Glad to hear all went as expected . Now it's just the road to recovery.
Don't forget to care for yourself too B�tte . This is an exhausting experience for the caregiver too.
Tammy

7:40 pm - Reg is now getting nutrition through the NG in his nose. Meds are minnimal, however still trying to find good pain management. drains are working full throttle now so not so much blood pooling under his chin. Tonight I sleep. I think he will be okay until the morning. They are getting him up first thing. Night all.

Bette, this all sounds great. Do prepare yourself for his face to be very swollen for quite some weeks. Listening to the Doppler blood flow is reassuring isn't it.
This is extensive surgery and sometimes it is 2 steps forward and 1 step backwards.
Hopefully you have had a good nights sleep and are ready to encourage and motivate Reggie as he gets up for the first time. All very positive.
Thinking of you both, Tammy

Bette, I hope as I write this you and Reg are in the middle of a long and very restful sleep. Best wishes, Linda

So glad to hear that Reggie is doing so well! Hoping that you have been able to get some sleep and care for yourself, too. Best wishes for problem-free recovery.

Friday 12/07/12---REggie got up and walked today. Not far, but out of his room to the hall and back. Sat up in the chair for about 2 hours. His thigh where they took the flap is very painful and is bleeding alot through the dressing. The doc says it's because he had to cut alittle higher, closer to the hip. Reg is very very swollen. Especially the native part of the tongue. You can hardly see his stoma so he is wearing a lary tube to keep the stoma from fallin over on itself. His color is much better today and they finally were able to get the pain under control with fentynol instead of dilaudid. Amen! His vitals are great. They have been giving him some blood because his hemocrit is low. 2 untis last night and 2 this morning.The doppler sounds are strong in the throat. Faint but ledgible in the tongue. Eleccytrolytes are okay now. He was throwing PVC's, but that is under control after mad and potasium. As long as the surgeons and the team are pleased so am I. Taking it hour by hour.It's a beautiful day in the city. Sun is shining, no wind. Have the window open in the hospital room and now in the hotel room. Will update later. :-))

Sounds like Reggie is making great progress! Good for him! And good for you, too - you are both quite a team!

Bette, it sounds like Reg is in a lot of discomfort, but that's great he's having a spell out of his room. Ask the doctors about avoiding constipation whilst on the pain meds. Best wishes, Linda

Reg is doing well enough that he will be moved from ICU. So probably the foley will come out and the A line. Good cause I know that A line hurts. Tolerating the NG tube and the nutrition well. No blood transfusion since yesterday morning. Hope today goes well.

Great progress.
Watch for retention once the foley comes out.
You're doing a fantastic caregiving job.
Tammy