On November 10, I was admitted to UMMC (University of Minnesota Medical Center) for cancer surgery. The surgery was twofold – surgery to remove a tumor on the left lob of my liver as a result of colon cancer mets to the liver; surgery to remove a large incisional hernia resulting from my colon cancer surgery in April 2013. The surgeries were performed concurrently. Liver surgery was performed first, followed by the hernia operation. The total time spent in the OR was nine hours – three hours for the liver surgery and six hours for the hernia. When I met with Dr. Jensen, the head surgeon, in the pre-op room, I was told that laparoscopy surgery would be tried first. Laparoscopy requires three incisions for camera and tool and is less invasive than open surgery. My colon cancer surgery in 2013 was laparoscopic. However, Dr. Jensen said he would opt out for open surgery if he felt that open surgery was a better way to reach the liver and allow for better access for the hernia operation. As it turned out, Dr. Jensen took the option. The operation left me with a 9 ½” incision. Twenty-five staples were used to close it. In addition, there were the three small incisions for the laparoscopy; two staples in the left and right were used to close the incisions, and no staples were required for the center laparoscopic incision located by my sternum. I awoke to good news. Dr. Jensen said I was clean. Other than the tumor on my liver, nothing else was found. I was in a lot of pain. They were pumping me with oxygen to keep my bronchial tubes open. I could feel and hear phlegm in my lungs; however, coughing did nothing to dislodge it. But what the coughing did was to cause pain, excruciating pain in my abdominal area. Every time I coughed, it felt like my stomach was being ripped out. I had two drainage tubes/bulbs attached to the left and right side of my abdomen. This was to drain pus, blood and other fluids from the body. The fluids would drain down the tubes and into the bulbs. The bulbs were emptied daily. One of the things that my cancer team wanted to prevent was pneumonia. I was hooked up to an oxygen mask; the next day they switched to nostril tubes which was much less invasive than a mask. There was also a nurse who came in three times a day to administer the use of an inhaler to keep my air tubes and lungs open. I’m not quite sure what type of inhaler was used, but it was plugged in and created a fine mist to breathe in. I was also hooked up to a morphine pump. There was a button I could press that allowed for a 1mg hit of morphine. Once I took a hit, it took 10 minutes for the pump to refill. There was a bit of a humorous side to this. I would be talking and nod off in mid-word. When I regained my senses, I would pick up where I conversely left off. My family members would be sitting and smiling because I was so damned out of it. The following day, I was put (of course) on a liquid diet, although there was some variance. I could have coffee, fruit drinks, and iced mochas (yay). Every time my nurses and resident doctors/surgeons asked me if I wanted anything, I would say: “Sure. A nice big T-bone steak.” They would smile and say: “Well, Robert, you’re still a few days away from that.” They also unhooked me from my temporary colostomy bag. That gave me the freedom to get up and move around. Of course, they wanted me to walk to get the blood flowing in my legs and feet. To help with the efforts to walk, they sent in a physical therapist. I was taught how to get out of bed and chair, into bed and chair, various leg and arm exercises. The therapist emphasized the four BLTS – no bending, no lifting, no twisting, no straining. It’s funny how you take all these things for granted and then have to relearn them or learn how to do them differently. I was discharged after four days. Originally, my stay was projected for 5 days, but my doctors felt I had made great progress in four days and decided to discharge me. To prepare me for at home care, they removed one of the drainage tubes. Thereafter, it’s my caregiver’s (Nan) responsibility to empty it daily and record how much fluid is collected in the discharge cup. I was also given a 28 day supply of Enoxaparin syringes. This is used to prevent deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis – to prevent blood clots in the lower leg and thigh. Again, my caregiver gives me my daily injections. Lastly, I was given a prescription of Oxycodone for moderate to severe pain associated with my liver surgery. Although I’m allowed 2 tabs every four hours, I take one tab when I go to bed to aid me with sleep. I just simply don’t like messing with narcotics. So, once again my journey has taken yet more twists and turns. The Beast doesn’t give up. But a warrior also doesn’t give up. The challenge has been met and The Beast has been sent back to the dark hinterlands from whence it came. Whether there will be another challenge, I can’t say. But I will be ready. This campaign is nearing its end. If interested, please consider taking a look at my cancer support fund. Mii'gwetch. www.gofundme.com/2ct9xn8?rcid=33a76704a11211e6b14dbc764e065bc4
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Robert Desjarlait
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