Tuesday Update

Everything is progressing slowly as far as digestion. He is now on full liquids, but is still having problems with digestion. He is eating very little as he has no hunger. His surgeon is pleased with his progress and keeps telling us it just takes time. Today they are slowly lowering his dosage on the epidural pain control as it has to be removed tomorrow. He will be on IV morphine as needed. They also have to remove his catheter tomorrow. Guess a week is the limit on those two things. They had to change his IV line to his right arm as it came out last night. The lower part of his incision is now open with a drain line as he had an infection. He is on IV antibiotics until the infection clears up. The biggest concern is his heart rate which at rest is now going up to the 140's and when he is up has gone as high as 180. That is why they have left the epidural pain control and catheter as long as they have to keep him from getting up so much. The cardiologist is coming by today, but we don't think there is much he can do at this point. Right now they will not let him walk and he needs to walk to help with digestion - catch 22! His heart rate is just out of control and even if the surgeon would release him, he will go no where until his heart rate is controlled or out of a-fib! Still no pathology report - maybe this afternoon. We pretty much know what it will say, so will not be surprised.