Post-Op Day 8 :: Recuperating at Home

The man is now recuperating at home. With the perforated appendix removed, that is the space that will be conducive for an abscess to form. The intravenous infusion of antibiotics should have quelled the infection while the intra-abdominal drain tube did its job. 

Now, aided by oral antibiotics and paracetamol for a week, we hope that no abscess forms. We're watching for a fever, extra bloat and an increase in pain levels. His kidney and liver have to take over detoxification and ensure that sepsis doesn't happen. 

He didn't want to stay one more day in the hospital. His discharge report literally typed out 'Discharged Against Advice'. I do see a huge difference between private and public hospitals in Singapore. And we already have a really decent medical infrastructure in this city. SGH doesn't trust patients to make informed decisions. I feel that the doctors at SGH doctors don't talk to patients enough. They're brusque and only give basic information that doesn't even cover layman terms. They're conservative and a tad high-handed. While the standard of medical care couldn't be faulted, and the A&E staff and triage room doctors were prompt and efficient, the post-surgery check-ins/instructions and after-care at the ward leave a lot to be desired. In terms of doctor-patient interaction and sharing of information and hours spent on communication, the private hospitals fare a lot better. 

We were firm and insistent. That was how I rectified a hospital administrative oversight in terms of our request for a bed upgrade. They threw paperwork in my face. REALLY. I REGULARLY EAT PAPERWORK OKAY. I ate it and spat paper balls right back at them, politely. I got the bed upgrade in 45 minutes. The man was transferred to the next available single bed room within four hours. The man also made his demands to talk to the doctors or consultants, and insisted on a clear explanation of the current situation. We aren't children. Neither are we so dumb that we can't understand what you say. Use medical terms, FFS. Don't give us layman language. It's frustrating and infantile. 

We were rather annoyed with a sweeping judgment the junior doctors made and we called them out on it. We had mini debate about the potassium chloride infused. The man reacted badly to it. He stopped the infusion of the second bag and rejected the third. Come on, if the whole point of giving KCI via the central line was because he didn't eat or drink, that's crazy. The bloodwork didn't show low potassium levels; his follow-up X-ray was clear. You refused to listen to us that there were food and drinks taken, and we just didn't want the shitty catered meals. You refused to let us not order your food too. What a waste. SGH's food vendors are terribly lacking. There weren't even eggs for breakfast.  

Byeeeeeeeeeeee.

Post-op Day 5, the man made clear his intention to leave when the bloodwork cleared and all stats held steady, and he felt well enough. I didn't have an opinion either way. He's lucid and coherent. He's capable of independent thought. Since I didn't see any significant risk in him coming home, why stay an extra day if he's getting cabin fever. I'd just support his decision. There's only so much the post-op care in a hospital could do. This isn't considered a major procedure. He would do better at home if he gets sufficient sleep and nutrition. 

He's napping loads and resting in the recliner mostly. It's the most comfortable for his stomach. He has to take it easy for two weeks, and allow the muscles to heal. I blinked when the discharge advice said not to lift > 5kg for 5 weeks. Wah. Okay. Upon reading that, the first thing Dan said was, "I can't carry Choya." Well. Win lor, see where his priorities lie. 

He said he could feel every moment jolting his stomach keenly and every step is jarring. Well, he's missing one useless appendix. While all the organs didn't care where it went, they're shifting a little since there's now more room in there. HAHAHAHA. His stamina is depleted. He would have to rebuild his core again. 

We eat at home since he's in no condition to last through a meal outdoors yet. There's no point eating out since he won't be able to deal with the heat, humidity, crowds, noise and such. What used to be the norm would be extra grating to him in this delicate state. He's taking it easy when it comes to meals. He literally can't stomach big portions. He eats small portions and does four meals a day. Choya is eating in the same way. She's begun to match meal timings with Daddy. Seriously. THESE TWO. 🙄

Chicken salad.
Greens of baby spinach and bok choi grown in our portable brainless pot under an LED light.