Yes, you would think in the hospital when you are that sick, you wouldn't have to ride herd on what they are doing, but you really do. I was last in the hospital weeks ago for about 9 days because I was neutropenic and had some absolutely excellent nurses and niurses aids BUT there were still some screw ups and flubs.

The biggest being that I needed Jevity for food through the tube and they sent up Jevity that had an expiration date of 2004 stamped right on it. It was actually so old, it had a different name and label becuse I guess they changed the name about a year ago. You think that might have gotten someone (dietician, nurse, someone) to CHECK the date (that's why I checked the date) but apparently not.

I compained and the nurse I complained to was VERY apologetic. The next day, the head dietician was in my room apologizing and blaming it on the fact that they ahd had to buy cans fromm another institution instead of a supplier because they ran short and it must have been "the other institution" that sent them bad cans. STILL doesn't explain why no one checked. Jeez. I'm in the hosptial because I have next to no resistance to infection and I could have eaten a can of something that had gone bad if I hadn't thought to check the expiration date myself.

Then I found out that there were two patients with antibiotic resistant infections on the floor, one on either side of my room and we had been assigned the same nurse. That's smart don't you think? Assign the same nurse to people with infections that can't be cured by antibiotics and also one of the patients on the floor most vulnerable to cathcing an infection. And hope that nurse ALWAYS remembers to wash their hands.

I found this out, though, from a really good nurse who was trying to convince me that if I was given a choice I should go home to recover, even though I was still running a fever. I took his advice.

Unfortunately, due to the shortage of nurses they are often given assignments of patients that are resistant to antibiotics and "normal" patients. If your nurse followed good handwashing, you should be fine. They should also use gowns and masks when going into a patient's room who has that type of infection. As far as not checking the expiration date on your Jevity, that is inexcusable. It does not matter if it came from another facility or not. It should have been caught by the dietician or the nurse, NOT the patient!!

I'm HOME!!!!!!!

HAPPY 4th to all.

I just got home around 4:00 pm, and went STRAIGHT to sleep for 5 hours.

Then had a light pasta dinner with nutrition shake.

Pain is currently a 3 under management with alternating doses of 250 mg Naproxym, then 2 hours later Tylenol 3 w/Codene, then 2 hours later Naproxym, etc...Staying ahead of the "pain curve" and GLAD to be home again! (Even if it was a 4 hour nausiating car ride!;P

Have a great night all...

Hey, Michael!

Good that you are home and healing. You will feel better every single day, guaranteed. Particularly your throat. Neck swelling will decrease pretty quickly too -- at least mine did. But kick back for awhile. Eat a lot of ice cream, which will go down well, and also put on some weight, which you will lose when you do rad. I used the in between time to eat anything I wanted, and as much of it as I wanted, with no guilt. Cheesecake figured in there prominently, and lots and lots of chocolate.

Anyway, so glad you are home where you will feel much, much better.

Welcome home Michael and I second what Joanna said about eating WHATEVER you want with no guilt.

Happy to see you back Michael and feeling fairly well. Get plenty of rest and eat lots of yummies before radiation begins.

Blessings and healing,
Barbara~

Welcome home Michael

You have done well - pamper yourself and allow your body to recover. You will need all your physical and mental strength in the coming weeks as well as your wonderful quirky sense of humour.

Love to you and Seth from Helen

Right now I can barely fit anything larger than a pencil eraser in my mouth due to the opening constriction and pain...But, I believe each day will continue to see improvement.

Can't wait until I can down a slice of Dolche de Leche cheesecake!!

Until then, I'll settle for water since I need it so badly.

My surgeon just called from his cell to let me know that he still doesn't have path results (UUgh!).

He said they had a change of guard on July 1st and with the holiday it may be a few days or early next week (Huh!?)

Anyway, he said that I am DONE with surgery basically and the only thing we need the path for is to determine radiation/chemo or one or the other individually, etc.

I am inclined to do both (radiation and neo-adjuctive therapies {eg: Erbitux}) regardless of the Path reports.

So, at least he called me.

He said the pathology will tell us whether there was something something cell encapsulation, something facial or nerve involvement something something, and one other thing, maybe "Grade" of cells?

I dunno.

He said he is sure we got a 1mm margin clean, and that's what matters.

Ok, no real news, but thought I'd give everyone the latest. I hoping for all good news, ie: only one or two nodes really involved, no other spread, low grade (non-agressive), etc.

Yeah Michael! Glad you are home.This sounds like an echo but-- please eat, sleep and eat some more. This is REALLY IMPORTANT. Amy