A Leak Springs Eternal

Dennis' J/G tube sprung a leak this morning while I was giving him his medications. I called the hospital and we have an appointment for 7AM on Monday. In the meantime, perhaps Duct Tape??

For those of you (most of you, I hope) that do not know what a J/G tube is, here is my best lay mans definition. It is a tube, about a 1/4 inch in circumference, that is divided in half. One half of the tube goes into his intestine, for night time feeding, and the other half into his stomach for medications. I think I may have been pushing to hard when trying to give him his meds, and the G side of the tube started spraying all over the place. A small hole had opened up in the G side.

G stands for gastro (stomach) and J stands for Jejunal, which must mean intestine. There is one more thingee hanging out, which is the control to the balloon that hold it in place.

I have tried to find a website that explains it better, but they are all too technical for me. Here is a picture of Dennis' tube contraption. Where Dennis' pointer finger site, is exactly where the leak began.

 Now we have a 7AM appointment at the hospital on Monday to get it replaced. Sigh. At least it is an easy surgery and we should be home by the time my 10AM dentist appointment comes around.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

Out Patient Surgery

From the immediate looks of it, Dennis' calorie issue may have been solved.

He had a new feeding tube inserted today. Yesterday he had an appointment with a GI specialist. This doctor decided that Dennis had the wrong type of feeding tube. Instead of one that feed directly into the stomach, he needed one that fed into the intestine. He was brought up to out-patient surgery and they inserted Novocaine into his belly. Then they asked when he ate last.

When I came home he told me they had been mean to him. They made him get shots into his delicate skin and then decided his stomach was too full to do the surgery.

So today he went back on a very empty stomach. When we left a couple of hours later, he had the newest tube on the market hanging out of his belly.

The gadget feels almost like silicone. It's tough, but soft. It has three separate places to insert junk. The "J" tube goes into the intestine. This is where food, and only food, gets injected. Then there is a "G" tube, where water, pills, and any other odd stuff get shoved directly into the stomach. Finally there is a balloon, which we were told not to touch under any circumstances. It's all a bit overwhelming, but we all will get it straight in a few days, and it will seem as if we have been doing this forever.

Dennis will now eat at night while he sleeps. This will leave him with several extra hours in the morning that he has used up slowly eating as much as he could for as long as he could. He will need to get a new hobby. Well, actually he has - he spent a small fortune the other day on a Nintendo DS. Now he can sit at the kitchen table for hours playing memory games and killing monsters.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

Still Feeling Poorly

Dennis still is not feeling up to par. He hasn't eaten solid food for several days now. He has been complaining about numbness in his lips and mouth. When I returned home from work today, he was already in bed. I checked his temperature, and it was normal. Then I checked his oxygen level - it was running at 90%, a bit too low for my comfort.

I set him up with a nebulizer treatment and called his general practitioner's office. By the time the nurse answered the call, his oxygen level had gone up to 94%. She then reminded me to keep him hydrated and keep him warm. I made an appointment for tomorrow, and she assured me that if either of us continued to feel concerned, we should go immediately to emergency.

He is feeling a bit better now, at least he is a bit less anxious. He definitely does not want to go to the hospital, but we have a long standing agreement that he will if I insist. I hope this will pass and no hospital stay will be necessary. I am on spring break as of today, and would prefer that he is at home with me and not in the hospital.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

More on Stomach Issues

Dennis is still trying to figure out all the acid reflux, throwing up and nausea. I thought it was all the same thing, but evidently each symptom is different and distinct.

Yesterday he looked up feeding tube problems on the Internet, and came up with a few solutions that he tried today.

He had the feeding slowed down, but half shutting the valve on the feeder. This was suppose to help with nausea. He also laid down while being fed, and this was suppose to also help with nausea. So when I came home he was in bed being fed. He wasn't nauseous. But as soon as I got him out of bed, he felt the acid reflux hit him.

Tonight we will see about the vomiting. He has an appointment with a GI specialist, but it's a month away. He is completely tired of this, and I can't say that I blame him. I am tired of it, too.

Until later,

Ann and Dennis

Not a Pretty Story

Okay, this begins with a strong warning. This post has a very high gross-out factor.It should only be read by people who are struggling with issues of constipation, feeding tubes, loose stools and those who enjoy a dirty tale.

Yesterday was a double diaper day with an extra throwaway pad everywhere Dennis sat. He also spent a good portion of the day just sitting on the toilet. For those of you that have followed for quite some time, you know that Dennis has constipation problems. These problems are further exacerbated by some of the medications he takes. Recently, we found the right combination of stools softeners, yogurt and senna to gently attack the problems.

We forgot to factor in the feeding tube eating.

It seems, like everything else that Dennis takes, the formula he uses when he feeds causes either constipation or diarrhea. This time around it was the latter.

So, given that we have dealt with this many times, we know how to prevent a complete mess, most of the time. This time was the worst ever and our precautions against messiness were useless.

We began with double diapers. Then his usual pad, and a throw-away on top of that. We had the sheet, a pad, a mattress cover and under that yet another pad. Okay, the bed faired okay to midland, but my Danielito did not.

I woke up to a man with poop up and down his back, his legs, the bed and pillow. First came the horrendous smell, then the sound of swishing and the call of Dennis for help. The poor guy had been sleeping in his own feces all night. He must have been terribly uncomfortable. Thankfully, he doesn't have a great sense of smell, or he most likely would have been gagging and throwing up on top of everything.

Two hours later, he is cleaned up and sitting on the toilet. We were planning on going to the zoo today, but we both think it's best to stay away. We don't want any big, mean critters sniffing at him.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

Stomach Tube (G Tube) Blockage

I spent most of the day with my mother today. I left the house at 8:30 and headed for Eau Claire. The plan was to pick out a few more items for moving, a last visit with her doctor, before heading back to Minneapolis with Mother in tow. She is going to see her new apartment and have an assessment with a nurse tomorrow. Then Jane will drive her back home.

It was a long day. A 100 mile drive, twice. A visit to the doctor, who spends a whole lot of time with each patient. Mother and Father both love(d) him, but he is always behind on his appointments. Then, we packed for the night, but mom kept forgetting something. Anyhoo, it ended up being a long day.

When we returned to our condo, Dennis was due for a feeding. Damn, his tube was blocked. I reread the information given to us and tried to empty his stomach contents with suction. Nothing. I tried putting water into the stomach, with no success. I tried a new suction tube. I tried hot water. Nothing.

I called the hospital. I could not find the direct number and the receptionist, although very pleasant, couldn't figure out what I needed either. Eventually, I was hooked up with a guy that understood what I wanted. While he transferred me, he told me that inserting Coke into his tube might loosen the blockage. As my sister Jane said, "that says alot about what we are putting into our bodies."

I left a message and received a call back a short time later. Pump, back and forth, warm water into his tube. Much like rocking a car out of snow. Slowly, in and out, back and forth.

Thankfully, this worked. Dennis is still officially without insurance. Yes, he will be covered by my insurance, but the paper work is not processed, yet. It's best not to take him to a doctor until the official cards have arrived. I really do not want to face one more insurance fiasco.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

Surgeries Completed

Both surgeries have been completed and have been deemed successful. He know has two tubes protruding from his lower belly region. I thought about posting a picture, but instead, I will let your imaginations run wild.

Our house looks more and more like a hospital room every day. There is a wheel chair and a walker. There are day and night urine bags. There are diapers, bed pads and disposable bed pads. Next to the bed is a hospital table. Now we have added one of those beautiful poles that bags hang from, complete with a pump. We have 5 cases of high calorie liquid food and one case of syringes. We have 40 iv type bags with a special "Y" closure.

Feedings are fairly easy. You always begin a feeding with 60 milliliters of water injected with a syringe into the stomach. Then, you can either directly inject a can of food and follow with water, once again, or hook up to the pump. When using the pump, you fill a bag with two or three cans of food, thread the pump, much like a sewing machine and hook it up to the stomach tube. It takes about 3 hours for each can to drip into the stomach.

The catheter pretty much works the same as the old one. Once he gets past all the pain he is in, I think he will find out that he likes the new placement.

The tricky part will be getting him dressed. One tube is directly above the pant line and the other right below. Hopefully this will be the only tricky part. I will do my very best not to hook the wrong tube into the wrong tool. I don't want to be feeding his bladder.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

One Surgery Done

My brain is on over-load. Even a stranger would be able to tell that I do not know if I am coming or going. I need to do a brain dump. I need to make a list. Then, I need to read it!

Dennis feeding tube placement went very well. Everyone seems happy with the results. However, it is a whole lot of new work for me. It needs to be cleaned, dressed, filled, rinsed, pumped, and kept to one side of his body. There are multiple prescriptions to be filled - food, pumps, liquid meds, ground up meds, sterile this and that. Then the rental company needs to come over and train me and drop off more goods. I have been trained by a nurse, someone in the vascular center, someone from nutrition and pretty soon they are going to let me actually touch the new feeding tube.

I am grateful they are so thorough. I am just tired of input, input, input. As I was typing this a nurse called me (I am trying to take a break from the hospital) and asked me a million questions. I wanted to tell her that I am tired of thinking. But I was a good girl, and I was polite, and I answered all of her questions without sounding exasperated.

Now it's back to the hospital to practice a feeding. Then he should be able to come home and kitty and I can take a nap.

Feeding Tube

The first surgery went well. The feeding tube is in place and the nurses tell me that the dressing in the incision look perfect.

Today, at 10am, we will learn about how to use the tube, how to clean it and how to replace it when needed. We will also learn about crushing his pill and forcing them into the tube. Dennis will never need to chew on anything unless he chooses to do so.

I think he will continue eating for a very long time. Especially ice cream and any other dessert he is able to get his hands upon.

I will let you all know later just how this works. First, though, I must get educated.

Until later
Ann and Dennis

Doctors and Time

Dennis loves his general practitioner, Dr. Kieffer. He is thorough and kind, and always remembers the little pieces of personal information that you share with him. But, you must come to an appointment prepared to spend an hour or two in his room.

Yesterday, that hour or two became three hours.

Today, I took Dennis to a new dentist. He finally figured out that I was serious when I told him I would not drive for 30 minutes just so he could see his old dentist in Lakeville. He is very wary of change, and has a low threshold for pain. He was comfortable with his dentist. I, on the other hand, see the value in keeping a specific doctor in your life, but find the world of dentistry a bit less personal in nature.

The point is, the new dentist is a bit like Kiefer - thorough and kind, but slow. Dennis loved him! I finished my book, read a People magazine (one of my guilty doctor's office pleasures), shopped at a pharmacy and stared at CNN for over 3 hours, once again.

Tomorrow surgery is slated for 10:30. Of course, we will sit and wait for a while for his turn in the surgical room. Then, five minutes of surgery will take around 2 hours. Then a wait for him to wake up and become coherent once again, before another hour when he can be wheeled to his room.

I am actually a bit anxious about this surgery. I want it over, and finished. Oh, my! Where did this come from? I surprised myself by actually writing those two sentences. I thought I was becoming a rock and here I find out that I am actually quite human. Well, good. I can be a bit worried and everything is okay.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis

A Busy Week Ahead

We are up for a week of doctors, dentists and surgery. Dennis has an appointment with his family doctor on Monday and then a quick stop-off to pick up some drinkable stuff for his surgery on Wednesday. Tuesday, his teeth will be cleaned. Wednesday, the feeding tube will be placed into his stomach. An overnight stay at the hospital is required to monitor him. Thursday, he will come home, who knows when and Friday he will have day surgery for his catheter placement.

Oh, how much sleep he will need the next week.

For an odd assortment of reasons, the surgeries could not be on the same day. Because we do not know if he will have any insurance for a while, they also could not be delayed. Both surgeries will improve his quality of life so there seems to be no reason to delay.

I also will be moving Mother soon. The day we returned home, I called her. She is very anxious to move to the Twin City area. I think she is very lonely. She misses dad, and her kids are the next best thing. I only wish she understood that this is what is happening.

I am so very glad that my job gives me a long summer off. I am also so very happy that I have learned to take the summers off and make the most of them. Even with everything I need to accomplish this summer, I still have time left for a wonderful vacation, relaxing, painting and reading. Oh, and today Dennis and I enjoyed a great meal at a 4 Star restaurant. Life is good.

Feeding Tube

Dennis has lost 30 pounds in the past year. The first 15 he was grateful to loose, the next 15, I was grateful he lost. It's easier for him to walk around, and much easier for me to help him get up and get around. However, it cannot keep going down and down.

Several people involved in Dennis' care have thrown around the idea of inserting a feeding tube. This seemed to me to be a last resort. I cannot fathom the idea of never being able to eat again. I don't think a world where Dennis is unable to eat pie is a world in which he wants to live. And how would he exist without ice cream?

But, yesterday, a visit with the speech therapist cleared up this whole feeding tube business. We found out it is really just a button that open and shuts, and nutrition is inserted via a needle, into the stomach. It is used more as a supplement to nutrition rather than a substitution for the whole enchilada. He can still eat, but when he is too tired to get all of his nutrition through edible food, we can stuff his belly full of liquid food.

I am feeling so much better about this whole business now. And, for those of you that expressed concern about my feeling overwhelmed the other day - thanks, and I am feeling much better.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis