Ruth had a restless night in GOS, mainly due to no curtains and a tower spotlight shining directly down into the room. The nurses were very helpful and together sheets were hung to reduce the light coming into the cubicle room. Ruth and Josh were awake at 5.30am to give Josh last feed before nil by mouth period started.
Anaesthetist arrived 8.15am and the pain relief options for the op discussed. The recommendation was for an epidural as it required less morphine but with greater effect as it is going straight to the pain centre. The surgery was sheduled for pm session.
To our surprise the surgeons turned up at 10.15am as we were tidying the playroom and told us they were ready to take Josh down to theatre. Bizarre to go through the serious risks of bowel surgery with Josh playing with cars at our feet. The mass had been assessed to be "very large". The risks remained the same as stated previously with possible long term problems with adhesions.
We went down to theatre at 10.15am and Josh was put to sleep with gas. An hour later 2 nurses came to collect Josh's bed but we panicked as they were followed into the room by the surgeons. They surprised us by coming up to ask for consent to take pictures of Josh's mass.
Whilst Josh was in theatre we wandered the hospital corridors. We were then called at 1.15pm to collect Josh who was out of theatre and coming out of anaesthetic. He seemed okay, a bit queasy and very happy to see his teddy to cuddle. We and the nurses have spent the afternoon monitoring him.
During the operation the surgeons removed a 10cm length of bowel which was most affected by the lymphagioma. The surgeons thought the lymphatic mass was causing the passage to be nearly closed. They did not attempt to removed anything more of the mass as it is bedded closely around the bowel and you cannot remove all the bowel. However, the surgeons were hopeful that what they had removed was the source of the recurring stomach problems. Biopsy reports should be back 5-10 days' time. Our oncologist will be able to give us more info on this then. Time, we are told, will give us a better picture of whether anything more will need to be done.
And so to the immediate concerns. The epidural and paracetemol has been enough to manage the pain and post-op temperature so far. After 2 hours, he passed no urine so he was given an IV liquid bolus to encourage this along with regular IV fluids. 2nd bolus given at 8.15pm. When upset his pulse has peaked at 190 and he has become shaky. Quite out of things and very drowsy. This is fine and actually quite good in terms of his recovery. The less he moves the fewer the occasions to twist wires/ tubes and pull them out. Mini-alarms constantly going off as he moves and the monitors lose their sensor readings. These rouse Josh and remind him he's supposed to be upset. Blood pressure a bit low but ok.
The next hurdles are gradually coming off the morphine and painkillers and then over the weekend re-introducing food. We will update with more soon but we are very pleased to have him back after the worry of an operation. GOS staff cannot do enough to help / support/ answer questions. They all make such a difference.
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