Recovery Day # 5

Bringing an open heart patient
home is like bringing home a couple
of newborn babies.
Everything that seems funny,
is frightening.
You almost WANT to stay in the hospital
for immediate care if needed.

John has been thoroughly enjoying
being home and actually being able
to sleep through the night without
night nurses coming in to poke and prod.

However, he's been retaining a lot of fluid
from the surgery.
He's actually gained quite a bit
of water weight,
in his feet, calves, thighs
and abdomen,
which is crazy to see on such a
normally, little guy.

Pain meds are something that
must be given on time
otherwise John really struggles
with the tightening of muscles,
shivers, and overall stiffness,
soreness and pain.
Sometimes I just have to sit
and rub his back while
the meds kick in.
I hate to see him hurting!

Today the extra water weight
(25 extra pounds worth)
really started wearing on him.
Just before going to bed
Saturday night he started experiencing
some chest pain,
shortness of breath,
and discomfort in his torso.
It was also concerning as to why
he wasn't shedding the water weight,
given his age, how in shape he is,
as well as the few doses
of diuretics given to him.

The chest pains gradually
increased and grew worse.
After a couple of incidences
when John actually bent over in pain,
we decided to pack up and come to the ER.

After about 4 hours in the ER room,
they pumped him full of a more powerful
diuretic (through an IV)
and decided to admit him
overnight.

It was pretty scary for a while.
Being middle of the night,
all of us sleep deprived, with
uncontrollable chest pain.
John and I took turns praying
over him.
There was definitely some obvious
spiritual attack going on.

But, the nurses came in and gave him
an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart),
and concluded that John has what's called
a "left pleural effusion."
Basically, he has fluid around the sides of his left lung.
This can easily be treated either
with the stronger diuretic he's already on,
or by literally going in and draining it
through a tube. (minor procedure.)
We will learn more when the doctor comes in.

Please pray for this!
For continual healing, the pain to subside,
for the fluid to be released from his body,
for the fluid on his lung to make
it easier to breathe once it's out.
As well as for patience and endurance
for him and all of us during this
long road to recovery.

So, none of us actually have gone to bed
since Friday night.
And now it's...
Sunday morning at 9am!
We're sitting in the new PCU room,
(none of us really missed this place)
but honestly it's just nice to watch him sleep.
He's just so handsome,
and peaceful looking.

Sometimes we lock eyes.
And sometimes I can read what he's saying.
Fear,
relief,
tiredness,
pain...
etc.
Part of the beauty of learning someone.
And also another way that I can just
let him know that
"we're all still here for you."

UPDATE:

John is staying for another night
in the hospital.
They're continuing the diuretic
to get rid of the excess fluid.
We hope that once the fluid is gone,
he will be released to come home
again tomorrow :]

Please continue to pray for the fluid,
that it will be released from his body
so that he can feel less pain
and more mobility.
It's rough for him to be in so much
pain, especially coming from his chest!

Also, please pray that the fluid
will stay AWAY!
We don't want it coming back;
please pray that once it's
gone, it will stay gone.

And finally,
for this recovery process.
For no more bumps along the way.
But we welcome a noticeable
everyday improvement,
with challenges to be overcome
and conquered as well as opportunities
to build relationships,
including bringing J and I closer
together spiritually.

Thank you for your unending prayers.