Sh*t happens...until it doesn’t
Now, a trip down one of the more mundane avenues of recovery from a spinal cord injury: the gut. Those of you with a weak stomach may want to skip this one.
Having been severed from its connection to the brain, the gut is left to find its way alone in the wilderness. As such, it tends toward moving slowly, but can respond to cues. These include stimulation of the nether regions with a finger or a suppository (known here as the "magic bullet"). Opioids, which have been my steady companion since my accident and the ensuing surgery (and which I am slowly being tapered off of) slow the gut activity, sometimes quite profoundly. I thus found myself several days ago having wandered from one extreme to the other, and in need of the dreaded "blowout". It began with an abdominal x-ray performed in my room by a very friendly technician. One look at the image, and all she said was, "FOS" (I'll let you figure out the meaning). My attending physician allowed that it looked like my gut was hosting " a good 14-15 cups" of you guessed it. This lead to a bottle of a recent vintage room-temperature magnesium citrate with a nice bouquet of citrus and vanilla, followed by a milk and molasses enema (I kid you not). Approximately two hours later I was visited upon by a veritable sh*t-storm that went on for about 12 hours. Having hit the reset button on my gut, I anticipated a return to more normal activity, but such was not meant to be. Over the next two days I awoke to a vague feeling of nausea, and pushed away my breakfast tray, a first for me. Another x-ray showed an ileus, or the complete absence of gut activity.(I couldn't help but be reminded of the title of our medical school senior class play: "The Ileus and the Oddity of Gomer".) The remedy: NPO, IV's and complete bowel rest, meaning nothing be taken by mouth until it resolves. After two days of this the ileus is showing signs of improvement, and I've been advanced to a clear liquid diet, meaning jello, juice and beef broth, to name the highlights of this incredibly bland diet. Never thought I'd say it but I can't wait until I can get back to eating hospital food again.
Meanwhile, my rehab program has continued without missing too much. My PT and OT continue to challenge me, and can be pretty grueling, but I can see nearly daily advancement in what I can get this partial body to do.Our spirits were lifted by visits this week from Craig Marthinsen and Keyvan Cohanim from the great white north, and Emily Stott from Staunton. as well as regular drop-ins from my wonderful brothers- and sisters-in-law, Gary and Holly, Bryan, and Jenny Schaefer, and nephew, William. We've also heartily enjoyed the cards, emails, texts and messages on the PostHope site. I have never felt so close and connected to so many people; my heart is full of love and gratitude to all of you. And even though my recent echocardiogram showed my heart to be normal, it feels like it has grown to three times its normal size in the four weeks since my accident.
Sorry to end this on such a sappy note; this was supposed to be about shit! Anyway, thanks again for all your support. Will try to keep you posted to ongoing developments.
-Robert
Addendum:
sorry, I left off a few other important visitors that definitely brightened my day. Kris Meekins, a friend from Bemus Point, stopped by while in Atlanta. Also visiting was Wayne Ferguson who worked as a rad therapist at RMH for many years. He made the trek down from NC with his girlfriend. It was great to see all of you!”
Comments (36)
Rob,I know of what you speak! Charming! Your sense of humor and matter of fact way of expression is compelling and your courage in the face of this challenge inspires us all. I am praying for smooth moves in your future! Take care! Nan
Cheering you on from Staunton. So glad to read your therapy is going well. Lots of positive energy coming your way.
I gather that a beer gelatin shot doesn't count as a clear liquid supplement? My wife had 3 experiences with that clear liquid diet restriction during her various pancreatitis recovery periods. I did my best to enjoy some of culinary fine points with her. Well partially. Keep making progress Robert as I'd like to see if you progress enough so that bioengineering transcutaneous stimulation could provide some guided movement for you. Nerd out.
I'm printing this one and taping it up in our throne room!
Thanks again for keeping it so real, Rob, and reassuring us all that you have not lost your graphic sense of humor. I am thrilled to get to be the first one to say I wasn’t surprised to hear you were “FOS” because I have known you to be “FOS” (but never full of 15 cups!) except when you proved you were not, once, by posting photos of your colonic interior on Facebook. I am glad you spared us the photos of this week’s s#!+show. lol! Your verbal account was sufficient. All joking aside, I am sorry to hear about your digestive woes and hope you get to enjoy some food soon. Continuing to send positive thoughts and healing vibes to you, your family and your colon.
Rob.. you may have been full of shit but you are freakin amazing. Having just done my colonoscopy (not so affectionately referred to by me as ‘getting roto- rootered), and telling people (somewhat mysteriously) that I would be out for ‘a routine procedure -it's great that you are sharing the journey you are taking with this body of yours in such an open way. You’re breaking down the boundaries that we non-medical civilians have always thought inviolable and keep the distances and the fear between us. Thanks for sharing your shit Rob. :-). you do all those who care the honor of bringing us close.. cause we wanna be there for the good, the bad and the ugly. I wish you didn’t have these tales to tell, but since you do, so glad you are sharing them. Xxoo
Very well said, Ellen.
Glad to hear your sappy shit, Rob! Hope the love keeps flowing....regularly.... xrb
Rob, didn’t you know that molasses causes sappy shit!? I will be there too when I go in for my dreaded colonoscopy next week! By the way, when I interned at Craig Hospital the name they used for the stimulator was “the dil”...I’ll leave you with that! 😉 Great to hear from you....poop and all! Much love to you both!
Your honesty and humor make us laugh and cry at the same time. You are truly an inspiration. Thanks so much for sharing. Deuteronomy 31:6
You are amazing! Keeping you in my prayers.
It sounds like you are describing the Grinch; green and growing a big heart. Keep the big heart but hope the gut catches up.
Oh dear, so many jokes cross my mind and memories of being on the other end of the DRE and sh*t consultations with you and your staff. At least you don't have to clean up too! Sending you much love and hoping for more sh*t in your life. Milk and molasses? Really? Such a waste of good ingredients.
I've always thought that a sense of humor should be high on the hierarchy of human needs. Glad yours is firing on all cylinders!
Hi Rob, I believe you had one other visitor from Macon, recently, did you not?! I’m sitting here in Sentara RMH with Doris, who is fighting off a UTI that is mildly septic, but they believe they’ve caught it in time. Since arriving around 7pm, her fever and BP have gone down, and her oxygen level up. A whole bag of IV antibiotics have been coursing through her veins, and she’s not trying to pull out the canula. So we are good for now. Learned a lot, that I won’t soon forget, from this very visual post! Onward to applesauce and yogurt! Enid
Rob, it’s pretty easy to tell you’re a doctor (not a lawyer, although I was able to read your last post!).! My thoughts and prayers are with you and mental hugs are coming your way! I’m in awe of all that you have done this far, and I know you’re just gonna kick this! We miss you in Chautauqua !! Love and hugs to you!
Rob, your humor and humanity are remarkable - a powerful elixir for those of us feeling so impotent. Even as a patient, you are healing others and leading the way.
😂 remembering your colonoscopy post from years ago. You’re so very rarely devoid of shit in the figurative sense... for which we adore you! Hang in there. Hope to get down there soon!!!
Dude, Caddyshack came out before medical school. "Oh...well, just snake a tube down her nose and I'll be there in four or five hours."
Rob- I don't think I could top Ellen's sentiment above. She captured it for me perfectly. Before I went to grad school, I was a critical care nurse at Strong Memorial Hospital ( University of Rochester). Strong is also the spinal cord and trauma center for the region, so your trials and tribulations take me right back to this time in my career ( which, incidentally, was the best boot camp training for my current role- seriously). Your candor and sense of humor are amazing- as you are. Thank you for staying in touch with all of us who truly want to be on this journey with you. You are making it so real for us. And we love you all the more for it. Mnm
Rob, I've chuckled thru your update, but I know it was not a lot of fun to get through. You amaze me in your strength and fortitude. My prayers continue for you, Nancy and your medical team. 😘
Hi Doc, I can hear you saying each and every word in my head. I am glad you have such great support and encouragement. I am also thankful for these updates because I think and pray for you daily! Tanya <3
I always knew you were FOS.
Glad to see your sense of humor did not leave with the 15 cups!! Hang in there, you are an inspiration to us all!! Miss you both!!
Thank you for this informative, witty, shit@*ty story. You and your family have a lion's den of supporters waiting for your requests. May something other than beef broth be in your near future. Giant hugs to all ... Krista
Rob, it’s hard to follow a Steve Talley comment, but I’ll try. I never thought you were FOS really, just a wonderful friend and neighbor - sappy I know but true. To echo others, thank you for sharing your journey. We are all with you in spirit and love. And by the way, in addition to being a great doctor, you can always become a great writer too- your prose is outstanding! Keep it coming! Xoxo Buckley and Virginia
Wow Rob, that was the sh—tiest post ever. (In a good way!) Interesting. I guess it helps to be a doctor when you’re dealing with the strange workings of the body. It makes you wonder how all those opioid addicts cope. Happy to see your mind triumphing over the body, at least in prose. I read a book by the recently deceased poet, Donald Hall called Life Work, about how his work really was his life and about the many people in his family who were farmers, who also loved their work. It made me think of how determined you were to be able to get back to work, and how wonderful that will be. I’m completely sure you will get there. Sending lots of love, e
Rob - I've always thought in your story telling you were sort of full of shit - this proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now cut the crap and stop being such a turd. You've given us all the inside poop, and enough is enough. Love to see your sense of humor is back where it usually is - the toilet!! Miss you up here. Keep up the hard work - can't wait to see the two of you again! Much love from the lake.
Here's hoping that the gut continues to heal quickly so that you get off that bland clear diet and back to something tastier. Glad to hear that Robert Good managed to get down to visit you! Robin, that sister of the third Robert :)
What an honest story that I’m sure brought laughter to many. Glad to hear you are still improving in therapy and hope that you are feeling the good wishes and prayers of many. Tell Nancy hi for me!
I will never again complain about having a colonoscopy! Hope you never have to go through this again and here’s to better eating! You are so inspiring.
Rob, it appears we, your "followers" are to be treated to a delightful hybrid of linguistic and medical updates! I'm all in. As we speak, I am sitting at Hershey Medical Center, where I am a Chaplain, PRN. Don't get into nether regions too much, but do find fascination with the medical aspects. This weekend was apparently The Days of the Maggots, in some very distressing admissions. At any rate, I love the image of enlarged heart--there are so many surprises for us as we are open to what the universe might bring us. A sense of connection: July 20 I was visiting with my son who was in the process of moving from Cattaraugus to somewhere some 10 miles north. I think not so far from where you and your unfortunate event happened. On the other hand, if we can resist labeling things as "bad", we can oft find the gift. On yet another hand, give yourself space and time to grieve -- even with a good bit of reframing, this is still a huge loss. Okay, end of epistle! Nan
Rob, you might consider writing a journal/book for others to live and learn by. Your humor along with dogged perseverance are simply awesome. Will have to disagree with my friend Steve, FOS is not a term I would apply to you, accept for the actual physical situation which hopefully passed (no pun intended) by now.
Your sense of humor through this journey is amazing to see! I echo your friend Faye in wondering if you shouldn't be working on a 'how to guide' of sorts to share with others who will take this same journey...
Rob, got info on posthope from Jim and glad to get updates. Especially this one that I read over lunch. I have nothing to add to what’s been said but am heartened but not surprised that your sense of humor is showing through. Literally 14 cups is quite high but figuratively I’ve seen you do better and I trust you will again! Lus and my thoughts and prayers remain with you Mike Lu Schneider
You're amazing! As always! Lori Caldwell, LPN @ AH Pain Mgt