Last Lap at Health South

Alan had the laryngoscopy of the vocal folds at the ENT doctor’s yesterday.  As expected, the dr. found that there is a right sided vocal cord paralysis--right sided weakness of muscles and voice box.  However he did have good sensation when the area is touched, which is good.  The dr. said that there is a very good chance that the swallowing function will resolve with therapy, but it could take up to six months or more. If the therapy does not work, there is a surgery that can be done where the right side is re-positioned.  But that is something that will only be done if the therapy isn’t effective. Regaining the speech function sometimes takes much longer, maybe 6 - 9 months.  Sometimes it never completely resolves.  He is still extremely hoarse, and talking for any length of time is difficult. When he calls on his phone, it is hard to understand him.  We do a lot of texting.

On Monday, he will be getting one more test to show the swallow therapists exactly what is happening when he tries to swallow.  It is called the FEES test.  For more information, see this link: Information on FEES test

Alan is regaining his physical strength much faster.  He can get around with the walker very well.  I watched a pt session this morning, and he did several laps around inside the pt area and walked outside and in the parking lot. When they did the home visit on Wednesday to check out if he was able to maneuver around in our house, he easily went up and down the stairs in our house.  He is very stable as long as he uses the walker.

He is now slated to come home on Tuesday.  He will get pt, nursing, and swallow/speech therapy with in home care, transitioning to outpatient care when an opening is available and it is easier for him to leave home.  Right now, there is a waiting list for outpatient care anyway, so home health is all that is available.  He will continue with the feeding tube until the swallowing problem is resolved.  

Alan is now down to 184 lbs, so he has lost about 15 lbs.  The good news is that his sugar levels have been in the normal range since he has been at Health South, even though the feeding tube "food" has a lot of sugar in it.  The nurse said today that she does not consider him to be a diabetic any more.  He is getting no meds for it.  We do go to see primary care doctor on the 15th to do followup related to what meds he should continue with, and back to see neurosurgeon later in the month.

Alan is really ready to get out of Health South, even though they have been fantastic and done wonders with him in the short time he has been there.  It will be so good to have him back home after two months in hospitals.(He had the surgery April 5.) Charlotte has come up for a few days to see him, which is great.  He is really enjoying spending time with her, although she and I do space out our visits so he can rest his voice and nap whenever needed.