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Surgery Update--AGAIN!

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Posted 5/5/2007 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
I got a call today from my surgeon's P.A., telling me that he would be unable to do any surgery for at least 8 weeks, due to a really bad back injury.  He may need surgery himself.  He does not want me to wait that long for surgery--it's been nearly a year since my last cancer treatment.  Therefore, a different surgeon will be performing the right lobectomy and the surgery will most likely take place on the 14th or 15th of this month.  I will have an MRI next Wed. at Mayo, then go back on Thurs. to meet with the P.A. and the new (to me) surgeon.  I will probably have the chest x-ray and EKG then, too.

I hope this surgery date won't be changed again!  It's rather unnerving to have a different surgeon working on me, but I'm telling myself that anyone from Mayo has to be excellent.

Prayers would be appreciated.

Connie

Posted 5/5/2007 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi connie
I am sure it does make you a little nervous having a different surgeon, but you are right, anyone from Mayo has to be top notch. I hope no more postponements. This waiting, I am sure, keeps you on edge, but soon this obstacle will be out of the way, and you will be one step closer to having your life back. :hugs: of course, my prayers and many virtual hugs for you.
Posted 5/5/2007 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Trish, thanks. Whenever they change the surgery date, I have to change MY plans and notify people, such as the neighbor who will be caring for my cats, my b.f. who will be taking me to the surgery, etc. It's all rather unnerving, but I will deal with it...no choice.

Thanks again and hugs,
C.
Posted 5/8/2007 8:56 PM (GMT 0)

I know it is a relief to know the surgery will go on! Hopefully they will not postpone it this time and you can start recovering from it soon! Sorry I haven't replyed sooner my computer has been very sick!! I will give you a call soon, my thoughts are with you!!

Teresa

Posted 5/8/2007 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Teresa.  I got a definite date today.  It will be the 15th, next Tuesday (a week from today.)  The fatigue and abdominal bloating continue to get worse.  I will just be glad to get the surgery behind me.

How is Mark doing?

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 5/9/2007 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
I know you will be glad to get it behind you! I am going to keep in touch with you! In fact before some bug gets my computer again I am going to write the numbers and addresses down you gave me so I can keep up with you! Mark is doing very well, I caught him in the garden again with my tiller, he keeps trying to over do it. We go to Bible Study tomorrow night and we will have you in our prayers. :)

Teresa

Posted 5/11/2007 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
I've done all the pre-testing for surgery. Met with the new surgeon yesterday. He said there is a 50% chance that he will be unable to do the lobectomy, if there's not enough healthy liver to regenerate itself. The MRI looked okay, but he won't really know until he opens me up. If he cannot proceed in removing the right lobe of my liver, he will just close me up and do nothing. In that case, I would have about a year to live. The P.A. said something about possibly being a transplant candidate then.

I would just like some prayers for the surgery to go forward.

Hugs to all,
Connie
Posted 5/11/2007 11:38 PM (GMT 0)

  you got them, and a lot of good luck.

annette

Posted 5/12/2007 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Connie you have stayed in my Prayers and positive healing power headed your way too!!!

Love,

Teresa

Posted 5/12/2007 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Connie, I too am praying for you and a positive outcome. Lot's of hugs and good wishes..............Pink Grandma
Posted 5/14/2007 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
Connie

Good luck my thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.

Lucy
Posted 5/14/2007 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Connie,

I am intensifying my prayer for you. Wishing you a glass half full.

Barb

Posted 5/15/2007 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Connie, I am probably late in wishing you the best during this procedure, I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping for the best.
Posted 5/15/2007 10:50 AM (GMT 0)

Connie,

You likely won't see this until later, but all fingers and toes crossed here. Hoping for the best possible outcome.

Posted 5/16/2007 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie,
Hope everything went well. I have been thinking of you all but haven't visited HealingWell for a couple of weeks. My prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.
Take care.
Marg
Posted 5/24/2007 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
The surgery went very well. The doctors were elated. I had a phone call, while in the hospital, by the radiologist who did my cancer treatments. He was able to make the tumor operable by shrinking and killing most of the tumor. A laparotomy revealed enough healthy tissue to go forward with surgery. The entire right lobe of my liver was removed, and they got all the cancer. However, they did find cirrhosis in the left lobe. I don't know what this means for me--whether I will be eligible for a transplant or hep C treatment.

I have a lot of drainage, and feel that the drain was removed too soon. At the very least, they could have ordered some home health nursing to change the dressing and keep an eye on the wound. I had 2 visits by the surgeon while I was in the hospital, and also one from the surgeon that originally was to have done the surgery. The P.A. saw me 2 or 3 times while I was in the hospital.

I have follow-up blood work and a visit with the P.A. scheduled for next Wed.

Hugs to all,
Connie
Posted 5/24/2007 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
Connie

So glad the surgery went well and you are back on the mend. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that treatment or transplant are still options for you and that you continue to improve.

I would certainly hope they give you some home health care to help with the drainage. My father-in-law had liver cancer and part of his removed and the drainage seemed to go on for a long time.

Good luck on your blood work and please keep us updated.

Lucy
Posted 5/25/2007 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Glad your home Connie!
I am so glad the surgery went well, maybe you should call and ask that they order home health care for a while? take care
Posted 5/25/2007 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Lucy and Trish! The drainage seems to have slowed some. My neighbor went to the store for me this morning and bought more 4 x 4s and tape. I left a phone message for the P.A. yesterday A.M. to call me about the drainage. She never called back, and I don't believe she works on Fridays. I will be seeing her next Wed. My feet and legs are very swollen, but I just have to live with that for a while. In the hospital, someone gave me Lasix, which made my potassium too low. They had a time trying to bring that back to normal.

Thanks for this site and to everyone for their support!

Connie

UPDATE:  The P.A. just called and said the drainage is ascites.  She is calling the pharmacy with prescriptions for Lasix, Keflex (antibiotic) and doubling up the potassium tabs.  I asked about paracentesis and she said no, not at this time.  It sounds like I'm in the beginning stages of ESLD.  I would not have understood what she was saying if it weren't for this forum.

C.

Post Edited (hep93) : 5/25/2007 10:09:47 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/25/2007 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Connie, the ascites may be a side effect of the surgery, so please dont jump to conclusions,,,,,with a big part of your liver removed, your body has to have time to adjust. :hugs:
Posted 5/27/2007 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Trish, I'm sure that part of the drainage is a response to the surgery. However, my stomach has been very swollen for over a year...it has just escalated. I have "weeping" of my calves, but the abdominal drainage has slowed some. I just had my cleaning gal here and she massaged my legs from feet to knees. She knows how to do it correctly and it feels so much better, for the moment.

I hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend. I am just planning to rest and take it easy (about all I can do right now, anyway.)

C.
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