Page 6 of 10 FirstFirst ... 45678 ... LastLast
Results 51 to 60 of 100
  1. #51
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,136
    Thanked: 5109
    OH continues to be very weak. He can barely talk, sounds like he has laryngitis. He can only tolerate liquids but is getting down a couple of Boost or Ensures a day. I made him some nice home made chicken noodle soup but all he eats of it is the broth part. This last hospitalization really whalloped him. He is trying to move about the house, coming down the 7 stairs of our split level to sit at the dining room table for lunch and supper. I hope once he is finished the antibiotic food will taste better, that's another 5 days. We will go to see the surgeon on May 28, that's two weeks from Whipple surgery discharge, even though the drain looks like it needs to stay in a while yet.

    The home care nurses have been wonderful. They only come twice a week now, to change dressings. I think the hiring agency must screen them as much for personality as for nursing credentials, the three we've had have been so nice. The incision sites look good and there is no worry about them at all, one good thing.

    Thanks for the continued good wishes. Isn't it a good thing it's impossible to spread them too thinly? So many people and pups need them.

  2. #52
    Senior Dog Scoutpout's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Tri Cities Ontario
    Posts
    2,296
    Thanked: 1111
    oh man. that sounds like a really hard surgery. I sure hope he starts wanting and being able to process more food, thats got to be affecting his recovery too, not getting much food.
    I wonder with the surgery, when they intubate him, if thats really worn his throat down.
    sure hope he's picking up a bit day by day
    still sending lots of good wishes, thinking about you both!

  3. #53
    Senior Dog
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    baldwin, ny 11519
    Posts
    1,073
    Thanked: 928
    wishing your OH a speedy and complete recovery.
    i know someone who had the whipple many many years ago .actually two people .one is my 91 yr old cousin.
    sending many healing thoughts.

  4. #54
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    5,108
    Thanked: 2778
    As slow as it may be going it sounds like he is making progress. Whishing him the best. Make sure to take care of yourself too. Big thums up on home made chicken soup.

    Keeping you in my thoughts.

  5. #55
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Carolina in my mind..
    Posts
    6,391
    Thanked: 4178
    Still sending you and your OH the strongest mojo to which I have access! I'm glad the home care nurses are agreeable and helpful. There is an Ensure Plus that has more calories per container than the original (350 vs. 220) in case you're just using the original formula. Another family member preferred the taste of Boost to the taste of Ensure and there's a Boost Plus formula with higher calories also. There are smoothie places near me that make fruit smoothies that are very calorie dense also, comparable to Ensure or Boost Plus, if you get the right smoothie. If he likes fruit smoothies, maybe that's an option. Whatever he can tolerate and prefers, I'd try. Pureed turkey and sweet potato? Just trying to insert a bit of levity here. I hope things are soon on the upswing.

  6. #56
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,136
    Thanked: 5109
    Quote Originally Posted by smartrock View Post
    Still sending you and your OH the strongest mojo to which I have access! I'm glad the home care nurses are agreeable and helpful. There is an Ensure Plus that has more calories per container than the original (350 vs. 220) in case you're just using the original formula. Another family member preferred the taste of Boost to the taste of Ensure and there's a Boost Plus formula with higher calories also. There are smoothie places near me that make fruit smoothies that are very calorie dense also, comparable to Ensure or Boost Plus, if you get the right smoothie. If he likes fruit smoothies, maybe that's an option. Whatever he can tolerate and prefers, I'd try. Pureed turkey and sweet potato? Just trying to insert a bit of levity here. I hope things are soon on the upswing.
    LOL, I have to laugh. It was turkey and sweet potato that got Oban recovered from his first bout with Lymphangiectasia. Not pureed but very thoroughly cooked.

    Yes, I am buying the extra calorie, extra protein drinks. OH likes Ensure better than boost. Strawberry, it has to be strawberry. He was eating smoothies, another spin off from Oban as I use the blender I bought for dog food. I made ice cream with it too, for OH.

    It's not so much his throat now, that's all better. He just doesn't seem be able to stand the thought, sight or texture of anything other than pretty clear foods. Except for the Ensure but it's not that he really likes it, just tolerates it. A complication is the second antibiotic Rx is the same thing but a different dosing. Twice a day instead of three times a day and the pills are HUGE. Even halved is not good, they have sharp edges. I have tried to get it re-issued in the smaller dose but without success so have mixed it with applesauce which I just had to make a special trip to buy. OH has been refusing applesauce but he just downed some.

    Betty, how old was your 91 year old cousin at the time of the Whipple?

  7. #57
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    10,985
    Thanked: 6722
    What a rough time!

    DH drinks Boost Plus for the protein; he hasn't tried the Ensure. I'm sure they are pretty much the same when you can get the flavor you want.

    How about the GoGo applesauce packs? The grans love them and there are a variety of flavors, i.e., apple and strawberry, apple and cinnamon. Could he tolerate farina or oatmeal. Sure would fill the tummy more now that he can swallow a little better. Can you crush up the antibiotic? Know some can and some are not supposed to do. Would something like Gatorade work with it's electrolytes?

    Sending more healing prayers.
    Hidden Content
    Kissing Bandit

  8. #58
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,136
    Thanked: 5109
    Yes, forgot to say, I crushed the antibiotic. I may, I know some you shouldn't so I asked. And he is drinking Gatorade. And drinking water.

  9. #59
    Senior Dog Scoutpout's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Tri Cities Ontario
    Posts
    2,296
    Thanked: 1111
    this is going to sound goofy, but might be worth it,,,, baby food. there are some things that are actually not bad, and of course all basically a puree consistency. Although, you can probably make better stuff with Oban's blender.
    does the temperature of the food (or puree) make a difference in how your dh feels about the different things? ie cold is much more appealing than hot, and warm is just not tolerable at all?

  10. #60
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    SE, PA
    Posts
    4,406
    Thanked: 1992
    Continued good thoughts and prayers.
    Hidden Content

    Tammy
    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •