still in hospital but doing better

Hi everyone,

Sorry for delay in update, this is my first chance now to write something as it's been a big day.

Ok, well to backtrack, David got admitted to a (shared) room last night, I think it was about 8pm (on the Oncology ward). He had been able to keep taking sips of drinks and bites of food every now and then which was a good thing. Also, things seem to be functioning better in his body which I think indicates that the blockage between stomach and bowel is not total but just partial?

This morning he was feeling a lot better. Well, better in that the butterfly needle (which slow releases anti-nausea meds over 24 hours) is doing a great job in helping him not feel so sick. Also the pain management is working really well so he is not in too much pain either - BIG relief! He is mostly very weak and tired now. But he has been getting small bites of food and drink all day and seems to be perking up a bit which is great! After a few days without really eating, he has a lot of catching up to do ;) Catherine, he and I even had a nice chat/laugh earlier and he enjoyed a few other visitors too in between naps.

So, the situation is that he is still admitted into hospital, and waiting to see the Gastroenterology (GE) team about putting a stent in, which is like a tube that helps dialate the tube between stomach and bowel so he  can eat and drink more/better. We have been sort of told by the Oncologists that YES, the GE people can and will do this procedure - yay! (But we haven't had official meeting with them yet). When the Gastroenterology team will turn up, we don't know - David's case probably not seen as super urgent. We also don't know how long he will be admitted in hospital for or when the stent will be done. Apparently it's a fairly minor procedure (keyhole maybe?) done under local anesthetic (??) or something stronger than that but I know it's not general anesthetic anyway. It seems likely this won't happen till early next week...

So, that's where things are at for now. We are so thankful he is in less discomfort and pain, and hoping that he can keep up the nourishing food and liquids so he can regain some strength and energy.

On behalf of Mum and David, I would like to say a HUGE thank you for the outpouring of love, support and prayers, they are truly grateful for them and feel very loved. Thank you all for being so kind and understanding as we muddle through this with all the stress, exhaustion, and emotion involved. Having a supportive team cheering them on and ready to lend a hand makes a huge difference.. how blessed they are :)

As for how long he will be in hospital, we don't really know yet. He could be discharged any minute or stay there till they put the stent in. But for now I think it's a good place for him to be as they are taking good care of him and making sure to manage his pain/nausea and everything well.

If you would like to visit, you can either call/text Mum or myself to find a good time, or try your luck just dropping in (just be aware that someone else may already be there too!). David doesn't have his phone with him in hospital, FYI. Even if David is resting (as he frequently is), it can be nice to just read a book near by or whatever while he sleeps :)

Anyway, I am not a doctor so not sure if I have conveyed all the medical stuff correctly but that is roughly where things are at. I will update again when we have more news.

Love, Kate