The CGC Communicator Newsletter Web Posting

Status reports on Phil Wells' recovery from pancreatic cancer surgery - most recent reports first.

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August 19, 2007, from Phil Wells

Energy is slowly returning. I can stand longer than I could before. If I go out and do errands w/ Carol, I'm usually exhausted when I get back and my insides are uncomfortable but can do more than I could last week.  Wound has healed nicely. I can sleep thru the night now. My main problem is digestion - knowing what and how much I can eat. This surgery does not come with a comprehensive instruction book so I have to figure out a lot for myself. Yesterday we took our longest walk yet and did it at the fastest pace yet which was encouraging.

I've lost about 65 lbs. I had lost ~ 20 on my own, pre-op, which put me at 280 from 300. Now I'm about 245 depending on which scale you go by. My face is much thinner.  And I'm eating less than I did before surgery, so I'm not gaining any weight.

As for the oncologist's appointment, he took a lot of time to talk with us but was unable to provide a course of treatment given the info in the the pathology report (what the lab found in the tissue removed during surgery). He said that if he had to make a choice at that moment, he would probably not opt for chemotherapy because the only agent available for this kind of cancer is "quite toxic and really only useful for shrinking the tumor". I'm to have something called something like an oncleotide test which I'm not looking forward to because it's a little like an MRI and I'm claustrophobic. I'm also supposed to see an endocrinologist.

So, bottom line is that we don't know much more than before the appointment.

As usual, thanks so much for your positive thoughts and prayers.

August 10, 2007, from Phil Wells

Friends and Family,

Got out of summer camp last Friday 8/3. Had already been discharged once but was readmitted due to gastro- probs. That's all cleared up now.

When I was in the hospital they were feeding me every vitamin & mineral known to man, intravenously. Very efficient. Now I have to rely on an inefficient and reconfigured alimentary tract. I am sort of weak - get dizzy when I stand and cant stand too long. Have to lie down for a couple after I walk up the stairs.  I have to learn my new config and know when I'm full and when I'm getting hungry, etc. The good news is that the surgeon, after a checkup, says I'm doing great and everything is healing as planned.

My surgeon says he thinks I should have chemo- or radiation-therapy. The pathology report says there's still some cancer there - a tiny amount. He thinks I should be aggressive and eradicate it while I'm still "young" instead of checking on it every 3 months and always wondering. So, we're going to see an oncologist on Monday. This is getting scarier every minute.

Even though we haven't responded to everyone's email missives of hope and support, we've read every one and thank you for them and really appreciate them. But what really impressed me was the number of people who were concerned about Carol's health - urging her to take care of herself and offering suggestions for respite from care for me. From sleeping on chairs and even the floor. What a caring and considering bunch of people we know.

Thanks so much for your positive thoughts and prayers
--
Phil Wells  AF6AV
San Diego, CA, USA
SKYPE: phil.wells

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July 23, 2007, direct from Phil Wells:

A Neighbor set us up with wireless Internet from the hospital room so I can do a little replying as energy permits.

The fevers are much less, I can walk farther, no longer on pain meds and the replaced Nasal/Gastric Tube has removed those awful hiccups that were at times keeping me from breathing.

The reason I'm still here is that my stomach won't start processing fluids etc. without the tube, sucking the fluids out of the stomach, it becomes distended and the hiccups etc return. MDs have no idea when it will kick it but theyre not worried that it eventually will.

Thanks, all, for prayers and thoughts. I know I'll be home soon.

Phil & Carol (Nightengale)

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July 18, 2007

Sorry for the delay on status but I've been living at the hospital since Sunday AM with no email access.

They found some fluid in Phil's left lower lung on Sunday and we've been doing what we can to get rid of it: breathing exercises, moving from the bed to a chair for awhile, going for short walks in the hallway, & repeat, as Phil's energy level will handle.  He gets sudden fevers (103 deg F) that we force down with ice packs& cold washcloths.  Last night he was able to sleep most of the night which should help a lot.  (That means I was able to sleep too!)

He's off pain medication unless he asks for it.  He's allowed to rinse his mouth with water but he's not supposed to swallow any of it yet.  It's very hard not to be able to drink anything when your mouth and throat are always dry.  Poor guy! No idea when they will start letting him have sips of water much less anything more than that.  Still don't know when he will be coming home.

Gotta run back to the hospital but wanted to let you know the current status.

- Carol, July 18, 2007, 1:26 PM PDST

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Sat, 14 Jul 2007

Hello!

Phil was moved from IMU to another step down room Thursday afternoon. He is off the EKG machine and off oxygen and they took the IV out of his jugular vein yesterday. He has one in the back of his hand now. His innards are starting to make sounds and other stuff. He went for two short walks today. Overall the doctors are pleased with the progress of his recovery.

Phil is just annoyed that he gets hiccups that go on for hours & really hurt. He is on PCD(?) (patient controlled dosage?) for pain medication now and I'm impressed at how little he seems to be taking. I brought in his laptop for him to watch DVDs on and between the movies & figuring out some technical difficulties he ran into, I think it was a good distraction for him.

The pathology report looks good & the two lymph nodes they took out were clear so he may not need chemo [keep your fingers crossed]. We'll know more on that after the surgeons talk to an oncologist....

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Wed, 11 Jul 2007

Me again!

Phil got out of ICU this evening and into IMU. That's a step down care where they are still more heavily monitored than a regular room but not quite as much as in ICU.  He's doing really well. He's allowed ice chips and a little water now but only about an ounce every half hour. The doctors are pleased with his progress. I got to see the incision when they changed the dressing this AM and it looked good, no redness or anything.

He's a little muddled with the pain killers, which bugs him no end, but he's in good spirits and flirts with the nurses. The only pain he has at this point is when he coughs or burps so they are going to try cutting down his dosage this evening. We'll see how it goes....

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Mon, 9 Jul 2007

Hello!

You know it's good when all three surgeons come out with big grins on their faces!

The surgery went very well. No surprises, everything pretty much the way they were expecting & no problems ( at least none were mentioned to me.). They had expected it to take 7-8 hours and it took 6. We should get the full pathology report by the end of the week. Phil came thru very well.  I saw him in ICU before I left the hospital and though still sedated he was looking pretty good. His aura/presence/vibes felt really good too.  Now all he has to do is heal....

Posted by Steve Blodgett
Earthsignals.com