Back Home Again

After an exhausting week of finishing up work, Dr's appointments almost everyday and packing up my belongings, Dad and I left Phoenix on Sunday May 17th at 11:59 a.m. It was 102 degrees in AZ. and when we landed in Pittsburgh it was 57 degrees! What a welcome change that was.
On approach into Pittsburgh it was still light enough outside to see the green rolling hills of western Pa. and I was even able to spot the churchpew bunkers on the 18th fairway at Quiksilver golf course in Midway. Oh, I could hear the putting greens calling out my name!
In Phoenix I received another memorable send off, with many of my co-workers and friends meeting me at the gate with hugs and well wishes for what the future may bring. The bulkhead of the First Class cabin where Dad and I were seated was even decorated with blue and white streamers with a "We Will Miss You" sign attached to the wall as well. Upon landing the First Class flight attendant presented me with a Victoria's Secret Bag and said "This is from your co-workers" I won't reveal the contents of the bag as it is an inside joke from the POC department, but I must say it did make me laugh, and I still do have the original one, so now I have two! The card was very touching as well!
Okay, back to the week of medical appointments. In brief, I had the consultation on Tuesday for the feeding tube, meeting with first the Dr. followed by a dietician/nutrionalist and third by a nurse who gave me an orientation on the feeding tube, how to use and care for it and possible complications. After all three consultations were completed R.N. Laurie Rentz came in and said that Dr. John Dibaise, who I first met with and who told me that he probably would not be doing the procedure because of his schedule, would not only be doing the procedure but that it would be done the following morning at 8:00 a.m. Totally unexpected by me but welcomed just the same. By the way all these appointments were being done at the Mayo Clinic. So needless to say I had to miss work on Wednesday as check in at hospital was set for 6:30 a.m. All went well and I was out of there by 11:00 a.m. I spent the afternoon sleeping off the sedative back at home.
Thursday I had to report back to Mayo Clinic to have follow-up chest X-rays and lab work done as a result of my coughing up blood spell I had the week before, and then on Friday I had to go back again to have the feeding tube checked to make sure all was okay with that. It was then that I was told by Dr. Dibiase that they should've put in a longer feeding tube, as the one they used was too short and did not allow the preferred 1/4 inch of slack between the valve and the skin of the abdomen. Dr. Dibiase said that these type of tubes need to be changed out about every 3 months anyway and a longer one would be swapped out at that time. Well, the following day, when I decided I wanted to eat, I hadn't used the tube yet due to it still being tender from the procedure, I had one heck of a time connecting the tube to the locking valve as it was too tight against my skin and there were and still are 3 suture buttons in place around the valve, keeping the stomach wall pulled up against my abdominal wall. Dad tried unsuccessfully to get it attached as well, and finally, my roommates girlfriend Cathy, after several attempts was finally able to get it in and locked down. We had to do with me lying on my back, and after that I chose to leave it in until I either get the suture buttons out or the whole thing changed to a longer one that give me more flexibility. The fact that it was still tender didn't help any either, but it worked and I've been able to increase my nutritional and liquid intake, which was what I seeking to accomplish.
So that is where things stand for now. Thursday I meet with Dr. Frank Kim, a G.I. specialist to discuss the feeding tube and what to do next and then on Friday I meet with my old friend, Oncologist Dr. Edward Balaban, to see what plan of action he has in store for me. I have had all my medical records from the Mayo Clinic forwarded to UPMC, with the help of my Dad since it is still to painful for me to carry on any conversations of length, so they at least will be up to speed with what I've gone through over the last several months.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention the "Good Luck" get together that was put together at the airport by members of the management team and the POC department. They had set up a "Tom's Tiki Bar" complete with fresh fruit smoothies (Alcohol free), cake and cookies. Many of my "East" co-workers who were on duty came by to wish me the best, along with most of the management team that were also on duty, along with some original America West employees with whom I had worked closely with over the last 2 plus years. I was presented with a plaque recognizing my years of service from 5/5/81 through 5/15/2009, a huge card signed by dozens of my workers and a "Pittsburgh Steelers" themed A-319 model airplane, that also had a brass plaque adorned to the base saying "From your US Airways Family in PHX." It was very touching!
So, needless to say I will spend this week trying to recover from such a hectic week last week before jumping into the next round of whatever is in store for me!
I will update this weekend after my appointments on Thursday and Friday!
Til then,
Love
Tom