Seems the equipment wont be available until tomorrow afternoon, but she's coming home as soon as it is.

I talked with the surgeon this evening when he stopped by her room and he said he is astounded at how well she has recovered.

He said when he took her appendix out he would have put her chances of a secondary infection at 200%. To help he gave her all the antibiotics he could, but said he still expected to have to operate again to remove the mesh which he fully expected to become infected.

But her white blood cell count is normal, her temperature is normal, and he said she's done better than he ever expected.

She'll still be on morphine (orally) and it will be weeks before she's back to normal, but she's over the hump, so to speak. She'll take oral antibiotics for another week or so just to be safe, but he said she's well beyond the danger zone and should recover fully.

I'll be honest, when he told me (right after the surgery) what her chances of getting a secondary infection and needing more surgery were, I was extremely worried. When he told me that if she did get an infection it could be fatal, I was beyond worried.

I honestly wondered if this was it. I've sat through so many days and nights in a hospital with her and never once was worried as I was this time. Yes, she's had life threatening issues before but somehow this time was different. I honestly didn't know if she was coming home or not.

Hearing the confidence in the surgeons voice tonight made me realize she was going to live and that's a feeling I can't explain. Before tonight I was worried sick, now I'm a happy man.

Thanks to each and everyone of you for your support, positive thoughts, and prayers. I really believe they made a huge difference.

*grinning like the Cheshire cat*

DC

Just got home from work and got a call from the hospital. She's doing so well she's coming home as soon as they get some equipment to send with her.

She's hooked up to a "wound vac" that sucks the infection etc. out of the incision and makes it heal faster. She'll have to stay attached to it for a week or two more and as soon as the home unit they ordered for her arrives she'll be released.

Gotta go take a shower and head to the hospital.

*me smiles happily and rushes off*

Still no signs of infection and the surgeon actually sounded hopeful today, instead of just cautious. He said that if there aren't any signs of infection by this coming Friday she can come home.

))

Thanks once again for all the kind words, positive thoughts and prayers. A big hug for all of you.

DC

and doing fine. She was a little better today, they finally got on top of the pain.

To much morphine makes her goofy and to little and she's hurting constantly. But with a combination of extended release and instant release they've got her pain bearable and keeping her lucid too.

No signs of infection. Drainage is clear, white blood cell count normal, temp normal..well except the last two times and it was a little low then.

Considering how bad it could have been I'm thankful she's doing so well.

Thanks to all of you who sent good wishes our way. VERY much appreciated.

They finally got the pain under control more or less. No signs of a secondary infection which is good but the surgeon said she's not out of the woods yet.

The pain killers have her talking out of her head. Did you know the gift shop sells surgeries as well as unicorns and ponies. Oh and knickknacks too.
*EDIT*
Thanks so much to each and every one of you for your positive thoughts and prayers. They're working, so keep 'em coming.

DC

Her appendix burst. Not good in the first place, really not good since she has a surgical mesh that was implanted five years ago to repair a large hernia.

Best case scenario, a week in the hospital on strong antibiotics.

Worst case...

30-40% chance she could develop an abscess due to the pus from the ruptured appendix leaking into her stomach cavity. Factor in the mesh and the chance of a secondary infection is to high to calculate, according to the surgeon.

If she does develop an abscess it will require further surgery. If the mesh becomes infected it gets bad in a hurry. They'll have to remove the mesh, which means MAJOR surgery, with all the risks that go along with it.

I'm waiting for our son to get home from school so I can tell him what's going on, and then I'm going to take a nap. My mother in law insisted that I go home and get some sleep, since I haven't had any since 4AM Wednesday, and it's now 3PM Thursday.

My wife is awake and not in ICU which is good, but the surgeon and our family doctor were careful to point out that it may get worse before she gets better. If she has complications, which they said is a strong possibility, things could go down hill in a hurry.

Keep those good thoughts and prayers coming, she needs them.

My wife's back in the hospital. She was complaining of pain in her right side when I got home from work at six yesterday. At midnoight it got so bad I took her to the ER. Its her appendix and they are taking it out today. Were just waiting on the surgeon to finish the surgery he is on right now.

They call him Humper.

First day back after a week gone and unfortunately, the place is the same. LOL

My wife is doing great. I came home from work to find a home cooked meal on the table, (she had our son do the physical stuff she couldn't) and a cold drink waiting for me.

She's off the pain killer already and said that she would equate the experience to having a really, really sore throat. She's doing wonderful and already planning a garage sale for those coming weekend.

UHG!!! At least it's a joint one at her Mom's, so that will help a bit. Now all I have to do is get everything packed up and over to her Mom's before Friday. *Sighs* Oh well, maybe someone will pay something for the junk. LOL

Hope you're all doing well, and thanks for reading my ramblings.

So, my wife's well on the road to recovery and I have to go back to work tomorrow.

I had plans for today, to finish up all the stuff I didn't get done this week, but it rained all day.

So instead my wife and I spent the majority of the day snuggled up on the couch. Ah well, I can think of worse ways to spend a day.