Exhaling

It's Monday now, the day after surgery and we are collectively exhaling after what has been a long 24 hours for Phil.  He did very well during his surgery although he did bleed quite a bit and needed additional platelets during the 3 hour procedure.  Dr. Mansfield found very infected ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses and had to remove a small portion of free floating bone deep inside the sinus area which appeared infected as well.  He called in Ghosh to observe because the bone removed was very close to the paracranial flap he had created during the previous surgery for mucor.  From the gross appearance in the OR it looks like a routine bacterial sinus infection.  So, after packing the sinus cavity with three different antibiotic laden products he sent Phil up to the ICU to recover and then back to his room on 3 South.  He recovered fairly quickly and was groggy but gave me the thumbs up when I came in to see him.


The rest of the morning was spent hanging out and helping him eat ice chips and come out of the heavy anesthesia.  Phil's brother David had come down for a few days and we spent the day napping, telling stories and engaging/encouraging Phil.  He did fine until just after I left to take my kids to dinner and get them to bed for the night.  Apparently the drainage from his surgery combined with his oral intake was too much for his stomach and he threw up all of it.  Poor guy.  He wasn't in any pain but according to David he was pissed off!  He hadn't eaten in 4 days and he was finally at his rock bottom.  He was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired (I can't believe it took this long) and just wanted to eat something and feel better.  Once things settled down he and David watched The Godfather and he finally fell asleep for the night.


This morning he is feeling better after receiving more platelets overnight and getting some much needed rest.  He ate some Jello and broth and started in on Gatorade and saltines.  A repeat MRI was done late morning to check the status of things post operatively and we got the report on his cultures - all are growing staph aureus, NO MUCOR.  So, we're dealing with a routine sinus infection and got to it very early.  We are so thankful and Phil was fist pumping.  Major relief around here.  He is so tired and fatigued and although I know he would have rallied for the mucor fight too, I am glad he doesn't have to.  


Now he can sleep, eat, take his medicine, build blood and hopefully go home in a few more days.  Never has a sinus infection been a more welcome diagnosis!