Another hot day in hochatown

Hey everybody, pain level today is down quite a bit from yesterday thank goodness. I pray this is the turning point for my healing. Home health nurse will be here around 5:oo this afternoon to check my right arm and shoulder to see how blood clot is doing. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thankful to be back home

It is nice to be back home. Thanks for all your comments. I am so thankful that I am still here, how much pain can I endure only God knows the answer to that. Thanks to my daughter for coming and staying with me and giving Judy time to get away from all this hospital madness. I would not be able to continue to go on through all this if you were not here with me, I love you so much! Please pray for me that my jaw will heal and I don't have to go through another surgery. The pain is so intense it is hard to think straight sometime. My right arm is sore from the blood clot and upper shoulder is black and purple and ugly looking. I have been poked and prodded with so many needles this past week is unbelievable. Home health comes out once a week to draw blood to stay on top of the blood clot. Thanks again everybody love Robert

Home Sweet Home!

We are home.  We left from hospital in Paris and went to Baylor for check up with the surgeon.  Robert's jaw is not healing, the stitches have ripped open leaving all the work they did exposed.  Dr. Oxford wants to give him another month to see if his jaw will start healing then and was happy to see the outside stitches have healed nicely, so he said that gives him hope he will heal on the inside.  Robert is very discouraged right now, and is having a  hard time keeping pain under control.  I told him he had several comments to read and he is looking forward to reading them.   Praying for healing! 

Still in hospital!

Robert is still in the hospital.  Sorry we have not updated, but I could not get internet access at the hospital.  They have been giving Robert coumadin and another blood thinner, not sure the name.  They need to get his blood at a 2.0 or higher and as of this morning it was 1.68.  He was hoping to come home by now. 

Cassie spent the weekend with her Dad and I can not thank her enough for the break.  Robert really enjoyed the time with her and she took really good care of him. Sandi and my cousin Greg and his wife Heidi had planned on being at Sandi's last weekend, and with Cassie staying with Robert I was able to go ahead with our plans and spend the weekend with them.  It was a wonderful weekend and they just do not know how much I needed the break.

Robert is still having quite a bit of pain, but they are managing it better in the hospital than we can at home, so with the stronger pain meds., Robert is able to eat better.  Robert is suppose to see his ENT tomorrow, and they do not want him to miss the appointment.  They are suppose to release him to go to the follow-up, or that was the last word we heard.  Robert has seen 4 different doctors since he has been at Paris Regional, and seems they all have different opinions on his care and when he can be released.  Robert is very anxious to see his ENT, the stitches inside and outside need to be taken out, Robert can not open his mouth very wide, but he feels that he has an ulcer where they have put in the plate.  That is why it is really important that he makes the apt. tomorrow.  I came home this evening and if all goes well I will pick him up in the morning and we will head to Baylor.  Robert has not been able to read your comments, but when he comes home he will get on here and read them.  Thanks so much.  Love, Judy

Back in hospital!

Robert is in Paris Regional with blood clots.  He has a big clot in the chest area and a smaller clot in his arm right below where the PIC line was.  They are giving him blood thinners, the dr. said this morning it will be a slow process and he may have to be in the hospital 3 days.  Robert's jaw pain is better being in the hospital, they are able to give him stronger pain meds.  He was having sharp pains last night where the bigger clot is, but the pain has been better this morning.  Not sure how much more we can handle, but we are thankful for our family and friends for all their prayers and support, it means everything to us during these struggling times.  Love to all, Judy

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all dads out there! Still dealing with pain, its really getting old have a spot on back of tongue that is really bad. Judy asked me this morning how much longer can I continue going with this much pain, I said I don't know surely it will be over soon. Judy went shopping today with some friends, she needed a well deserved break. Pray that tomorrow will be better than today. Have a great weekend!

trying to stay strong

good morning everyone, nurse has come and gone everything is good so far weight is down 7 lbs from surgery day. That is expected since I can't chew very good . Judy made me some pinto beans and blended them with cornbread and it was really good. Pain level about 3 which is better than 7 or 8 I've dealt with for 2 and half years. Still swollen a little. Thanks everyone for your words of  encouragement and prayers. H ope ya'll have a great day. LATER

MONDAY FIRST DAY OF BLOG FOR ME

HELLO EVERYONE MY FIRST DAY TO BLOG , EVERY MORNING 1ST THING THANK GOD FOR ANOTHER DAY,COFFEE,GET MEDICINES OUT READY FOR HOME HEALTH, CREME OF WHEAT FOR BREAKFAST, TREATMENTS TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR. MORE PAIN TODAY THAN USUAL. HOPE TO GET OUTSIDE STITCHES OUT TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY. HAVE QUITE A FEW INSIDE BUT THEY WILL DISSOLVE ON THEIR OWN. I WILL BE ON SOFT FOODS FOR AWHILE. IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG 6 WEEKS OF HEALING. STILL USING ICE PACKS FOR SWELLING. THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND CALLS. THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL WIFE FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR ME, I WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WAS NOT FOR YOU, I LOVE YOU .      LATER

Home and settled in!

Robert and I got home last Wednesday night.  Home health came out Thursday for first iv antibiotic treatment.  Robert is to have the treatments everyday for 6 weeks.  Robert's pain level has been about a 2, until yesterday and it has been increasing and up to 6 now.  Not sure if some of the nerves are wakening up.  He is not able to eat anything but pureed foods.  I baked fish tonight thinking it would be soft enough, but it was not.  He is already tired of the pureed vegetables, so any suggestion on what he can eat will be appreciated.  He starts his day with Cream of Wheat, he said this morning "it's a good thing I like it".  Robert needs to stay at home, does not need to be around a bunch of people, we have to be careful of infections, but he does have internet and he will start tomorrow blogging himself.  Words of encouragement will be appreciated and I know he will look forward to blogging. 

Headed home soon!

Robert will be discharged today as soon as home health is set up.  Dr. Oxford has prescribed daily antibiotic treatments which will be given through iv for 6 weeks.  Robert had a good night and his pain is under control.  We are looking forward to getting home, but have enjoyed having our family together.

Robert is able to eat soft foods and has discovered my Raspberry Vanilla cookies.  Between him and Sandi I  have to make a Target stop on the way home. 

Day 1 Post Op

Robert had a good night, he has been taking Dilauded (pain medicine) every 2 hours, he says the old pain is gone, but this is a new pain.  Dr. Oxford came in this morning and Robert will be here at least another day.  When Robert gets to go home he will have IV antibiotics for 6 weeks and will have to have home health.  He is on a liquid diet and as Sandi and I are enjoying our biscuits, bacon and sausage he is just glaring at us.  Thank goodness they have us in a suite room so we are just out of throwing range from him.

It's a Miracle!

That was Robert's words after surgery!  The doctors said the surgery went very well.  They removed all the dead bone and implanted the metal plate.  They did not have to remove any teeth and said they were very pleased that there was blood in the bone under the deterioration.  Best case scenario is the jaw will heal and no more surgery.  The nurses ask Robert what his pain level is and he just says "I do not know how to answer that", he has had such pain for so long and this is a different pain.  They had a very difficult time intubating, he said that it took 4 people to hold him down while they put the tube down his nose.  That was the worst part of the day. 

We would like to say a very special thank you to our Angels of the day:  Sister Sandi, Mother and Benny, Linda and Jay, Cassie and Sandy and Kevin Nelson and Lisa Wood. 

Surgery Is Underway!

Robert is under going surgery now.  After the ct scan results Dr. Oxford and Dr. Potter have both decided that the best course of action is to remove the dead bone and implant a metal plate and not do the extensive surgery.  I believe there is more deterioration than they first thought.  They will consider going back in later to do the flap.  With the procedure they are doing today, it is not necessary for a trach, unless they get in and can not get an airway, which means a shorter hospital stay.  The surgery is to only last 3 hours.  Thanks for all your texts and support.

Love,
Judy