It's been a while since I have done an update and a lot has happened so I figured it was about time. I have been talking with Dr. Rasmussen the last couple of weeks and trying to figure out the next steps.
Dr. Rasmussen Visit:
We had decided that the feeding might be the next best option to buy us more time until I can get into to see a different Doctor. I will be seeing a Dr. Sherman Smith in SLC who specializes in more complex cases like mine. At my follow up with Dr. R, he says the feeding tube is still a choice at this point so I opt out of it. If I don't have to have a tube shoved in my nose, I am surely not doing it. We also go over some more info he got from other surgeons and nothing looks too promising. The gastric stimulator is not an option because of the location of where the electrodes are implanted. I don't have that portion of my stomach to do this so at least this is ruled out. Right now, we will wait and see what Dr. Smith says.
Dr. Frech Visit:
I see Dr. Frech for another follow up. He can't agree to doing any other surgery except a laparoscopy for adhesions at this point. He thinks anything else might be too extreme for my body and weight to handle. He wants to check some liver labs because if the massive amount of itching along with bloody noses I have had. His office will be in contact with the results. I won't see him again for 3 months unless a surgery gets scheduled.
Emergency Room:
On the same day I saw Dr. Frech I start feeling crummy in the evening. I start getting some intense pain in my upper right side. I decide to take a hot shower since that usually helps and take my pain medications. I try to go to bed and about 20 minutes later I start having severe chest pain and shortness of breath accompanied with the right upper quadrant pain. I decide that it might be best to be checked out in the ER since it's only getting worse. I have my sister drive me over. It's funny how when you think you are dying you seem to hit every red light on the way to the ER. When we get there, I am shaking so bad I can't even stand. There is a line to check-in. A nurse brings over a wheel chair and makes me sit down. I get checked in and get taken straight back to a room. I guess when you say chest pain and shortness of breath, they take it pretty serious. I get an EKG right off the bat, which thankfully is normal. I get blood drawn and some morphine as the Dr. is asking me questions. A CT is ordered and we wait. I dry heave and get zofran then morphine about every 10 minutes. I repeat this cycle for about an hour. Luckily, one of my sweet friends is my nurse and she did such an awesome job and got me Meds before I needed the next round. The CT with IV contrast is done and we just wait for results. The Doctor finally comes in and gives the results. I have periportal edema. Something wrong with my liver. The radiologist says it's seen in patients who have excessive IV hydration, since I have had no IV hydration there is something else causing it. The Dr. says there could also be something wrong with the ducts in the liver but since my WBC count isn't high and liver labs look ok, he's not too sure. He decides to call up to my Gastro Docs office to see who is on call and see what to do. Of course my luck, he tries for an hour and a half to get a ahold of someone and it's a recorded message that keeps hanging up. He decides to discharge me after 5 hours and gives instructions to get a hold of Dr. Frech in the morning. If I get a fever, I am to report back to the ER immediately to be admitted.
Game Plan:
With it being Christmas, I am just waiting, waiting to hear from Dr. Frech about the ER visit and then to see Dr. Smith. I trying finding information on periportal edema online. I can't find anything that looks good. It all sounds scary. So again, we wait.
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