Thanks for all the advice, guys! I think my Dad is very lucky, but not because of his kids...because of the way all this is turning out! I know it could have been SO much worse. He didn't even have to worry about the surgery for long. Amazing! =)

I did sorta figure out more about the tumor indicator. It seems that was his CEA level, though when it was taken I do not know. I've read in a few places that normal (i.e. no cancer) is typically < 3 or < 5 if you smoke. Dad does smoke, so I guess the part of the 15 to 'worry' about is 10? I've also read that those with CEA < 15 have pretty good survival prognosis, so until we hear/see otherwise, I'm definently going to look at this as something we can whoop. =)

Foods was my big concern the other day. The hospital has been bringing him the *same* foods every meal...cream chicken soup, tomato juice, orange juice, and jello. He did get mashed potatoes once. He's not the least bit interested in any of it. The juices just seem too acidic, and apparently the rest leave a lot to be desired in the taste department. lol We took him a vanilla shake yesterday and he did manage to sip a little. I'm going to take him some Ensure (they're not dripping nutrients anymore and he's NOT eating enough to get what he needs...no way), and some cream of mushroom soup (which he *does* like) today. I'll probably take some strained chicken noodle, too. He might not like that as much, but chicken noodle is a standard around here when people are sick. LOL

I do have another question, though. I don't have a whole lot of experience with hospital stays/nurses. My question is... does a nurse have a right to give a patient a med IN PLACE of what he asked for?

The dr ordered that Dad could have a pain med boost 2x an hour if he asked for it. He asked and the nurse brought him Zestril which turns out is his hypotension med. He asked again a bit later and she brought him Ativan, which turns out is a strong anti-anxiety med used to help sedate patients pre-op and keep them from remembering the events of the day of surgery. Neither was his pain med, which he'd asked for. The Ativan was only prescribed (by a secondary dr) because this nurse said he was "anxious" about walking, because he wouldn't get up and walk right when she said. He was NOT anxious, though. He'd had a rough night and had little sleep(about an hour or so when she asked at 7am), so had told her he wanted to nap first and THEN go walk. The dr had even told Dad directly that he did not HAVE to walk if he didn't feel up to it.

Mom wasn't happy, naturally. I think she's planning, now, to get a complete list of all his meds so that he can ask for the pain stuff by NAME when he needs it.

Thanks again everyone for all your info and advice! =) With ya'lls help I'm sure we'll whoop this bugger! =)

Chris

Oh yes. We cleared with the dr. =) He liked the idea of a milkshake and told us to keep 'em comin. LOL I just got back from church, and still need to make a run to the store, so I haven't talked w/ Mom yet today to see whether she's gotten a list of meds yet. I did suggest she talk to the dr and make sure he was aware of the Zestril and Ativan being given instead of the pain med. Don't know yet if she's been able to do so.

Mom doesn't like to make a nuisance of herself (nor do I), but she does want to make sure that the DOC is calling the shots...not the RN. Hopefully that will get sorted out quickly.

Thanks again!
Chris (who's off to the store and then the hosp.)