Third Times the Charm

Another week in the hospital, but one that is getting me closer to getting home.

Last weekend, I learned the initial stent failed to halt leakage through my perforated esophagus-jejunum suture. This is the second failed attempt to control the perforation leakage – the first being the bear clips.

Therefore, after much discussion, the doctor’s determined the best way forward was to add a second stent in order to create a better seal to protect the perforation.

The doctor’s prepared for a third endoscopic procedure for Monday or Tuesday. However, upon review of their stent inventory, the Gastro-Intestinal surgical team discovered the last stent in the hospital already sat in my body.

After some end-of-fiscal year money shenanigans (don’t get me started on 4th quarter U.S. government spending), an overnight order was placed. Surgery was expected to occur the next afternoon…

But like many other oddities with my medical situation, “overnight” on Monday order really mean the part showed up late Wednesday afternoon.

So, on Thursday, a second stent was successfully placed in my esophagus and jejunum.

This past Friday became Judgement Day: is the perforation still leaking?

Needless to say, Thursday evening resulted in some restless sleep. Pain management remained difficult with this stent placement as was the case with the first one.

Friday morning, I was wheeled down to the Radiology Department and stepped in front of a fluoroscopy machine – essentially a real-time x-ray scan that plays like a movie rather than traditional static x-ray shots.

The sequence of events unfolded as such:
– I drank nasty stuff.
– The doctor’s sat around the monitors watching the liquid snake its way down my mouth and throat, through the stents and disappear into my small intestines.
– I would be told to drink more as the floroscope techs manipulated the machine this way and that at the doctor’s orders.
– Repeated this process for about 30 minutes.

In the end, it appears the second stent did the job…no more leakage out of the perforation! Third times the charm!

Upon return to my room, the doc’s immediately expanded my diet from the protein nose-fed goo I have been receiving for the past week, to a “clear, liquid diet” – which means I can nibble on ice, sip water, and drink juice and broth (not together, mind you…that would be disgusting).

I am tolerating the additional liquids to my diet so far, even though I am not that hungry or thirsty due to on-going IV hydration and nose-feeds.

While the diet is interesting, I am most grateful for the progress I am making towards getting home. My blood work continues to show I am doing great. I have passed all my physical therapy, occupational therapy, and respiratory therapy “go-home” goals.

My final hurdles to going home involve pain management (two stents in my chest don’t feel the best…I’ll most likely keep them for the next 6-8 weeks); expanding my diet to some solid foods (which starts on Monday); and finishing out an antibiotic regime.

I am so grateful for all the prayers and support that have helped me endure a month in the hospital. I know they will carry me to my home, and my wife and kids, very soon!