CancerCompass message board discussion started by Barkley on 2/24/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21299,0.htm Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ We are now settling into a routine.7AM Dad is finished with his twelve hour nutrion feeding.  He is diconnected from the feeding tube and pump.  Dad then has a cup of decaf coffee. 8AM Dad has breakfast.  Cream of Wheat  or Rice, Grape juice and either a pudding or yorgart.  830 AM Dad gets his shower and changes into a clean set of PJ'S.  I change his dressings.  One on his neck, one on his belly and the opening around his J-Tube.  I then give him his morning medications.  All are mixed with water and injected through his J-Tube. 10AM Dad gets another snack.  Pudding, Nutrition shack or ice cream.  Dad then takes his first set of walks in the house.  He does 3minutes walking from our front door to the far back wall of our house. He does this walking three times a day.  We are increasing his time by one minute each day.  After the walk dad then 2 puffs of of his inhaler.  Some medication to help his lungs. And he does his breathing exercises.  He does 10 exercises every hour until 7PM.  Noon Dad gets his lunch.  Cream soup, pudding, cranberry juice.  I then give him his mid day meds. More walking and more breathing exercises.  Dad then settles down for some TV and a nap. 3PM Milk Shake time.  Carnations Instant Breakfast with milk and ice cream.  4PM More walking and breathing exercises.  530PM Dinner.  Cream soup. His choices, Cream of mushroom, potato, chicken broth, beef broth and cream of butternut squash.  I am searching for more.  Jello or pudding and a cup of decaf coffee.  630PM I try hard to get Dad to have one more item, pudding, ice cream or nutrition shake. 7PM  I change Dad's dressings a second time and hook him up to the nutrition feeding tube.  Dad gets 5 cans of nutrition feedings in a 12 hour time period.  Which mean he is hooked up to the feeding pump at night.  I try to get dad to stay up until 9 or 10.  His bed is in our computer room which is right off our living room.  We place a kamode near his bed so he can get up and go to the RR and not have to un plug the feeding pump.  I weigh dad each morning and take his temperature twice between 3 and 5 PM.  I also keep a record of everything he eats and bowel movements.  When me meet with his Drs. I will give them a copy.Each day Dad seems to get a little stronger.  His sense of humor is returning along with his wit.  His only complaint is that it is hard to sleep sound hooked up to the feeding tube.    Well that is a rough description of my Dads day.  We continue to take it one day at a time. We see the Drs. Wed. and Friday.Steve Barkley Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sounds like you have the program down. rick51 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Great job, God watch over you and your Dad.  RegardsBernadette Wilmabc Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have been telling my dad about all your father has gone through and how well he is doing. My dad is 73 and your father has been an inspiration to him. Thanks for posting! GeorgesGirl Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT It's been 1 1/2 years since feeding tube at night. At times my husband begins imitating sounds of pump at night, and it makes us laugh. OMG-the alarms in the night when you cut off the tube moving around, or the pump malfunctions. Hard to imagine it ever becomes humorous, but it does. tongrenhealer Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT What a fantastic schedule you have going on Steve!  It seems all bases are covered from the great food he is eating during the day, the number of times he eats per day, the pump at night, the exercises and inhaler to help the lungs.  Fantastic!!  It seems like you all have a great doctor or team of doctors and YOU my friend, are extraordinary!!  and, let's not forgot that your Dad is unbelievable!!    His progress is due to hard work, determination, strength, love and miracle!!  Give Dad a hug for me!!  karen Worriedsick Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT