Will This Ever End

[pelagia]

 

[thegrammalady]

 

[monrein]

 

[willieandwinnie]

Okay, we just got home. We do have some wonderful doctors. The study they did for emptying showed that Len's stomach only emptied 3% in 90 minutes, NOT GOOD. He again suggested a feeding tube but totally understood Len's point of view. The doctor is going to do a endoscope next Wednesday at 9:30am. He prescribed some heavy duty pain medications, Liquid Fentanol and Dilaulid by injection. He seems to think that Len's Duodenum has a kink in it and the new kidney is probably contributing to this problem. He will know more after the scope next week. Please keep him in your prayers. The doctor actually wanted the scope done tomorrow and we told him we don't do any of those kinds on things on Fridays anymore. He also told us that Len will forever be on the low fiber / low residue diet. He talked about the experimental pace maker for the stomach and also the medication from Canada that the US won't approve because there is no money to be made on it. How sad is that. I'll keep updating as we progress through this. Thanks for being there for me. 

[okarol]

  I am happy to hear that the news was worthwhile and that you have faith in his docs.
It sounds like they will continue to seek answers for Len - which is great!

[G-Ma]

I will keep praying for you and Len.
Ann

[petey]

I'm somewhat encouraged by this news.  The diet sounds like something Len can do (maybe not like, but do).  If he has a kink, are they considering surgery?  How do you "unkink" it?  I'll wait for news on the scope next week.  You and Len always stay in the forefront of my mind.

[pelagia]

okay, manageable is good.  and now you have an explanation for the stomach problems.  sounds like things are headed in the right direction.  maybe? 

[thegrammalady]

at least you now have a direction to head in.

[monrein]

Still thinking about you and Len and praying for some relief for him.  Out of curiosity, what is the medication from Canada?   

[willieandwinnie]

monrein, the drug is Domperidone. The US FDA has not approved this drug but I can get it filled through a Canadian pharmacy with a written prescription. The doctor gave me another list of things to research (he said knowledge is power) so I have spent most of the morning reading and re-reading. I just want Len to feel better and enjoy not being on dialysis so I have taken on more responsibilities then I think I am capable of doing. We shall see. 

[ODAT]

I totally agree that getting anything done on Fridays is a bad idea. You are both in my prayers. 

[willieandwinnie]

Got Len home a little while ago and fixed him some cream of wheat and a scrambled egg, and he is now resting in his recliner. He said he is still feeling drunk from the meds they gave him for the Endoscope. The doctor compared this one to the one Len had done in 2001 and said that the new kidneys position is contributing to the kink in his duodenum. He told us that there isn't really anything that they can do for it. He said that Len needs to make sure his food his chewed well and the low fiber / low residue diet is the only recommendation he has right now. He said he isn't even sure that the stomach pace maker would help and he doesn't want to put Len through anymore procedures then he has to right now. We discussed stopping the reglan and going with the Domperidone but he said he wants to take the wait and see attitude at the moment. The doctor said that Len has a really lazy stomach. I learn more stuff everyday. Thank you guys for always being here for me. I am now going into my kitchen to start cooking for tomorrow and make the pumpkin cheesecake that I promised Len for Thanksgiving. You guys are the best and I don't know what I would do without you. 

[petey]

I had hoped the doc would say, "Here's a magic pill, Len; take it and all will straighten out."  It sounds like he said, "It's just something you're going to have to live with."  I don't like that for an answer, but what else can you do?  Except fix Len whatever he wants to eat..I've never had pumpkin cheesecake -- how is it?

[willieandwinnie]

petey, we had prayed for an easy solution but it wasn't meant to be. Len is handling it pretty well. Len said that we'll continue to do what we are doing until we can't anymore. Not much else we can do. Len ask me to fix some pretty weird stuff sometimes and I always do it. I am thankful for everyday I have with him. petey, you have got to try this pumpkin cheesecake, you can't stop at just one piece. I have it in the oven now and the whole house smells wonderful. Have a great Thanksgiving and hug Marvin for me. 

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

2 Large Graham Cracker Crust (I like to make my own)

¼ cup all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 - 15 oz can Plain Pumpkin

3 packages Cream Cheese (softened)

1 cup plus 3 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

2/3 cup granulated Sugar

4 eggs

Mix everything except eggs, mixing well after each addition. After mixed well, add eggs, do not mix too long after the eggs have been added.

Bake 325 oven till set in the middle.

Tip: Before heating the oven, place small baking pan with 1-2 cups water on oven rack below the center rack. This will prevent the pie from cracking as much. Leave the water in oven during the baking and cooling process.

Place pie to cool for at least 6 hours.

Top with whipped topping and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice

[annabanana]

 

[pelagia]

I never heard of lazy stomach before this.  Just read a little on the web.  You're right.  You can learn something every day here at IHD.  Has Len tried eating more frequent smaller meals?  Does that help?  Your pumpkin cheesecake recipe sounds yummy W&W.  I don't make cheesecake unless I am taking it away from my own home very quickly!

[willieandwinnie]

pelagia, we are trying smaller more frequent meals and it does seem to help some.  I feel like I live in the damn kitchen and I have dishpan hands so bad. Now mind you, I do have a brand new dishwasher but with the two of us it takes days to fill it up and by that time I am out of glasses. Try the cheesecake, you'll love it. 

[G-Ma]

Thanks for the recipie....I hope Len feels better...and you take care of yourself..........how about different baby foods to give you a rest...that is what I ate after my surgery and still do when I have stomach problems..just my 

[willieandwinnie]

Thanks G-Ma. We tried the baby food route and Len would immediately  I have learned how to cook soft things pretty well.  I am getting over my 6th bout of vertigo. I am sick and tired of feeling drunk without the benefit of booze. 

[G-Ma]

Oh I'm sorry.  I hope you start feeling better or just get some booze too...I think flip would have recommended a taste?  God bless flip and all of us.

[Mimi]

I'v never heard of lazy stomach either.  Sounds like it can make you pretty miserable.
Sorry Len has to go through all of this, too.  And you too WW.  Hang in there, there'll
come a day when things are better.

Love, Mimi

[willieandwinnie]

Len has been on Morphine shots and Fentanyl tablets every 4 hours since Sunday. His stomach just seized up again. I had to run around yesterday to get some more syringes that were the right ones. Our GP called yesterday afternoon and said if Len can't start getting fluids in him this morning, I need to get him to the ER so he can get IV fluids. He hasn't had one of these since October and we have no idea what triggered this one. I am really thankful that they let me give him injections at home so I don't have to deal with the hospital.  He was suppose to go get labs done this morning but that isn't going to happen. I have just been trying to keep the dogs silent (harder now that Willie is feeling better) and just let him rest. I told Dr. Gill that yesterday morning Len had the horrible shakes and really felt like  Dr. Gill said that the pain pills that Len had been taking were just sitting in his stomach and not being obsorbed and the stomach eased up enough that they went to his bowels and he got too much of a dose. Lord, I'm killing him. On Sunday morning Len weighed 148.2 and yesterday afternoon when I weighed him he was down to 142.0. It is so hard for me to watch him go through this that my stress level goes through the roof. If I only could figure out what triggers it but I have no clue. I really worry about his new kidney when he goes through this because he just can't get fluids into him. I'm praying that today will be a bit better and I can get something to drink in him. Thanks for listening to me again and I'll keep updating when things change. 

[kitkatz]

 

[pelagia]

   I hope this settles down soon.  The part about the pain pills sitting in his stomach sounds very scary.