Stomach Tube is OUT!

Today was just a bit of a crazy day!  It actually started last night, when we got a call at 4:30 p.m. that the surgeon's office did not have an authorization or referral for Greg's PEG tube removal.  Now, we made this appointment a week ago.  The PCP's office knows everything things referrals.  I've gone over this time and time and time again with them over the last months since this has been going on.  I even spoke with their office on Friday and was told that an authorization was not necesary, but the referral has been completed.   

Yesterday, we got a call from the surgeon's office that they did not have a referral.   The woman told me that they would have to send us the bill if they don't have the referral.  Uhm, we have half a million dollars in medical bills paid this year.  United HealthCare will pay for the procedure.  If they don't, Medicare is secondary, so they will pay.  One way or another, we are not going to have to pay the bill and the referral will be taken care of.  Don't worry about it and do not, under any circumstances, cancel our appointment!  

I received a call from the PCP's office this morning that everything was all set.  The referral was put through at 9:40 this morning.  At 11 a.m., the surgeon's office called and said they still do not have a referral and do we still want to keep the appointment?  Seriously?  What did I tell you yesterday about this appointment?  Then, she goes on AGAIN about the stupid bill!   As far as I knew, the referral had gone through, so there was nothing to worry about.  We drove to the surgeon's office and when we checked in, the woman again goes off about the referral!  OMG!  Seriously, people, we took care of all of this!  UGH!  

  

So, we finally got all that done and we're waiting for the doctor.  The procedure to remove the tube is not a surgical procedure at all and it's done in the doctor's office.    Here's one final picture of Greg's feeding tube while it's still attached!  





And here's the surgeon removing the tube!  Don't worry, it's not as gruesome as one might think -- there's really nothing gory about it at all, and it's very quick.  All it takes is a good yank!!!

And here's what it looks like!     

The white plastic part on the left that looks kind of like a flower (in the picture on the left) is what was on the outside of Greg's stomach.  The brownish looking part on the right (in both pictures) is what was inside his stomach.  When he would "feed" himself, he would put the liquid in the tube, and it would go through this little hole, directly into his stomach.  


  



And the final picture -- 

This is what his stomach looks like now, without the tube!  The hole will close up all by itself very quickly.  By morning, it should be closed completely, with no need for stitches or anything! Isn't that incredible?!  

The only advice the doctor gave us was that Greg probably shouldn't go out and get a Big Gulp!  You guessed it, it would most likely come spewing out!  Ha!  


After this was done, we decided to head over to Pick 'n Save (a local grocery store), because we don't get into Wausau very often, and it's nice to go to different grocery stores.  As we're in the area between the doors, where the carts are located, I was getting a cart and Greg was looking at the bread display.  Suddenly, some woman behind him throws her keys up in the air and screams about him not paying attention!  I couldn't believe it!  I looked at her and said that he just had a feeding tube removed and to cut him some slack.  The woman responded that the feeding tube has NOTHING to do with him being completely oblivious!  What a WITCH!   I must say, I let her get to me and gave her some choice words!   I then located her in the store and told her that this was the third time he had cancer and had beaten it and that I hope she never has to deal with anything like that.  She went off on me, and I ended up telling her she was a NASTY woman!  I just couldn't help myself.   

Our next stop was Hobby Lobby, and then it was on to Walmart and then Menard's for the rest of the stuff we needed.  When we were ready to leave Menard's, I got a text from our electric company telling me that our power was most likely out.  That was a first!  We got another text a short time later that our electricity would most likely be back on in about an hour.   When we were about a mile from home, I realized we might have a problem.  We always use our electric garage door opener to get into the house.  The side garage door is locked, and the front and patio doors are locked.  I had switched up key rings recently, and did not have a house key with me!  Sure enough, we got home and the garage door wouldn't open.  We checked every door, just in case we left one unlocked.  No such luck.  The poor dogs were going crazy, not understanding why we weren't coming into the house!  About ten minutes after we got home, I tried the garage door opener again, and it opened!  YAY!    I made sure to add house keys to my key ring, first thing, so that won't happen again!   

All in all, a very interesting day, with a few mishaps, but hey, it could have been worse!  We are so happy that the feeding tube is gone and Greg will have time to heal before Aaon and Rachel's wedding!   God is indeed GREAT!!!! 

Love, Peace and Prayers to all!  

Julie

The Birds and the Bees!

The other day, I was in the kitchen and I heard a "tap, tap, tap."  "Tap, tap." "TapTapTapTapTapTapTapTap."   So, I walk to where I hear the "tapping" sound, and what do I find, but a freakin' WOODPECKER pecking on the trim outside the bathroom window!  Well, isn't that cool, I thought to myself.  Then, in the back of my mind, I remembered my friend Lisa having woodpecker problems that cost a lot of money to repair.  Hmmm, this could be bad. 

It's not the best picture, because I had to take it from inside and there was a screen on the window, so, well, it is what it is!  Cute little bugger, for sure!

Today, I again heard the "tap, tap, tap."  "Tap, tap."   Obviously, I knew what it was.  The woodpecker wasn't hanging on the house, like the previous one, but I'm pretty sure that was because it was still looking for a place to land.

After hearing it again today, I remember it and told Greg about it.  So, we went outside to see what the little bugger was doing to the house.  Turns out he has started to make a nice little hole!  Obviously, he had been working this for a while and we didn't hear the noise of the "tap, tap, tap."   NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT!

We're going to fill the holl in and paint it and I'll put some suet outside to deter them from pecking at the house.  Hopefully that will work.  Otherwise, we will have to take some more drastic measures!

Yesterday, Greg noticed that there were a bunch of bees flying around in back of the house.  Upon closer inspection, they are flying in and out of a hole that appears to have been made at some point in time for some sort of cable for something.  At least that's what I'm assuming.    It can't have been there very long, or we would have noticed the bees sooner.  Obviously, we have to do something about it.  I have some wasp spray that I'm thinking of using, but if anyone has any alternatives, please let me know!

So, that's all that's happening around here right now.  Tuesday Greg gets his feeding tube removed, so look for a post and pictures from that soon!

Peace and Prayers to all!

Julie

PET Scan Results! More FABULOUS News!

On Wednesday, we saw the oncologist for the results of Greg's PET scan.   We were not expecting anything different than the EGD and biopsy results, so it seemed like just a formality.  We were not disappointed!   Greg's PET scan showed absolutely no signs of any cancer!    We are SO happy!  This is such an aggressive cancer, and with Greg not being a candidate for surgery, we really had no idea what to expect.   We have been so blessed with how Greg has responded to his treatment.   It's really been incredible.  The doctors could not believe that he actually drove himself the 30 miles (one way) for every one of his radiation treatments, and that he was able to do the same for each of his four chemo treatments.  At his age, and with the amount of chemo and radiation his body has endured over the last 25 years, it's simply unheard of!     

As the results were everything we were hoping for, we were able to have Greg's PICC line removed!  Fortunately, that's not a surgical procedure, so we were able to have it done in one of the "clean" chemotherapy rooms.  Of course, I need to share some pictures!  Don't worry, they're not very graphic!  

And here's some video!  It was like pulling out a tapeworm!  LOL    

The best news of all is that he is getting his PEG tube (stomach tube) removed on Tuesday!  That means we don't have to worry about it accidentally "popping open" when he's in his tux at our son's wedding!  YAY!  And it's an office procedure, so that makes it even easier!   For once, all the paperwork was completed and approved by the insurance company without a fight, so we're good to go!  

All the praise for this belongs to the Ultimate Physician!  God is the only one that could have given us such an incredible outcome for such a horrific disease!  All the praise and glory is His!   Once again, our Father has healed Greg!  He must have some amazing things planned for him on this earth to continually heal him!   

Thank you to everyone for your prayers.  It is obvious to us that they were heard!  

EGD Today for Greg -- GREAT Results!

I'd like to start off by apologizing for not getting this out sooner as I know that many of my Facebook friends have been waiting to hear the results.  My work day was a bit messed up and I had to finish working once we got back from the hospital, and then well, other issues in life got in the way.   

Let me start by saying GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME,  AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!   That should give you a bit of a clue about how the Esophagogastroduodenoscopy went!  HA!  Decided to use the "big" word!  LOL  I'm sorry, I'm just a bit giddy about all this!   

So, here you go!  The doctor told us that if he had not known Greg's history, he would have given him a clean bill of health!   There was no narrowing of the esophagus and absolutely NO SIGN OF CANCER!   He was completely amazed at how awesome everything looked!  

Of course, we need to hold on a minute and can't start rejoicing just yet, as there is always the possibility that there is cancer underneath what can be seen on the outside.  So he took some biopsies and we should have the results from those in a few days.  We also have a PET scan scheduled for Friday, which will show us if there is cancer in any other parts of his body, including anything that may still be in his esophagus.  The previous PET scan did not show any metastases (spreading), so we need to continue our prayers that nothing shows up on the PET scan.

As we don't know the rest of the results, we cannot even begin to hazard a guess as to what might be next.  Assuming there is no cancer and no more treatment, then he will be able to have his PICC line  and removal of the PEG  (stomach) tube!  I know he will be incredibly happy to have that stupid tube gone!   And, it is my goal to have that all gone before Aaron's wedding on October 7th!  I know it sounds a little selfish, but I know Greg wants it all gone as soon as possible, too.  

Please continue to keep Greg in your prayers, as they are most certainly working!   Per James 5:14, (Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.) this past Sunday at Church, we had the Church elders and the rest of the Church body pray over Greg as they have done time and again and our prayers are being answered.  THANK YOU, FATHER GOD!