But since I titled the previous post ‘Not Particularly Interesting’ and lots of you thought it was interesting and could relate to it, I can’t guarantee that this post is Very Interesting indeed.
Aaaanyway… hubs had ‘intake’ conversations with his surgeon and the anaesthesiologist (hey, typed that correctly in one go! At least Windows Live Writer doesn’t say that it doesn’t recognize the word, so it must be correct.) and they’ve drawn on a picture of what your inside looks like, what they will be removing from his inside. Man! I was shocked. About a quarter of his colon and lots of stuff around it. I thought they would just cut away the tumour and a little bit around it to make sure all the bad cells were gone, but no! They are going to have a ball with the knife in there.
And they will try to do it through laparoscopic surgery, also known as keyhole surgery. Which I thought was almost unbelievable, especially when you see what they want to remove. But in fact there will be multiple ‘keyholes’. Should however during this surgery become clear that multiple holes won’t be enough, they will do a – what I call – CSI on him. So cut him open from top to bottom, almost from the neck to where the male parts are. One big hole.
In fact, we had friends staying over this weekend, and she’s a veterinarian. When hubs told her about the laparoscopic plan, she couldn’t believe it either. “We just cut open the belly, take out the intestines, lay them out on the table and are very careful that the inside of the belly stays clean”, she explained. “But hey, I’m talking about fourleggers of course and I’m sure your surgeons know what they are doing”, she tried to reassure us.
We are hopeful the surgeons know what they are doing. They have mentioned that he could wake up with a stoma, temporarily or not. Small chance, but still something to consider. Oh, and if you are squeamish, look away now; they will remove a large part of his colon and have to make a new connection to his rectum, which they will do by inserting a stapler via – I don’t know another way to explain it – his backside and stapling the colon to the rectum again.
I know!
I will never look at a stapler in the same way again.
I’m not sure if hubs appreciates me telling you all these intimate details, but hey… just look at it as educational information.
Surgery will be next Wednesday.
My Dad had a bowel resection years ago and that was pretty dramatic scar wise. Laporotic sounds amazing. Wishing him the best. Not something to look forward to but I'll be thinking of him.
ReplyDeleteWOW. Well. That's more than I hope to ever really know. Hoping it all goes well and the minimally invasive technique is a success!
ReplyDeleteSurgery and medicine has come so far. I'm sure they can do what they say and everything will be fine. Good luck to you and hubby for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds good - veterinarians deal with organisms that don't complain:-) :-)
ReplyDeleteAlmost the first thing Barry's sister-in-law said to his brother was 'Have you got a stoma?' She sounded almost disappointed that he didn't have - temporary or otherwise.
Positive thoughts coming your way:-) :-)
Please let us know how things went. Prayers have been said, and continue.
ReplyDeleteYup, very interesting indeed... though my @rse did pucker a little when you mentioned the stapling procedure.
ReplyDeletePraying for only the best outcome.
Wow That's a lot to deal with. You guys are in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty amazing what the medical world is capable of doing these days. My Dad has heart problems so they didn't want to open him up to treat his cancer. When they found a spot on his liver, they performed a procedure called an ablation where, as Dad explains it (and he's prone to some exaggeration amongst his bad jokes), they blast it away.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well next week.
Hey there dearie...wow moving right along into this crucial part of the plan! I sure will be praying for his Dr.s and he as the day approaches. Modern medical is amazing stuff...and yes, CSI like!
ReplyDeleteYou will be held up too in prayer..I am sure you are taking on much more than you relalise internally, emotionally so...you are such a strong gal, and I always appreciate your heart and level headed outlook...hug the hubs for me, before he can't take the squeeze!
XO
Kac
Yikes! A stapler up the bum? OUCH! Of course, hubs will be asleep and will be full of painkillers when he wakes up and all will be well.
ReplyDeleteOH's cousin had a lot of bowel removed because of a bowel cancer, many years ago now. She did wake with a colostomy bag, but it didn't last very long and now she is all healed, fit and well, and cancer-free. With just a little bit of luck and the skill of the surgeons, hubs will be, too. ;)
It's now "next Wednesday" as I've read this. Hubs and his physicians and caregivers have continued in my thoughts and prayers -- and even more so today.
ReplyDelete