Justin has been up most of the day, only taking a few short naps. His eyes are wider and the glassiness is waning.
Shortly after 10:00, the IR team swooped him away for a stomach “study.” I mentioned before, they pumped contrast through his NG tube in route to his stomach, then man-handled him into the CT machine. The results showed two things … 1) no leaking through the incision and 2) the stomach was emptying normally.
They also increased his heparin (blood thinner) because his left leg is still beyond swollen. Justin’s surgeon will likely order an ultrasound in the coming days to make sure he didn’t develop new clot post-surgery. If he has, they will probably recommend another thrombectomy before leaving the hospital, seeing as new clot is easier to remove than old.
In other good news, Justin not only passed gas (and it didn’t take an earthquake, Mark and Paul!) but he might have a bowel movement. This could be too much information for some of you, but it’s a big deal with gut surgery. Monumental stuff, folks!
Justin’s hemoglobin is low, borderline transfusion. Although this is normal with the surgery he had, it’s an impossible recovery to normal as he’s lacking the bowel required to absorb it organically. We’ll take the issue up with his medical oncologist once he’s released from the hospital.
The chief resident approved some ice chips overnight (with the promise Justin won’t go nuts) and will clamp his NG tube to test how well his stomach is emptying first thing in the morning. Should that test go well, he’ll be on a fluid diet by this time tomorrow. Christina’s guess, it’ll go swimmingly, poor guy is starving, tooting, and lots of internal bowel sounds.
Hoping Justin gets some decent rest tonight, especially after being up all day! Wishing you all the same.
God bless,
Christina
this Justin 