I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Off-Topic => Other Severe Medical Conditions => Topic started by: willowtreewren on April 30, 2015, 07:52:05 AM
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So, last week we were coming home from a "vacation" of sorts. (We had gone to Maryland to bury my dad's ashes and then spent a day in Washington, DC with our daughter, her husband, and our three grandkids). :yahoo;
You know how when you are traveling it is easy to get constipated. This was Wednesday when we were on the road and about hour out that morning, I started feeling "uncomfortable." I figured it was simply a bit of "back up" in the system, so at every rest stop I got out and walked to get the system moving again. By the time we got home after an 8 hour drive, I was in serious misery. Tried an enema (Are you friend or enema? Ha!) and even magnesium citrate. :Kit n Stik;
Thursday I was still in agony and spent the day with a heating pad on my tummy. By Friday, with no relief in the pain, I called my PCP. When I saw her, she suspected a ruptured diverticula and sent me directly from her office to ER, where I ended up in the hospital. After a CT scan which conclusively ruled out the ruptured diverticula, but inconclusively showed a mass in my abdomen, I was admitted. In the middle of the night I had an MRI. :P
The results of that WERE conclusive. There is a mesenteric mass about 4cm x 3 cm x 3cm in my abdomen. >:( It is located exactly where all the blood vessels that feed the abdominal organs converge. :thumbdown; I had a biopsy Tuesday and was released yesterday. Pathology results are not yet back, but the mass could be a number of things. The LEAST likely is lymphoma (ugh), or another kind of cancer. If it does turn out to be one of those hopefully unlikely outcomes, I will not have surgery immediately. If lymphoma, there will be NO surgery, just chemotherapy. All the other possibilities point to immediate surgery, which is already scheduled for early Tuesday morning. Because of the location of the mass, I will lose a section of my small intestine. The surgery will be a bit tricky, because they need to maintain blood supply to my organs and get every bit of the mass, plus re-section my intestine. Whew. :banghead;
I've only had four regular meals since Wednesday at lunch. Eating causes some pretty intense pain. While in the hospital for those 5 days I lost 4 pounds! And this week while I wait for my surgery I am on a full liquid diet. That is until Monday, when I go on clear liquids and take 3 bottles of magnesium citrate to clear out my gut for the upcoming surgery! We want it VERY clean! :lol;
It has been a trip, but I'm very optimistic about the long-term outcome because we caught this VERY early. I probably WAS constipated and that exacerbated the discomfort and brought this uninvited abdominal guest to my attention. Now we can act to evict him and send him packing! I'm eager to hear the pathology report so we get a better picture on just what kind of visitor we are dealing with! Then we can go forward with the best plan. :boxing;
There you have it!
:flower;
Aleta
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Yikes! What a nasty surprise! I'm sorry you have to go through this. When will you get the biopsy results?
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You are such a warrior! :boxing;
I'm eager to hear your biopsy results, so please let us know when you can.
Lots of good thoughts coming your way...
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:cuddle;
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How 'lucky' you noticed it so early, and that your PCP reacted so proactively. Lots of strength and luck next Tuesday.
And lots of love, Cas
:cuddle;
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*
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Many people will be thinking of you as you get this sorted out. Sending all good thoughts your way for the least serious of these options.
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My PCP made an unofficial visit while I was "incarcerated" this week. She and I go way back as I taught her kids. Anyway, her office called today, asking me to come back in. When I said that I didn't have the pathology reports, yet, I heard the receptionist talking with my doc and she said to tell me that she would GET THEM and have them ready for me when I see her on Monday. I love my PCP!!!!
When I know anything, I'll pass it on!
:2thumbsup;
Aleta
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:grouphug; :grouphug; :flower;
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Here is my outstanding news:
There is absolutely NO cancer evident in my uninvited abdominal "guest." :yahoo; :2thumbsup; :clap; :thumbup;
Surgery to "evict" it is set for Tuesday, with a hospital stay of 3-5 days. Complete recovery is expected to take 3-6 weeks.
But I'm a fighter. :boxing; :boxing; I expect my recovery to be on the short end of that equation. I'm always a model patient :cheer: and I get up and walking as much as possible as soon as possible. Walking is the shortest path to recovery!
I am just so relieved that it isn't cancer! :bandance; :flower; :cheer:
Happy, happy!
:flower; :flower; :flower;
Aleta
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:bandance;
Thank you for the good news! I hope your surgery goes smoothly. I fully believe you're going to surprise your medical team with a quick recovery.
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That IS good news!
:2thumbsup;
Good luck next Tuesday, you're probably out after 2 days.
Love, Cas
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Don't let them bring you a full meal for 5 days. Or at least question it. My kitchen didn't get the memo and I ate 2 days after and my bowel split and I ended up having emergency surgery and a colostomy for 9 months. Just clear liquids. It needs time to heal.
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Here is my outstanding news:
There is absolutely NO cancer evident in my uninvited abdominal "guest." :yahoo; :2thumbsup; :clap; :thumbup;
Surgery to "evict" it is set for Tuesday, with a hospital stay of 3-5 days. Complete recovery is expected to take 3-6 weeks.
But I'm a fighter. :boxing; :boxing; I expect my recovery to be on the short end of that equation. I'm always a model patient :cheer: and I get up and walking as much as possible as soon as possible. Walking is the shortest path to recovery!
I am just so relieved that it isn't cancer! :bandance; :flower; :cheer:
Happy, happy!
:flower; :flower; :flower;
Aleta
This is excellent!
:beer1; :beer1; :beer1;
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There is absolutely NO cancer evident in my uninvited abdominal "guest." :yahoo; :2thumbsup; :clap; :thumbup;
Congratulations.
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Oh, this is such great news! There are fewer things that feel better than having your worst fears go up in smoke.
Do something nice and celebratory this weekend!
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Don't worry, Rerun. I am all over the clear liquids! :2thumbsup;
It was funny the day I was released this week. They brought me my "liquid" diet breakfast and the nutrition helper said, "Aren't you getting out today?" I answered that I was. She replied, "I'm sorry they sent you a liquid meal." Then I explained that I would be eating a liquid diet all this week while I was out!
:2thumbsup;
Thanks everyone for the well-wishes. I'm also confident that I will nail this and get out sooner rather than later. :bow;
MM, living life to the fullest is celebration enough! :yahoo;
Aleta
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Glad you don't have cancer. Good luck with surgery. You're right about getting up and walking after surgery. I know, been there, done that. The sooner, the better. It helps get things moving, including yourself out the door and back home. It might be painful and exhausting so just do it in 15-30 minute increments and work your way up from there. If you need pain meds, ask them to make your IV drip "mobile" and then wheel it around with you on your walks.
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:flower; :flower; :flower; GREAT NEWS!
Good luck with your surgery, hope everything comes out ok :)
Yes, be sure someone keeps you from eating. Jenna was on clear fluids only following her bladder augmentation using bowel material.
Every 4 hours a food tray was delivered to her room in error. Luckily I was there because she was so out of it on pain meds she might have eaten it!
:2thumbsup;
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Great news! I am sure you will heal up in no time! :cheer:
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Well, I had my surgery on Tuesday. Things didn't go quite as planned. The mass was stuck "like Velcro" to both my small intestines and my colon, so they removed about 8 inches of the former and a bit of the later. That shouldn't cause any long term problems. The pathology report was interesting. The mass consisted of pancreatic tissue (even though it wasn't near the pancreas) and had become inflamed, thus causing the pain. The day after surgery my bladder became paralyzed. When it became full to point of excruciating pain, they ve been back on solid cathed me to let it drain. But before long, it happened again. this time they left the catheter in. That night I slept like a baby! It was the only night since surgery that I have slept well!
I've been back on solid food for 72 hours now without a BM. They actually let me go home from the hospital yesterday afternoon without that milestone. I really think my gut is also paralyzed. I've been on Colace, had two doses of Miralax, and a suppository with no luck in the area of "movement"! I'm switching back to liquid diet, because there just ain't any more room in there! :puke;
I'm drinking lots of fluids and have a heating pad on my tummy (which makes the staples pretty hot!) I'll see the doctor for follow-up tomorrow, so maybe I'll get some relief then, if not sooner!
It has been a trip, but I will come out on the other side of it all right.
Aleta
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I'm so glad you're home!
I hope you have a BM soon.
:-*
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Good news! I actually had a normal "movement" earlier today. There is still much waiting to come out, but I'm immensely relieved! :2thumbsup;
At least I know my guts are still working. :shy;
Aleta
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:beer1; :beer1; :beer1;
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I'm so glad your surgery went well and that things are "moving along" nicely!!
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Wow that's good news, wishing you speedy, and full recovery, and no more 'hick ups'
:flower;
Lots of love, Cas
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Who knew poop stories would be so happy! :yahoo;
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Willow:
Welcome to "poop city".
I'm reminded of the misdiagnosis that gave me a long term problem. My stomach jutted out, went to the Doc, he x-rayed and said "constipation". Demanded a colonoscopy, that Doc said you are not constipated, you have Lymphoma and renal failure. The rest is history.
Those people, like you, who have been good all your life need not suffer like you did. People like me, well . . . . . I wish you the best, take care of your reduced colon by sending it some yummy chocolate cake.
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Ha ha ha ha! Gerald.
I do have some "poop" issues since the surgery. Even though I seem regular, it tends to back up for a few days. At least every 4 or 5 days I have one of those poopy days! :rofl;
I manage to lose the 3-4 pounds I have gradually added by pooping all day long. I think the nerves in my gut just aren't getting the message.
Otherwise, all is good.
:thumbup;
Aleta