(no subject)
**Meant to post yesterday**
Hi friends.
This is meant as an informational note. A couple of you know about
this already, so my apologies for the repetition. There have been a
couple of developments that could keep me from attending ACUS this
year.
A brief timeline thus far;
I have been experiencing moderate to severe pain in my upper right
abdomen that seems to go through to my back for a few months. Along
with the pain comes bouts of severe fatigue and loss of appetite. It
“usually” occurs in the evening, but has struck at all hours of the
day and night, it seems. On top of that, quite probably because of
those symptoms, my blood sugar has been very high, so high that my
doctor started me on insulin. The insulin has brought the sugars down,
but they are still above where they need to be.
My doctor ordered a Hida scan for my gallbladder. Scan shows the organ
is not functioning. Doctor sends me to surgeon to get the gallbladder
removed.
Surgeon says reports also show my liver and spleen are enlarged. She
sends me to a GI doctor to check the vein between the liver and
gallbladder to be sure it’s safe to remove the gallbladder.
GI doctor examines me and wonders why we are planning to remove the
gallbladder. I inform him the organ is not functioning. He informs me
the problem is not the gallbladder but cirrhosis of the liver.
I am getting the procedure, the scope of the abdomen, done tomorrow
morning. The GI doctor said he would have done it for cirrhosis
anyway.
And now, I wait. Wait to hear how far the cirrhosis has advanced. Wait
to hear when we’ll be able to take out the gallbladder. Wait to see
what kind of treatment will be ordered. I wait and try to endure the
bouts of pain. I usually sleep, or watch tv, not wanting to move or
have the motivation to anything else.
So, if I am not able to make the con this year, you will know why.
**Today's post**
I’m home.
I’m numb. Not from the anesthesia. I’m disappointed. I’m angry. I’m scared. The scope confirmed cirrhosis of the liver. It is too risky to remove my gallbladder. A biopsy was taken of my esophagus because it showed signs of being precancerous. In addition, the GI doctor is strongly recommending Lap-Band surgery.