Tuesday, February 17, 2009

A weekend in the drain.....

I wish I could say Meg and I had a nice relaxing weekend, enjoying each other’s company, and celebrating Valentine’s Day. Instead, our lovely Saturday was actually filled with Meghan and I learning to use the drain for the first time. The weekend was tough. I think we all thought, myself included, that once the permanent drain was put in place our lives would return back to normal or at least back to prior fluid accumulation. Unfortunately, that is not reality.

For the most part, my abdomen and place of incision was sore all weekend. More sore than I had anticipated at least. I have my pain meds to relieve the discomfort, but the pain meds ended up making me really drowsy and just wanting to lie on the couch all weekend.

So we drained the fluid on Saturday and this morning (Tuesday AM). We drained 350 ml (or 1/3 of a liter) each time. Since it is only 1/3 a liter, it is actually a good thing. But draining it at home still makes it sore for a few hours. I just think having the fluid going in and out of your body is not a normal bodily process and either the process of draining it or just the fluid itself makes me nauseas at times.

Also, this morning we noticed one of the stitch holes was leaking. Not a lot, but enough to soak through all the gauze. I called my nurse and we are just going to monitor it for now. The stitch is supposed to heal on its own and maybe my cough or the way I slept put pressure on it more than usual. We will just have to change the dressing more frequent and if it is still leaking later this week I’m going to call the surgeon and see if I need to go in for them to check it out.

SOOOO - Happy Valentines Day to us! Meghan has been great through all this and I cannot thank her enough for all her love and support. I finally started my chemo drug on Monday (a pill 2x a day). I’m hoping and praying for good results!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

i have been reading your blog for a while. this is my first time to respond. my son was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the age of 21. that was 17 months ago and he is doing well and is back in college. you both are an inspiritation to me and i will pray for your healing. trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. these words have truly helped me. i will continue to read and God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Meg and Dan, I thought you would have a bit of a rest this Valentine's weekend--with that new drain--but alas, that wasn't to be. Have you read the Book of Job recently? The struggles that you are going through remind me of Job--who, by the way, in the end--wins.
cousin P

Anonymous said...

You'll get the good results kid. "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies." That is what my friend Andy Dufresne says anyway. And I for one concur.

Waeger Will Win

SERGIO

Unknown said...

I am sorry that you had a "draining" weekend. Praying for you both and the power of this new chemo drug! Hope the side effects are nonexistent with this one!

WWW
Dana

Anonymous said...

sending positive vibes -
Nikki

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear that things are still really tough with the fluid. I really hope it starts improving soon and that you're not so sore. I'm sending you lots of prayers for your new chemo! Katie

Anonymous said...

Thinking about and praying for you both with this whole draining process and new chemo drug.

W.W.W. and Go Duke.

Steve-o

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you and praying for both you and Meg every day Danny! Hope you see some positive results from the new meds soon!
~KC

elfelf said...

Thinking of you both from NYC.

x erika f

Anonymous said...

Hi guys
I'm so sorry your weekend was stinky! Know the Indy affiliate of Team Waeger is with you - thinking, praying, cheering, and anything else you need.

XO

L

Anonymous said...

Sending my love and pain free days your way.


WWW
Jen Fegley

Anonymous said...

I'm hoping and praying too. Happy valentine's day to a couple who shows more love and support to each other year-round than any other I know.
-Lisa

Amy Pucino said...

hey dan and meghan,

i would like to contribute a fun memory. though i only had known you, dan, for a short time as a roommate, i learned many lessons from you in this time. for one thing, i learned about important, must see tv shows like fat camp and various other fun reality shows which i had never known as a person who did not have cable most of my life. but my favorite memory was busting a hole in the wall 15 minutes before the guy came to assess our house for getting the security deposit back. you, like a champ, taped it up, put a towel over it and a vacuum cleaner in front of it. when the guy showed up i was totally nervous and nearly gave us away, so you handled the whole thing, touring him around the house, and we got our whole deposit back, no questions asked :o) anyway, this was also the first day i met you, meghan, and i remember how i was like, "she must think im an idiot", and while you may have, you were super light hearted and very pleasant. anyway, i saw that day how you, dan, handle things perfectly, and how the two of you together are layed back and wonderful. i still owe you for that one :o)

anyway, know that i think highly of you both, i am cheering for you, and i keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

amy :o)

Anonymous said...

To my inspiration, Dan the Man!!

You were, are and always will be a WINNER in my eyes.

I think of working with you most fondly - the smile, the hope, the zest for life, the jokes, and just because.....

Thinking of you my friend and the ever vibrant Meg,

Bheesham