isolated the radial artery for the base graft onto his head, followed by a skin graft to cover that. In addition, the EENT surgeon said that because his cancer had spread so rapidly on his forehead, the lymph nodes should be removed in front of the ear and extended down into the neck area. The parotid gland would be removed.
This was followed by a three-hour admission process because Lee was placed at the end of the line because the doctor's appointment ran late. We had been going since 5:30 a.m. having left Vale that morning. You can imagine how tired and emotionally drained we both were by 6:00 that evening. Tuesday morning was spent in the clinic once again to do labs for measurement of his medication levels and prior arrangement of lung-transplant team consult while in the hospital. Whew!
We toyed with the idea of passing the afternoon watching a movie at one of the theaters, but the day was quite cool, rainy and windy. We opted instead for a quiet afternoon in our hotel room. We both had a good nap, a light dinner and felt more relaxed in spite of tornado warnings, before retiring for the evening.
Wednesday began at 5:00 a.m. for arrival at hospital @ 6:30. The weather was still threatening, but no tornados warning in our area. Lee was taken to the operating room at 8:30 and surgery began @ 9:00 a.m. Seven hours later, he was in the intensive care recovery area and has now been in the I C U. and will remain there tonight. The surgeons were very pleased with his progress and he will be moved to the step-down unit Tomorrow.
So far, Lee is doing very well. The lymph nodes were free of any cancer and we should get the pathology report on the parotid gland soon. The graft is looking good, however; it will take many months for it to completely heal.
Unfortunately, skin cancer, particularly on the head, neck, scalp and facial areas is a complication of the anti-rejection drugs, the lowered immune system, and years of sun exposure in times past. Most of all, it is from the strong drugs he has to take.
More Later......................................................Brenda
On Monday, April 28, Lee had appointments @ Duke with an EENT, and a Micro-vascular surgeon. The appointments had been made the previous Saturday by the Dr. who removed the large tumor/cancer on his forehead that had extended more centrally onto his scalp. We were under the impression that these appointments were in regards to a planned skin graft.
Imagine our surprise when after the consult with each one, we learned that not only would he have a graft, but that it would be one that isolated the radial artery for the base graft onto his head, followed by a skin graft to cover that. In addition, the EENT surgeon said that because his cancer had spread so rapidly on his forehead, the lymph nodes should be removed in front of the ear and extended down into the neck area. The parotid gland would be removed.
This was followed by a three-hour admission process because Lee was placed at the end of the line because the doctor's appointment ran late. We had been going since 5:30 a.m. having left Vale that morning. You can imagine how tired and emotionally drained we both were by 6:00 that evening. Tuesday morning was spent in the clinic once again to do labs for measurement of his medication levels and prior arrangement of lung-transplant team consult while in the hospital. Whew!
We toyed with the idea of passing the afternoon watching a movie at one of the theaters, but the day was quite cool, rainy and windy. We opted instead for a quiet afternoon in our hotel room. We both had a good nap, a light dinner and felt more relaxed in spite of tornado warnings, before retiring for the evening.
Wednesday began at 5:00 a.m. for arrival at hospital @ 6:30. The weather was still threatening, but no tornados warning in our area. Lee was taken to the operating room at 8:30 and surgery began @ 9:00 a.m. Seven hours later, he was in the intensive care recovery area and has now been in the I C U. and will remain there tonight. The surgeons were very pleased with his progress and he will be moved to the step-down unit Tomorrow.
So far, Lee is doing very well. The lymph nodes were free of any cancer and we should get the pathology report on the parotid gland soon. The graft is looking good, however; it will take many months for it to completely heal.
Unfortunately, skin cancer, particularly on the head, neck, scalp and facial areas is a complication of the anti-rejection drugs, the lowered immune system, and years of sun exposure in times past. Most of all, it is from the strong drugs he has to take.
More Later......................................................Brenda
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