Aaaand . . . another trip to the Emergency Room!

As you already know, Greg had a PEG tube (feeding tube) put in on Thursday.  He was in a lot of pain at the hospital and that pain didn't get much better over the weekend.  I knew he was in a lot of pain, because he was cranky (VERY cranky), and very contrary -- and by that I mean, he argued with everything I said.  If I would say the sky was blue, he'd say it was grey.  Yea, that's how he gets when he's in pain.  Now, mind you, he's in pain every day, from the nerve damage from his shingles two years ago, so this was a different kind of pain.  He said it felt like he was being stabbed in the gut.  That's just not good!  

So, this morning, when I wasn't supposed to have to get up until 6:30 to start work in my new home office at 7 a.m., I ended up being awake at 5 a.m. to take Greg to the Emergency Room.   I was up early because that's when my body made me get up.  I knew Greg was still in a lot of pain, and I thought it best to get to the ER before the day starts and they get too busy.  Why make Greg suffer any more than he already was.  

We got to the hospital around 5:30 a.m., and they did their usual thing getting him into a gown, history, etc..  Then they wanted to put an IV in, so we asked for an anesthesiologist.  They weren't very happy about that, and basically insisted that they have to try before they can call an anesthesiologist.  Well, WE weren't happy about that, either, so we decided to wait on the IV, because, what if they don't need it?  Most times, an IV in the ER is simply standard procedure, as a "just in case."  I'm not willing to have Greg be poked numerous times on a "just in case" so we made them wait until the ER doc decided that Greg needed a CT scan (they have to inject stuff for that), so that's when we said OK.  As always, the first nurse could not get it in, so another nurse had to try.   She got it on her first try, but I have to say, if she didn't make it, and he would have had to be stabbed a third time, I would have made a call to the hospital administrator to complain.  It's nothing against the nurses.  I know they are just doing their job.  Greg's veins are horrible from all the chemo he's received over the years, and I just can't handle seeing him wincing in pain from people trying to insert an IV.  Seriously, those things HURT under normal circumstances!  I really can't wait for Greg to get his PICC line next Monday so he doesn't have to keep getting stabbed multiple times.   

Anyway, they gave him some very strong pain meds, and that really didn't do much to relieve the pain.  He was sent for a chest X-ray because he has so much wheezing (from his sinusitis issues), and then he had to have  CT scan of his stomach to see what was up with the PEG tube.  

He also had some albuterol treatments because of the wheezing (as seen in this picture on the left).  

After the CT scan, the ER doc looked at the scans and showed them to us.  It appeared that the inside of the tube (which has a balloon on it to keep the tube in place, and the outside of the tube, where there is a circular "retention ring" that keeps the tube from going into the stomach. (Peg Tube Parts)   So, it's being held on both sides, and was too squished together, or too tight, and that's what was causing all his pain, and that's also why the pain wouldn't go away.  Looking at the picture linked above, what's between the balloon (inside the stomach) and the retention ring (outside the stomach) is skin and well, belly fat.  If it's all being pinched together constantly, nothing is going to make the pain go away until you relieve the pressure.  



The surgeon who placed the PEG tube checked the CT scans and had one of his partners, who was already in the hospital for other procedures, come and look at Greg and then turn the retention ring to loosen the pressure.  There was an immediate sense of relief!  Not complete, but definitely a difference!   Greg had watched some of this on YouTube when he was investigating his pain, and told me that I could have done that.  Sure, and if I did, knowing our luck, his guts would have started spurting out!  Nope, not doing that!  😆

We were able to leave the hospital a short time later, and after the 30 minute drive home, Greg was HUGELY better!  YAY!   Praise God!    I must say though, Greg is really pushing this "in sickness and in health" vow I made almost 28 years ago!   HA!  

So, my first day of work in my new home office didn't quite go as planned.  Instead of starting at 7 this morning, I started at 10:30.  Once again, my supervisor was fabulous about me being gone!  I now understand why God didn't have me get that position I applied for a month and a half ago.  Had I gotten that position, I would not be able to work at home, because you have to be in a position for a year before you can go home!  Being able to be home is an integral part of Greg's care, as I can actually concentrate on work while I'm working and not worry about how Greg's feeling.  If I were at work, I know I would be worrying about him at home alone, instead of concentrating on work.   As always, God knows what's best for me, and, although it doesn't happen all the time, I now know why I did not get that position.   

I was able to get six hours in today, and will make up an additional two hours later this week.  Should be easy enough to do, because I have a feeling it's going to take my body a while to get used to sleeping as late as 6:30 a.m.!  LOL 

As always, your prayers are appreciated!  

Blessings to all of you!  

Julie 


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