Wednesday afternoon

John slept on and off between 9 and 12.  Each time he tried ice chips or water, he would cough, which hurts a lot.  During rounds today they decided a swallow study is in order to see why he coughs and chokes with water and ice.  They also decided to try some tylenol to help the pain, but not make him so sleepy.   They all seem thrilled with the surgery yesterday.

The swallow study happened just after noon.  They decided we need to rest his throat for a day.  So that means nothing by mouth till tomorrow.  They inserted a feeding tube in his nose which was painful.  Then they had to take another abdominal x-ray to make sure it was in the correct position in his stomach.   At 2 he got some oxycodone which relaxed him by 2:30 at which time he was able to get up and move to a chair.  He's 35 minutes into his 45 minute chair goal now.  I shaved him and he brushed his teeth.  In 10 minutes it's back to bed for a long deserved nap.

A representative from Thoratec Corporation that makes the device was in today.  He, along with about 30 other people were in the operating room yesterday. 

Colleen