The only word that describes the last twelve hours would be "BAD< BAD< BAD<BAD" and how about a Hol% S#!t on the side. Her surgeon battled the "stricture" (thinning of the passage way between the esophagus and pouch) only to get into the stomach "blind" and after over a half hour, due to the point of view in her belly, was unable to differenciate between the diverticuli ("gofer hole") and the intestine. They are of the same diameter. To attempt a dialation and/or placement of a stint would be too risky and 50/50 odds don't sound good. He was immediatly concerned with mistakenly dialating the diverticuli and creating a breech and/or stinting the diverticuli instead of the intestine path. So he retracted out and ceased to avoid creating any further damage. He spoke with me and briefed what he knew ( not much) and that he wanted to take her to CT for a scan and would keep her overnight for observation. Approxiametely 10-15 minutes later he came back out and said that she was in extreme pain and it appeard that all the air that was used to inflate the path for the camera had bled into her abdomen. This was because the omentum that he wrapped around her original surgery during a past surgery had ruptured. So her abdomen was distended to 5 times its intended size. He immediately took her to CT to bleed some of the air out. But of course this is not a quick procedure and i don't imagine the most fun. So she will most likely be in the hospital into the weekend. He is leaving to her to decide when she is comfortable enough to go home.
The plan as of this minute is to get over this hurdle (out of pain and stable) and some time next week do another GI series to get a good picture of how things are flowing. The issue is that niether they, Barnes in St Louis or Columbia were able to see that there is in fact a breach somewhere in her tract (surgeon suspects it is the immediate area of the diverticuli) that is creating all the trouble. He is only able to expose the breach with air, normal contrast testing is not showing this apparent very small leak. He may decide to leave well enough alone for awhile. The main question for all involved, is this is essentially the same condition she was in at early June when he first saw the diverticuli. So what do you do with a leak that has not gotten any better, yet no worse, despite your best efforts and it takes "extraordinary" measures to expose its existance?
It is said that things happen for a reason, looking at the past week, I have to believe that monday was not a mere run of bad luck. This day very well may have happened in Columbia amongst strangers who do not know her and I. Do not care for us the way the staff at the hospital here do. They know Sharmel's likes/dislikes, what works for her and as evidence today, can and will meet her every need with instinct. ie. room was set up for her with a fan, warm blankets, temp dropped, cups of ice and such before she ever rolled up on the floor. The nurses were looking for her first thing this morning and periodically came to find me for updates on her. Despite my inability to be with her in recovery room through most of the chaos, i was getting updates routinely by nurses. Here is the best example i can think of, Sharmel wanted a specific type of "spit pan" that we had aacquired in the past in our time in CCU. April (one of her many "angels") her LPN went to the CCU and requested one of these pans. They told her that they don't normally hand those out, she told Mimi (another "angel") that it was for Shar and handed over a pan instantly. Spring (Angel) and April spent most of the afternoon with Shar doing everything they could to ease her pain.
I know that none of this would have happened in Columbia amongst strangers. Perhaps this day was inevitable and it was imparative that we experience it here. I also feel that perhaps the surgeon in Columbia would not have exercised the same restraint and caution with Sharmel. Attempted to stint and potentially created a bigger trauma. Perhaps that stint was not meant for Sharmel. Perhaps there is a bigger plan being executed by her Surgeon and his assisting "angels". Perhaps I'm tired and thats why i keep saying perhaps.
Keep sending positive thoughts and i will keep you updated.
