Update on My Dad’s surgery

Hi Janet!
I haven’t been on the site in a while so have just been reading about your dad – what an ordeal in his recovery time! I’ve had some ‘interesting’ room mates too!
Anyway, back to the job in hand, wound infection/open wound. I too had one of these. 50 staples worth. It’s all a bit horrible but you get through it eventually. I was having antibiotics about once a month, so was lucky in comparison but they also help drag your immune system down besides killing the bugs – or not!
I had my op in May last year, the wound finally finished closing in November so your Dad may have a while to go.
I started reading up on manuka honey & there are dressings made in various kinds (in the UK they’re marketed by a company called Advancis) & maybe worth a try. I know some were not suitable while the wound was still deep but I really wish i’d found them earlier in the proceedings as the difference they made was huge in a very short time. In fact the wound healed in 6 weeks of starting them when the nurses were predicting at least another 12 weeks. And i didn’t need any more antibiotics once I’d started the honey dressings.
As for the food situation I went on the little & often princple, cereals & soya milk if all else failed to entice, I also used a pea protein powder in fruit smoothies, i found any saturated fat didn’t go down well, but I’m happy to say that now my digestion is almost normal although there are still things I will probably avoid for the rest of time!
I hope this helps, very best wishes to your Dad for his ongoing recovery.
Val

Good Morning! The best news is that dad is home! Boy oh boy do I remember the stuff I did. Who ever thought in their life they would change bags and clean wounds? But, we get through it and then we say, I did that?? After Teddy had his Whipple I found that small amounts of food more often did well, especially comfort food. He did good on pasta, macaroni and cheese, soups, chicken made very soft like a stewed chicken, jello made with fruit in it. He didn’t want anything sweet and only soft foods. Teddy had also developed an infection that left 2 “holes” in his scar from the Whipple. They do take some time to heal. I used to tell him to walk outside, like just from the house to the end of the driveway. Walking is so important. Bottom line dad, is now a SURVIVOR and the rest will come around as he heals. You are doing a great job as an advocate and don’t forget to take some time for yourself.

I had an open wound after one surgery and had to change my own dressings at home. It’s amazing how quickly things like that become just a routine. I’m sure you’ll do just fine, and it’s great that you can help your dad by doing his IVs. I’m sure it’s a comfort to him to have you doing that.

Best wishes,
Kristin

Janet,
The only advice I have is to keep your dad walking as it encourages healing. Glad he is home where he will hopefully be more comfortable.

Hang tough.
Kris

Cinnamin

I’am so happy for you guys yes your Dad is a Super hero

And you should right stories for children, no forget about
children, Big Children like me, you had me in stiches really
I don’t think I laughed this much in a very long time.

But so very glad for your Dad and you.
Yes You have all been given a chance

with the best of intent,
Denise

Hi Cinnamin,

Thank you for sharing this news with us all. That is quite some story that you tell and I am glad to hear that your dads surgery went well, good stuff! I hope that your dad makes a great recovery and I wish him every success with this.

When my dad was in the hospital, his doctor told him the same thing that Janet mentions and that it is hard to sleep in hospital. He spent over 3 weeks on the ward and hardly got any sleep, then when he was transferred to a private room which he needed due to his PDT treatment, he still didn’t get much sleep.

Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for your dad and my best wishes to you both,

Gavin

Cinnamon:
I got chills as I read your dad’s story. I can equate as Tom had some pretty weird room mates while he was inpatient at the Milwaukee VA hospital! His roomate (when they needed his private room for someone who had mersa) urinated on the floor by the sink at about 2am. When I came in at 5am the room reeked of Urine. Nurses and staff in and out of the room, no one cleaned it up. At 9am I went and found the head nurse, brought her into Tom’s room and pointed it out and said “How can anyone get well in this hospital when staff sees and smells something like that and does nothing?” Tom’s doc heard about it and immediately he was moved to the 7th floor and had a wonderful totally remodeled room. My advice, if you have to be at the Milwaukee VA hospital for surgery INSIST on being on the 7th floor!

So sorry your dad had such an AWFUL experience. You need to complain to the hospital and maybe (ha) they will give him a break on the bill…

Prayers coming your dads way as always

Go with God and KEEP KICKIN’ THAT cancer.

Margaret