Friday 9th Nov 07

Good Afternoon,

Kinda missed a few days here.I'm on Sais pc here at hospital.He had another drain put in today after waiting a few days for it to happen.He has a lot of fluid around abdomen.I stayed over here with him on Tuesday night as he didnt feel too good but perked up a bit after that.I had huge bags under my eyes and looked like Michael Aspel! I'ts no fun trying to sleep in a hospital.

They'll be no chemo until Sai gets a bit of strength back as he's tired out most of the time so have to keep positive! Although he is perkier than yesterday as is giving me orders!

Bye for now;a day at a time!E. x

ps Thanks Lyn for card,nice to think of us and Jean's mum too!

Monday 5th Nov 207

Evening Folks,

I just spoke to Sai on phone there-he's been very tired today and had a bit of extra pain releif and anti nausea as the antibiotics are making him feel nauseous.He didn't start chemotherapy today because of that so hopefully later this week he'll be up to it.My mum and I went in to visit him today and got back home for the boys coming home from school.He has been asleep most of the day anyway so it's better he rests and sleeps the antibiotics etc off.I'll be in tomorrow morning and hopefully he'll have had a good nights sleep.

Goodnight,E.x

Saturday 3rd Nov 2007

Good Afternoon Folks,

I'm not sure if Sai's in a blogging mood so I'm doing a quick update.

Late Thursday/early Friday Sai got a temperature and they reckoned he had an infection,which isn't good.As he has two abdominal drains in,one on each side then that is an infection risk.The rhs drain had been in for 2 weeks which is a bit long.I did ask the SHO the day before when the drain coming out as it had been in so long-?! Anyway,along with that Sai's stomach got very distended too-so the rhs drain was taken out and a good bit of liquid leaked out too.You see the drain had seemed to have dried up as nothing was coming out for a while-anyway,once that liquid came Sai felt much comfier,it had just got stuck in a wee pocket there.

Sai had antibiotics and his temperature settled,thankfully.The docs and nurses were in and out checking him-thank goodness everthing settled.It looks like chemo will still be on for next week-they had him booked in for Monday! so we'll see if it's still Monday-but he's doing fine today so please God that continues.Sam,Sai's bro is heading back to London tonight and flying back to Hong Kong on Sunday.It was lovely he came over to visit Sai.

I'm going into visit today as i feel a bit wrecked with all the driving and the hospital air is very tiring too.I feel guilty not going in but Sai said have a day off,have a nice bath etc.He has his tv and laptop there and is doing well so he's happy and tomorrow I'll take the boys in to visit and my mum of course who has been here for a month now keeping everything going.She painted my ensuite the other day!

Nite for now-E.x

Thursday 1st Nov 2007

Evening Folks,

Sai looking pretty good today.He is back on-line now but asked me to do the blog as he's very tired a lot of the time because of the morphine.

So yesterday the stitches came out so that's another thing ticked off.Oncology said they will assess him next week for starting chemo-which is great news! Compared to how Sai was a couple of weeks ago this is terriffic news! And,his stoma has started working again! The blockage seems to have moved or something,not sure but it's working after a 2 week absence.He has been willing it to work,as have I.

Sai is so determined to get on with this and is addressing and concentrating on one thing at a time.He's some man,I can't believe his stamina.He had an x-ray today which showed i don't know what-he was fasting all day for a dye scan thingy but that didn't happen.So his chicken curry came along for dinner and it was a bit gross so he didn't eat much of that.The dye thing is happening tomorrow-they weren't sure if it was 'safe' to do today but is going to be safe tomorrow?-yeah,not quite sure what that's about but I'll ask tomorrow.Sai asked for his NG (nose/stomach) tube to come out,even if just for a little while to have a break from it,so that was agreed and out it came-there was a big blob of something completely blocking it so that's why it hadn't been working right.Sai had been trying and trying to unblock it but it wasn't happening-he usually has an instinct to what's wrong and he was right here again.A new tube went in pretty soon after that one came out as he could feel his stomach bloating up again,so when the new one went in it started working right away (are you still with me here?!).Anyway,he is in good hands as he'll tell you himself-the doctors in Tallaght are great and we have every faith in them.

Flopsy is hopping around here looking to getting scratched behind the ears-she thinks she's a dog or cat,not sure-but she doesn't think she's a rabbit.

One day at a time...E.x

Tuesday 30th Oct 2007

Good Evening,

Sai has no pc access until November as his credit has run out for this month,so here i am.Sai was looking good today.I took the boys and mum and Sam (Sai's bro) bowling at Blanchardstown today-then we popped over to visit Sai.It was nice to do a 'normal' thing with family.I felt very sad last night at Sai being in hospital so long and having this bloody awful disease.As Sai said we have to keep positive.On Sunday when i was over visiting Sai managed a walk along the corridor to the day room which was a great achievement.If they could just get this blockage sorted out.They are going to put a dye in and check out the blockage,maybe tomorrow-not sure.The staples did come out and tomorrow the sutures are coming out.

One day at a time.........E. x

Sunday 28th Oct 2007

Morning Folks,

I just spoke with Sai there-he was up to toilet every 2hrs and as usual is a bit tired,although he said he feels a bit stronger which is good.He's back on the food supplement (intravenous) which means he will be getting 'fed' as his stoma is blocked and isn't working -if that would just start working.He's amazing as he keeps on dealing with it all and is focusing his mind to overcome it all-he has such strength and determination,I'm so proud of him.

Sam ,Sai's bro is here for a visit from Hong Kong and is staying with us.And my super mum is still here,holding everything together.It would be much harder to be going back and forward to Tallaght everyday without her here.

There's a programme on about acupuncture-maybe be good for Sai to try that.We've never had any acupuncture (well i had a metal stud on my ear to try help with sickness in pregnancy which was acupuncture-this exacerbated my vomiting and i ended up in Paisley Hospital for 9 days as i was visiting my mum at the time.I again was in Mullingar Hospital for same for 11 days.If anyone has had hyperemisis you'll know just how awful you feel ,all the time...)

Anyway,everyone is rooting and praying that Sai will get over this-he just has to-he's needed too much!Seemingly chemotherapy is going to be talked about this coming week,so we'll see what the plan is now.As Sai said they took his staples out on Friday so that's a step forward and on Tuesday his sutures will come out-they are very tight and they had to be as Sai's stomach got so distended,so that's be another step forward.

It is very hard to watch the man you love going through all this-as it is for the boys watching their dad,as it is for Sai's mum watching her son,as it is for our other family and friends and it ripples out and out......

Another day forward in this battle.....E. x

Small Update Before Bedtime.

Well Folks,

I had an eventful day today. I had another abdominal drain put in my left hand side. So now I have 3 tubes sticking out of my body and the stoma. But what a relief I am feeling. From the new drain 4.5l was extracted already today and my stomach feels much better.

I also had my staples taken out. There were a few painful ones but it was worth it as they were sore to touch.

Well the rest of the day was fuzzy as I had a wee sedative during the inserting of the new drain and that hit me later on. Elaine and Sam were visiting and I was out of it. I just kept sleeping. I woke up a few times but was very fuzzy and only manage to stay awake for half an hour or so before I fell back to sleep.

Talk about sleep I better get some now as I had dozed off a few times writing this entry.

Nite all,

Sai.

Checking in :-)

Hey Folks,

Missing Me???

I had been quiet as I am still a bit under the weather and have some bad days. Today is a good day for me. But I already feel tired. My energy levels must be very low. Maybe I am need to recoup from yesterday as I had a few visitors. First off was our local priest and he travelled down with Elaine. Then it was my brother from Hong Kong, Sam. He arrived just after lunch time and he was very tired after his journey so we just chatted for a while and we both tried for a nap. Did we manage..a nap...the doctors as nurses started to drift in and out of the room for a few hours before we managed a hour nap. Then it was dinner time. After that we did manage to get a good few hours nap before Debbie arrived to visit. She was kind enough to drop Sam off back to Enfield.

Well I only woke up 4 times during the night for the toilet and once to get my drip change. So I guess it was a good night sleep. Not. Well I off for a wee nap before Elaine and the gang arrives.

Later,

Sai.

Wednesday-One day At a Time

Good Evening,

I'll do blog incase Sai doesn't get around to it-he has visitors tonight,Ian and Tom-and Tom fitted our new shower and an internal door-THANKS again ,'a friend in need...'

Sai feeling not too bad today,tired as usual but was sitting at laptop when my mum and i arrived in,so that was great to see.His Onc consultant had been in (he told us he had read the blog last week! I think i blushed incase i had written anything i shouldn't have!)...although i'm sure i said how great he and all the docs are!!!!!! I think Sai is a bit of an enigma to them in there.He is special-he's here for a good reason i'm sure.One of the registrars listened to Sai's heartbeat the other day and said 'Well Sai.....(there was a slight pause and i thought omg something's wrong with his heart...).... you have a very strong heart!'phew! That was good to hear.Sai's gran who lives in Hong Kong had her pacemaker replaced on Monday so Sai must take after her.She's doing well.

We were all very worried last week as Sai looked very grim but here he is,battling each day.I'm so proud of him-he is pretty amazing.

I came home last night as had been staying in with Sai,it felt very strange.You know when you've been on holiday (i wish!) and the house etc look different ,well that was how it was....so how must things be when you've been hospitalised for 5+ weeks? We all miss him being home-he's just got to beat this!!

Better go chase the teenagers to bed,nite and remember the prayers,E. x

Tuesday

Evening Folks,

Well Sai feeling a bit more with it this week-compared to last week! He had a temp last night /early am but that has corrected itself now,thankfully.

Sai's cousins flew over for a quick visit today-one from Newcastle and one from Glasgow,so was great to see them .My friend Christine was over for a couple of days to keep us company.She stayed in the new Tower Hotel here in Tallaght,as did his mum and sister over the weekend-it's lovely.The pool opened 2 weeks ago-Christine was there doing 20 lengths each morning. She had a great time having a bit of time for herself and her essay.

Sai and myself had a lot of quality time together doing the last few days. Night time was busy as Sai was on a constant watch list which meant checks every two hours during the night. So we were both very tired today. We both had a long nap in the afternoon.

Just getting ready for bed and waiting for the drug trolley to deliver Sai's medication.

All is well here so on that we will sign off and bid everyone "Good Night"....

Nite All

Elaine & Sai..

Saturday 20th October 2007

Evening Folks,

I'm still here in hospital with my beloved.Yesterday was a good day as the two previous days (Wed and Thursday) Sai was zonked on his drugs.On Thursday he had a drain put into his abdomen to try and help bring down his distended stomach as it was very uncomfortable.More than 2 ltrs were drained off right away and then it has to be slowed right down so that too much doesn't drain off.That slowed down a bit more than it should,the tube got a bit blocked-so it was flushed and the nurses got it going again,although it's still going very slowly but maybe that's best.
Today Sai got very nauseous around lunchtime and this went all day-with sickness too.It's been hard to settle-hopefully he'll sleep well and that will pass.Yesterday evening he decided he wanted to go a walk down ward corridor-a great achievement! (as he's been zonked with all that has gone on this week and has gotten quite weak)He's some man.The nurses were looking at him with a 'what?!' look and were real pleased with him.
Visitors have been coming and going from Glasgow/UK and will be over next few days too,if Sai is up to it that is.Our friend Jude brought the boys into visit although Sai wasn't feeling great most of the visit but at least they got to see dad.
Anyway,we'll see what tomorrow brings,nite.E.x

ps My mum has been fantastic taking care of the boys and I hear the house is gleaming!

Thursday

Hi,
I'm here in the hospital with Sai and stayed overnight.Sai's stomach is still quite distended and is putting a lot of pressure on his stitches which is very uncomfortable for him.Things aren't going to plan with moving forward after his surgery.Yesterday he had lots of morphine so was out of it all day.A friend brought the boys and my mum in to visit as they hadn't seen their dad for a few days so that was good for them to see him although he was very tired and was sleeping mostly.

My sister and nephew left yesterday but my mum has stayed on ,thankfully to help out with the boys etc.Sai's mum and sister are on route now for a visit.

I'm very worried,don't know what else to say here,E.

Monday,again.

Evening Folks,

Sai was looking good when we went into visit him today but then he had the very sore pain he's been experiencing and the colour just drained out of him.After a bit he had his 'breakthrough' injections and within 5 mins he looked way better.The nurse had to go down to the pharmacy,in the hospital that is and collect his morphine for the pump as it hadnt come up to the ward-it took a wee while to sort that out.He obviously wasnt feeling the pain last week as he was on such a heavy painkiller dose but they are upping it again as he really needs it.He is managing to eat some-i really dont want him to lose any more weight,hes slim enough now.

My visitors go home on Wed pm,it's been good having them here.I'm getting to loathe hospitals now.I just want Sai home here but i know hes not ready to be home yet.He's worried his stitches/staples will pop as they are very tight when his stomach is distended so think he wants to wait until they are out which will be around the 26th-so we'll see.

Night,e.

Painful Day

Hi Folks,

I lost a lot of sleep yesterday due to my stomach bloating up again and causing me major grief all day as well. I had to have extra pain killers today just to control the pain. Most part were wound pains and not internal cramp pains. I can feel every stitch and stables holding my wound together. So needless to say I stay in a drug induced sleep for most of the day. I was glad as I was very very tired and was nearly at the end of the tether trying to control the pain.
The Prof popped into see me and we had a chat and afterwards I felt more assured than before. I was just having a bad day....

Well I thought Elaine was updating today as she stayed at home to tidy up the house a bit. Must had got carried away with tidying...

Well its goodnight from me,

Sai

Down Time

Hi Folks,

I felt a bit down today as I woke up with a bloated stomach. This improved slightly during the day until after lunch when I needed something extra to stop the pain. As this point Elaine arrrived and that put smile on my face. The jag then started to work as well. We chatted and had a wee cuddle in bed. I so miss Elaine andthe family I do anything to get this beat and return home. I can't believe its is 4 weeks this time round so far.

TV is still crap.

Well time for bed...

Nite All,

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Time for Reflections

Hi Folks,

Just a quick update...

Today started off crap as my stomach balloned up again. Then the doctors started arriving. It was the pallative care team that offer a solution too that problem. That was to add a drug to speed up my bowl movement to try and relief the pressure there. It worked a treat and for the first time this week I felt hungry.

So for now I am feeling much better.

Ta Ta for now,

Sai

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Thursday

Evening Folks,
My mum and I went into visit Sai yesterday but he wasn't looking good-after looking so well on Mon and Tuesday it was dissapointing.His epidural morphine was out and his old friend the self administering pump was back on but it takes a while to build up the level to combat the pain,so he didn't sleep too well,again.Also he was a bit sick so isn't allowed to eat today.Maybe too much for his stomach to deal with over ythe past two days.When i texted him a little while ago he had had a shower and was feeling a bit better so that's good to hear!I'm not going into today,having a wee break.My mum and I popped into Dublin,went to the chinese supermarket for a few things and Penny's for a bit of retail therapy.

Sai's having a visitor tonight so i don't feel so guilty not going in.Getting homework out the way and Flopsy is sitting here beside me.A magpie was at her hutch earlier,not quite sure what it was up to but was taunting her cheeky thing! She,to my amazement had a go back at it-good for you Flopsy,didnt think you had it in you!Weird though.

Better go get dinner organised.Doesn't look like Sai will be home at the weekend,the pain thing has to be sorted out totally.He's just been through so much-things have got to be getting better now.I'm still waiting on our weekend away-come on Sai,you have to clear this hurdle!E. x

Tuesday PM

Evening Folks,
Sai looking pretty good today.His aunt and uncle (brother and sister) flew in from London to visit for a few hours today which was really nice.His epidural is out and another tube that i wont talk about but lets just say he's glad it's out! He mananged,with a bit of coercing from nurse Bernie (who's one of the very efficient nurses) to take a walk along the corridor and back.It was another hurdle cleared although he came out in a sweat after.When the surgical team came around we asked Emmet how long Sai had been in surgery and he said about 2 1/2 hrs,also he has both sutures and staples-I think just to make sure they don't split and are secure.So he's getting there-has his morphine pump back on and his wee back up one still on for breakthrough pain.He also went another smaller walk out to the corridor.

I dropped my niece and beau to the airport-only took 1/2 hr from Maynooth-not bad!They had good weather anyway...(well,a good time with their friends as well!)

Nite for now,E. x

ps My mum was worried folk would think her a bit thick re the fog light thing a few days ago-she had meant cars abroad (!) :)

PS

PS .I was just coming to do the blog-was just too tired last night & on Sunday Sai was very down so I just didn't feel like writing this.As you can see Sai is doing much better now-has the laptop and mob phone back by his side and is getting back on track which is great.He looked so much better yesterday,obviously after a pretty major operation it's going to take a few days to start feeling human again.

He's a star and is just going to beat this.

His aunt and uncle (both a similar age to him) are flying in for the day to visit which should be uplifting for him.My mum is still here keeping the home fires burning and my niece and her fiance have been staying in Maynooth with their friends so we had lunch yesterday and i'm dropping them to the airport today-it was lovely to see them.

Sai has just told me that Emmet the surgical reg said he could be home at the weekend all going well.I thought he has stitches but it's actually staples and they've to stay in for 3 weeks to make sure the wounds have healed properly.It's an extended H shape,sideways scar,kind of........did Sai say he's allowed to eat again-after 3 weeks of not eating (well apart from sneaking the odd sweetie and Milky Bar i found in his pocket!) he's on a light diet of yougurt and the like-so turkey sandwiches arrived,for some reason and he ate them.I've made his chinese soup and will take that in later on.He's bossing me about again so obviously feeling better!I better go get ready,TTFN. E.x

I'm Alive and Kicking!!!!!!!

Hi Folks,

I couldn't sleep so I thought I check what had Elaine being written. She must had been to busy to update or just plain forgotten. She is not truly a netizen like me.
Anyway....I am still recovering from the post op and sleep for almost two days hence being awake at this god forsaken time of day. The doctors also had put me on a different type of pain control that is on demand and not constant. This is also the other reason for being awake as I keep pressing a button on a handset to get pain relief and there is a 6 min interval block...
The docs had approved a light diet and fluids for me. Which is a major relief for me as I had being surviving on sips of water during the weekend.
Today I sat out on a chair for a few hours and that was when they decided to change my pain relief one system was switched off and they other switched back on. I then decided to go for a nap. So with thee help of the nurses I transfer to the bed. That was when the true pain I am under hit me. It was like having you inside pulled apart. No words can closely describe what it felt like. On a scale of the old 1-10 it was 50.
After that I rested for a while but doctors kept turning up to check on me and more bloods were taken, etc. So I little sleep. I am still amazed I am awake now. Hopefully not for long.....

BTW On American Chopper Monday night they are building the "Intel Bike" Interesting to watch. But the real down point of tonight episode was Mikey smashing a wafer and acting the goat during the Intel tour. It really spoilt it and that was at the beginning of the show

Nite All,

Sai


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