Post-Surgery – Janel Mulligan https://janelmulligan.com Journeying with Dignity Thu, 30 Mar 2023 20:06:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://janelmulligan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-Background-512-x-512-px-32x32.png Post-Surgery – Janel Mulligan https://janelmulligan.com 32 32 She’s Home! https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/24/shes-home/ Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:04:32 +0000 https://janelmulligan.com/?p=887 Janel got discharged late in the day yesterday and is resting back in her own place. Marie is staying with her for a while to help make sure that she KEEPS resting! Grey wasted no time snuggling in as soon as she was settled. Home in time for Christmas!

]]> Pain Management and Plans for Going Home https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/21/pain-management-and-plans-for-going-home/ https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/21/pain-management-and-plans-for-going-home/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2021 18:16:27 +0000 https://janelmulligan.com/?p=885 Unfortunately, the last three days have been rough for Janel. She was struggling to be heard by her various medical team members regarding her pain management concerns. It took getting everyone in a room together and her nurse helping to translate the jargon that the doctors were throwing around, but eventually everyone got on the same page and she seems to be feeling better. When you add to that her reactions to the meds, pain, and exhaustion (both body and mind), you have a recipe for a pretty miserable week.

The good news is, her numbers are good. They removed her epidural and one of her IVs yesterday. She began eating real food on Monday, and working through some challenges due to a bit of dry mouth vs. certain textures. They plan to remove her Foley today and her drain should come out today or tomorrow. So despite the discomfort and struggle to be understood by her team, each withdrawal of these various medical aids/interventions is a good sign that her early recovery is going well.

She has noticed that her tiredness is definitely affecting her brain function. So if you get a message from her that’s difficult to decipher, you are not alone. She realizes she’s a little on the loopy side right now, but that’s to be expected, under the circumstances.

The best news is that her team is hoping to be able to discharge her tomorrow or Thursday…yay!

]]> https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/21/pain-management-and-plans-for-going-home/feed/ 2 Out of the ICU https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/18/out-of-the-icu/ Sat, 18 Dec 2021 17:17:05 +0000 https://janelmulligan.com/?p=883

Last night, Janel was moved from the ICU to a regular room…yay! She was able to sit up in a chair most of the day yesterday and the nausea improved enough that her NG tube was removed. Sounds like good progress all the way around! Thanks so much for all of the encouraging comments, prayers and good vibes being sent.

]]> The Day After https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/17/the-day-after/ https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/17/the-day-after/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2021 13:32:47 +0000 https://janelmulligan.com/?p=880 I almost titled this one “The Morning After,” but then I realized that has a connotation that definitely does not apply here! I have been in contact directly with Janel and she seems to be in good spirits. She’s feeling better than she expected to, which is great! Guessing it might be from the epidural and pain meds, but hey…whatever works, right? She is a bit sore and still having some bouts of nausea, but she’s able to sit up in a chair…which seems to me to be a great sign, less than 24 hours after major abdominal surgery. There’s even some talk of moving our girl to a regular room later today, if one is available.

]]> https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/17/the-day-after/feed/ 1 In Recovery https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/16/in-recovery/ https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/16/in-recovery/#comments Thu, 16 Dec 2021 19:57:18 +0000 https://janelmulligan.com/?p=876 Janel is out of surgery and in recovery! The breathing tube is out and they will be taking her to ICU soon. Her recipient is also doing great. They’re still working on her, but the surgery is going a little faster than they anticipated.

]]> https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/16/in-recovery/feed/ 3 In the ICU https://janelmulligan.com/2021/12/16/in-the-icu/ Thu, 16 Dec 2021 22:03:05 +0000 https://janelmulligan.com/?p=878 Our girl has been in the ICU for a while now, and Marie reports that, “She’s lucid- Although she’s in and out Suuuuuper nauseated 🤢.” Unfortunately, that seems to be her usual reaction to anesthesia, since the same thing happened after the biopsy. Poor Janel! But she’s getting great care, including Marie giving her lots of Reiki.

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