Saturday, July 25, 2009

Bowel Infection, Antibiotics and Morphine

Hello gang.

Just returned from a visit with Dom. Spoke to the weekend doctor this morning. Confirmed that he has ulcers from his mouth, all the way down through his intestines. Appendix is OK.

He's developed a bad infection in the wall of his lower bowel. He's on a constant antibiotic drip. With any luck, he'll start developing White Blood Cells within the next 4 or 5 days to beat this thing.

The doctor has ordered a surgeon to be waiting in the wings... if this infection causes a tear in his bowel's lining, poison would leak into his stomach, calling for emergency surgery. He made it very clear that he doesn't expect this, but they have to have a "Plan B", just in case.

Dom's doped up with Morphine. His nurse was going to see about getting him a morphine pump. He's not allowed any food or water for another 3 or 4 days. I'd very much like him to sleep for the next couple of days.

His nurse, Colleen, told me just what Teresa said.... he might not remember any of this. At times, patients "lose" an entire week. Hope that happens in Dom's case.

When his eyes went to half-mast and he reported that "wow- everything in the room is such a pretty shade of green", I kissed him goodbye for the day. Hope he has pleasant green dreams!

Have a good weekend, gang. Will post new numbers later....about the same.

XOXO

1 comment:

Jennifer said...

My heart is wrenching for him right now. You know things will get better in time.