A visiting doctor thought Nancy might be experience gastroparesis. This translates to stomach paralysis. Test will be on Thursday.
Here is a link and the first paragraph there from:
http://www.gi.org/patients/gihealth/gastroparesis.asp
>>Gastroparesis literally translated means “stomach paralysis”. Gastroparesis is a digestive disorder in which the motility of the stomach is either abnormal or absent. In health, when the stomach is functioning normally, contractions of the stomach help to crush ingested food and then propel the pulverized food into the small intestine where further digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs. When the condition of gastroparesis is present the stomach is unable to contract normally, and therefore cannot crush food nor propel food into the small intestine properly. Normal digestion may not occur.<<
Today’s events: All was progressing well today until after lunch. I had been talking to the nurse about having Nancy do more than just be in the bed. Could she walk around some? Was there a 4-wheeled walker around or could I bring one in? That sort of thing.
There was a CWU EMT student there for the day so the nurse agreed to more exercise after she and the young man checked Nancy’s vital signs as she moved about – sitting, standing, in and out of a chair. That all went well. So after a little exercise she got back into bed and I started to leave. At that point she expressed some stomach discomfort – like she had to burp. I urged her to sit up straight and do so. It was more than a burp. It was all the liquid she had consumed at lunch. She has learned to keep a pan handy and so all the mess was contained.
Shortly thereafter the visiting “hospitalist” came in and talked to Nancy and the others that had witnessed the event. She was less than surprised and based on Nancy’s long stay in bed before and after surgery expressed her opinion that this would not be uncommon.
She wanted Nancy to eat (mostly liquid and soft food tonight) and then nothing until they start the examination tomorrow. They will give her food with ingredients that will show on an X-ray and then over several hours and several pictures determine if the food stays in the stomach overly long.
We will learn more tomorrow.