Tom Tincha Hospitalized with Abdominal Problems
Sat., Jan. 29. 2022 2:18pm EST
ApX guitarist Tom Tincha had to go to the emergency room last Saturday night because he was having sharp pains and burning on his left side and lower abdomen. He'd been experiencing them for the previous two weeks, and already had a colonoscopy scheduled for the following Monday, but Saturday was the worst it had been.
His wife, Deborah, has been keeping us posted on the situation. That night, Tom was diagnosed with diverticulitis and sent home on antibiotics and pain meds, although he was still in a lot of pain. His colonoscopy had to be canceled, because they couldn't do it with the diverticulitis.
Early Thursday afternoon, Tom and Deborah returned to the hospital to get a CT scan with dye contrast done. The doctor was concerned and checked him to see if there was a tear and a slow bleed, an abscess in the bowels. Later that afternoon, after they had returned home from the hospital, the doctor called and told them to go straight to the ER, because Tom had a hole in his colon. He was then admitted to the hospital.
Deborah gave us this update Friday morning:
"It was a very long day/night yesterday and week. Finally got him in a room late last night. He has an abscess filled with infection/puss surrounding the hole in colon. They will be doing another CT scan with dye to help guide them in the procedure to put a drain in to drain the abscess. I'm not sure what time today because they don't know yet. They gave him IV heavy antibiotics and some morphine because of pain. He can't even have a sip of water or ice chips … nothing."
She followed that up with another update late Friday afternoon:
"They finally did the procedure to drain the abscess/infection/puss surrounding the hole in the colon. They are testing it to see what kind of bacteria it is so they know what antibiotics to give him now. He has not been released yet to drink anything yet, including ice chips. When the doctors give the green light, he will be able to have a liquid diet only. They will be keeping him here to make sure no more abscess/infection/puss forms. If that happens, they would have to drain it again.
"The good news is that he does not need to have a drain bag on the outside of his body. The doctors have said once the abscess has been drained and no more infection/puss forming, the hole in his colon should begin to close up. He is on heavy-duty antibiotics, and they might change them, depending upon what the cultures show on what was taken out of the abscess. He's been given some morphine but doesn't like it too much, which is good. I am with him, and he is resting.
"Thank you for your continued prayers, support and love! We really appreciate it and we can feel the prayers! Please pray no more abscess/infection/puss and that the hole in the colon closes and heals quickly."
On Saturday afternoon, we got our most-recent update from Deborah:
"Tom has been able to consume liquid diet last night, and for lunch today they are transitioning him to try a more solid liquid diet ... pudding. He has to be able to eat solid food before he can leave the hospital. We have not gotten back results yet from what they extracted out of the abscess. They are culturing that.
"They did say there were a lot of white blood cells, though. They have him on IV antibiotics still and still may change that once the culture report comes back. He is in a little pain, but overall he is doing much better and getting up and moving around."
Please join us in praying for healing for Tom and strength for Deborah. Please also pray for God's provision for both of them. Tom works a couple of jobs, and Deborah has a job, too, and obviously they have not been able to work while this ordeal has been going on. Thank you.
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