(no subject)

[tvordlj]

Some of you will have seen my sister's post about Dad's problems today. For the rest, a brief update. He's been having trouble swallowing and today he couldn't get anything down at all. It wasn't subsiding, he couldnt' even drink water so Mom ended up taking him to the ER. He was there 4 hours before getting a cubicle and another couple to see a resident's assistant and another couple to see the chief surgical resident. What they are pretty sure it is, is scarring up inside his throat from the surgery in May. Fairly common it seems. He was going to have a procedure on Wednesday to stretch his throat out a bit to make eating easier anyway and he'll probably have it done tomorrow or Monday latest now. They kept him in because he isn't able to eat or drink so they've hooked him up to a drip for fluids and sent him back over to the hospital where he had the surgery, which is where the thoracic unit is. He wasn't in discomfort, or pain or distress which made waiting not quite as bad as it could have been. I was home for awhile and i had Dad's car so went back over tonight to wait a little longer and then bring Mom home. He's ok, but when you think there might be a blockage, all sorts goes through your mind though logically you know it's probably just a muscle spasm (which it wasn't) or scar tissue (which it was as far as we know. I expect they'll scope it out first).

Long day.

Comments

[gracefruit.livejournal.com]

*hug* I hope things go well at the hospital.

[sparklielizard.livejournal.com]

Will be thinking of your dad :-( That sounds really awful!

btw, thanks loads for the card! Was a nice surprise when we got back last night! :-)

[tvor.livejournal.com]

:) Glad it was there when you arrived!

We'll know more today about Dad but apparently this tightening up of the scar tissue is fairly common with this type of surgery so the procedure they need to do should sort it :)

[sendingsmiles.livejournal.com]

oh no...
hugs !!!

[blueberrymoon.livejournal.com]

Gosh what a day you had! Xue and I were there for 12 hours a few weeks ago and there were people waiting who had been there even longer. The worst cases get seen first( pain,life threatening) and the non "emergency" ones later. I did ask if the ambulance patients get seen sooner and was told not always, it depends on what is wrong.
I have had three scopes done on my stomach and last time I was there, there was a young woman who goes in every few years to get her throat stretched. My friend's mum also has it done. Your dad will feel so much better and it is an easy and common procedure.
Hope you can get some rest.

[whyaduck.livejournal.com]

Good luck to your dad.

My doc keeps warning me about the throat-stretching thing if I don't get my heartburn under control, he claims it's not the most pleasant experience.

[tvor.livejournal.com]

i hadn't heard of that sort of thing for heartburn. of course this is all new to me anyway.

[whyaduck.livejournal.com]

Prolonged acid reflux can cause scarring in the esophagus causing food to get stuck and swallowing problems.

[tvor.livejournal.com]

ahh ok. This scarring will be from the op where he had the whole esoph. removed and reconstructed. Horrible op, it was. Anyway i guess you do what you have to. He'll not be able to eat if he doesn't have it done.

[psychfringe.livejournal.com]

thank goodness he isnt in any pain...but it must be scarey not to be able to swallow..
*hug*
take care...xx

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Yes, well he can swallow his own saliva but the rest felt like a blockage. Must have been scary.

[gramie-dee.livejournal.com]

I bet your dad is sick of the sight of that hospital. He'll be glad to get home again. He'll be fine though and this time next week he'll be bacl on track to recovery.

[acey.livejournal.com]

I mentioned in your sister's journal that an acquaintance of mine had this happen after surgery on her esophagus. I think it's extremely common. Just too bad they didn't warn you, or did they? It's not quite as scary if you are sort of prepared for it.

Good thoughts coming eastward for you all. :)

[tvor.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what makes you angry really. they never tell you what to expect and what might happen.