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TOTAL COLECTOMY PART 28

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Posted 11/16/2009 8:45 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Healingwell Family – I am still alive and doing well. My reversal recovery is moving forward and I am learning something new about my body all the time.  Last week was a tough week.  I ate a few bites of a loaded salad (onions, peppers, ham, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and such); the salad was yummy, but the bowel movements were excruciating. The small bits of veggies must have cut the inside of my rectum b/c I was bleeding for the next 3 days and SCREAMING with agony every time I had to go! I didn’t eat solids for 3 days trying to give my butt a rest and one night I actually took 2 pain pills! For the past 2 days I have been better.  I am trying to play with my diet as often as possible before I go back to work.  I need to have some type of regular regime so I can avoid having Bm’s every few minutes at work.

 

Hodaya – having an ileostomy was mentally difficult for a while.  I became very anxious about the smell and thought everyone could see my bag or smell my poop.  Anyway, my dr put me on Lexapro for anxiety (it is also used for depression) and it was very helpful.  I didn’t have any side effects and I didn’t feel any different mentally – just less anxious. I was more relaxed about my bag and felt normal when I was in public. When I went into the hospital for my reversal, they stopped giving me the Lexapro during my stay.  I haven’t taken it since.  I did not have severe withdrawal.  In fact, I can’t even tell I’m not on it anymore.  I just feel normal. I highly recommend this medication.  It works great w/out side effects.

 

Jen – I am sorry you’re having pains.  I think this is just part of healing.  Some days I feel great, other days, I am backed up and straining on the toilet or doing enemas. There have been many days where I just lay in bed and cramp with a heating pad.  Are you due for your monthly menstrual? Hormones can play a big role in how you feel and your bowel habits. I was 2 weeks late this month and my stomach cramps were horrible and my bowels were more slowed than usual – just a thought. Keep me posted on your updates.

 

Lizzy – I sent you an email on FB. Can you see if you got it so I can make sure this is the right Lizzie Tinsman? BTW, your email sounds much better! I am sorry your hubby has the H1N1 virus. You cannot get it! You are too weak. Please be careful and stay away. Make him sleep on the couch or something. I know 4 families that have the swine flu and they say it is very contagious!

 

Jenise – Good luck with your pre-op! I have been thinking of you! I am glad I caught up with you before your surgery.

 

If I don’t post for a while, please do not get worried.  Life is crazy. For the past month I have been busy caring for my father-in-law who is very ill with pancreatic cancer and my mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s disease. Taking care of them is a full-time job, just last week my FIL fell in the bathroom and since his entire lower body has atrophied, it took my MIL, my husband, and I lift him.  Saturday he became very weak and I took him to the hospital.  He had 2 blood transfusions and should be released tomorrow.

 

To all of you out there in HW world…thank you for all you do for this forum!

Posted 11/16/2009 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Does anybody know anything about shmuel?
Have I missed anything new about her?
Posted 11/16/2009 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi pelztier86, we haven't heard a word about shmuel... sure hope all is well and wish she would check back in.

Amey, it's great to hear from you! I just realized your in the Tampa area.. was your surgery at Tampa general? That's were I'll be heading - it's a bit over an hour away from where I am located. It sounds like you really have your hands full with taking care of family members.. don't forget to take care of yourself too! That salad just sounds awful.. you poor thing! I guess it is such a trial and error game.. isn't it?
Posted 11/16/2009 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Jenise,

Good luck with pre-op. That time whizzed by. Rosemary
Posted 11/16/2009 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
Well I broke down and called the doctor about 4 this afternoon. I have felt bad all day. Had to put miralax in some grape juice around 2 because I had not had any bowel movements since about 4am. Bowels started moving about an hour ago. Watery. I am having bad cramps right now sitting here with a heating pad. Anyway I spoke to Dr. Fuller's nurse. She is really nice, and I told her all my symptoms. She then put me on hold and went and talked to the doctor. He wants to see me at 9:30 in the morning since I was doing so well up until last Thursday. Anytime there is a signifcant change they feel it is better just to check things out. If everything is ok maybe they can give me something for cramps so I don't have to take pain pills.

Amey I am not due to have my period until November 27th, and I usually start having hormonal shifts about 4 or 5 days prior so that really wouldn't be affecting things right now especially since they started last Thursday. I don't know what is up. I can deal with the bowels slowing down because Miralax can fix that. These cramp however are another story. They are terrible .

Since they will ask me lots of questions I wrote down everything that has happened since last Thursday. Included everything I ate and approximate bowel movements. When the doctor starts bombarding you with questions its hard to get a timeline down correctly.

So I will let you guys know how things go. Hope everyone is doing ok. Lizzie I hope you are doing better. Hope your hubby gets better soon and you don't get it.

Jen
Posted 11/16/2009 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
WOW! Amey, that salad, whew! You sound like you have your hands really full; good luck with all. Rosemary..
Wondering about Shmuel too.
Posted 11/16/2009 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Jen - I am glad your surgeon is taking your changes seriously.  Please keep me posted after you see him tomorrow. I hope you do not have a complication.  I am glad something is moving through - otherwise I would be concerned you have a blockage.

Jenise - I have had surgery at several hospitals. Now I won't go anywhere else but Tampa General.  Dr. Marcet is my surgeon and he is an amazing man/surgeon.  Tampa General is about an hour from me and it is worth the drive. Please send me an email ([email protected]) so I can send my phone number.  If you need anything while you are in TGH, you can give me a ring. I don't have to go back to TGH for another 2 weeks so I can get my final check-up and a note allowing me to return to work. PS. TGH has an awesome catering service.  You get to choose your own meals off their menu.  For me, I like to eat gluten-free.  I would order all kinds of items and then I would get 2 pc of chocolate cake for dinner for when my kids came up to visit. So, ask your nurse for your menu once you're able to eat.

Rosemary - you always have such wonderful and encouraging comments. Thank you for being such a strong support for so many people in the forum.

Lizzy - thinking of you...!

Posted 11/17/2009 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Amey, Thanks I try.. We can say I've "Been there and back" :-)

Jen, Glad you called and your doc is taking you seriously. I thought he would. Keep in mind the original 2 docs I dealt with who just left me with the complications are not the norm by any means. I really don't know how those 2 are even still in practice, but in time I will see what I can do about that through legal means. Anyway, your time line is a great idea. All the rational docs I've dealt with love it when you're organized; it saves them time and the patient doesn't go in babbling. I bet he will come up with a way to see what's wrong. I sure hope it's nothing big and you get fast relief. Will wait to hear. Rosemary
Posted 11/17/2009 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. Jenise good luck at your pre-op. I will let everyone know what the doctor says. I am sure everything is fine. Just a little glitch that maybe some cramping meds will help.

Amey I can't believe you at a salad. I watched my husband eat one the other night and just salivated I wanted one sooooo bad but thought better of it. Based on your experience I'm glad I didn't but I bet it tasted good at the time. Hope you continue to recover quickly.

Jen
Posted 11/17/2009 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
thanks so much everyone for your understanding. simply your understanding made me feel a whole lot better. i don't know what i would have done w/o you all. i wrote dwon the names of the meds you all mentioned. i need to discuss things with a proffesional. i'm still terrified of taking anything.. will see. i thought of maybe trying something from the natural side, like "sunrider's" product. my neighbour is selling their products and i remember her saying they have something for depression. do you all think these natural products are efficient for depression? Jenise, you're right, even if i see my current surgeon again, i will definitely need a second and a third opinion before doing anything, like fixing the rectum. there are lots fo wonderful drs, but my medical service doesn't cover all of them. but paying only for a consult is also good, just to have their opinion. i hope your surgery works out best for you, i hope all works out for all of us. good luck with you pre op tomorrow. Jen, i'm glad you called you dr. that pain sounded concerning. about the pills, well suppresing the appetite sounds good to me.. the less i put in, the less has to come out.. ha ha. anyway, so glad the insurance issue worked out. i bet you're so relieved. waiting to hear what your dr says. pelztier, thanks so much for calming me down and reminding me not to jump into any comclusions w/o confirming. i remember reading your story and you sure have been through so much. i admire your strength to cope so bravely with everything! do you have aything eaten or drunk by mouth at all? i just can't imagine living on parenteral nutrition.. how long have you been like this? i truly wish you all the best my dear! yes, the plan is definitely to check the outlet issue and i'm gonna do it with a defecography test. i have no doubt i have a rectocele, maybe some rectal prolapse too, and all that spiced with some degree of anismus.... uughh, guess my rectum will never be perfect again, but maybe there's room for improvement, i hope. maybe i should check for my thyroid (sp), thanks for the advice! and OH YES! soya products definitely slow you down! don't try everyone, talking from experience post op. Lizzie, how scarry your husband has that flu.. i hope he gets better soon. gosh i so wish i could have more time to chat with you on FB, and i DO need it. wish we were all closer, it could help all of us greatly if we could meet in person and see each other when we want.. miss you all and love you all so much. unfortunately, i think we will always have some degree of obstruction in our rectum, our rectum can't be perfect anymore, we'll just have to hope it'll stay managable. Janie, i know i said i will start with the laxative (normalax, which is exactly like miralax, just a different name).. but why am i still so scared of starting taking it..??? gosh i've always had such hard time taking laxatives and now that i'm post op, it's even harder for me. i do take prune juice. i feel it's safer b/c it's a natural thing. it's like i feel i'm ready to "give in" to laxatives yet, at least maybe after iv'e done some tests and see what's going on. anyway, maybe just by taking the prune juice i've already gave in. you described exactly how i feel, like now i'm alone and still have probs.. i need my dr to be there for me and it feels like he's NOT! that's the feeling i get.. the feeling we all get. i think i'll do as you said and see him again. i'm so used to this dr and he IS a great dr and he knows me best, but if i see he's not on the same page with me, as you said, then i'll have to seek another dr. just not sure who my medical care covers and who not.. will have to look into it. only it makes me tired just thinking of starting to look. Rosemary, i'm glad you enjoyed the meeting. sounds like it was refreshing for you. we have lots of specialized centers in israel, but only some of them are covered by my medical service, not sure yet where i can go. i'll be glad to have you come over here, or any of you guys, i'll be happy to host you all :) Chrisy, great hearing from you! glad you enjoyed your vacation, i sure need one. sorry you feel so bad with nausea. i wonder why all of a sudden. ohh, i wish we didn't have to use laxatives again.. it's so disappointing. hope you feel better soon. Amey, thanks so much also for you advice! so sorry about you FIL. OMG.. that salad sounds like a killer! glad it's starting to pass through. take care. well i'm off to work.
Posted 11/17/2009 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
Just have a question.....

So you all know my story,....yaya. Well I tirs not to eat today on purpose, but I had med hot chocolate, and some crackers, and a few cocktails. I did not take MOM and had very little urge to go to the bathroom today, just gas. So I finally had an urge around 8 pm and I went and it was like worm sized if that, but just a few.......is this my anismus???

so scared.

Lizzie

Posted 11/17/2009 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
Lizzie,

It's something compressing the poop. I suggest you tell your doc. Something called a gastrograffin enema xray can be done to be sure your anastomosis is not narrowing in. (The anastomosis is where your rectum is joined to your small intestine.) Don't worry about it as the anastomosis is likely fine, however, getting it checked will give you peace of mind. The anismus part could be determined by a repeat defecogram, as you know this would show in indentation in the back of the rectum and the rectum would stay at 90 degrees rather than straightening for defecation. It may be wayyyyy tooo soon to repeat this or even to do both of these tests. So ask your doc. But sounds to me like at some point you may need these evals. Until you get some answers I'd say do what works and keep as comfortable as you can. It's 3 a.m. here, I always wake up at that time, get up, do a few things, then go back to sleep. An annoying thing to happen, but that is why I'm posting at such an odd hour. Good Luck, Rosemary
Posted 11/17/2009 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rosemary for the well wishes... time is flying by! Gee.. I have been waking up the same time as you, but I can't fall back to sleep!

Amey, I've heard nothing but great things about Dr. Marcet. I'm in the same office, but with the other surgeon. I have met his PA Jose.. but my uro-gyn must have a relationship with the other doc, since he specifically referred me to him. I know Dr. Marcet has reviewed my case.. s I feel confident going in. I'll email you, it will be great to know you're around if needed! My last surgery (8 mths ago) was also done at Tampa General (no uro-gyn's elsewhere). I was happy with the care and such there... my room was great, and I hope to be able to get another private room. I'll email you!

Lizzie, I often also have worm size stool (plus the flat ones) something is mechanically obstructing me.. you need to discuss with your doctor. In my case, it is not a stricture, but the twists, prolapses and redundancy.. but I know they were looking for strictures which might be your case.

Jen, I'm glad you called and your doctor seeing you is exactly what he should be doing! Please update us when you get home! Glad it sounds like at least you have a desire for some foods, but do be careful!

Hodaya, I don't think you should be afraid to try the MiraLax. All my doctors said it was very gentle, safe to use everyday. Hope you get some comfort.. I do think that because we both have had/have rectal prolapses and rectoceles.. things may never be prefect. I'm hoping for a big improvement at least. I do hope that although he will not fix the rectocele, he'll at least try and modify the rectal prolapse part... as these both do cause outlet issues. Again.. the stupid mesh is a big factor in my total repair.

I'll be gone the whole day today, as I plan on shopping after my pre-op. Hope everyone has a a great day!
Posted 11/17/2009 8:54 PM (GMT 0)

Lizzy - I have 3 types of poop - watery, skinny (worm-like), and solids (pc. of apples or lettuce). It's 4pm and I have not had a BM today. This is normal for me. Normally I have small pea size poops in the early morning. I don't count it as a BM b/c its more like a mucus dot. I probably wont have a BM until after I drink prune juice later today. I think I am normal; at least I hope I am. I’m just glad I am not vomiting anymore or having to swallow tons of laxatives to go! (I cannot believe I am describing my poop over the internet.)

 

PS.  I sent you a friend request on FB

Posted 11/17/2009 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Jen,

What did the doc say this morning at your appointment? Hope all is well.

Everyone,

I soooo would have been able to describe poop over the internet back in 2006. Now it's so funky I won't even report on it. Except to absorb liquid you have to eat a solid, which then pancakes on the stoma and you have to drink more to get it to drop into the bag. So am eating sugar and drinking sugary stuff to move it in that way. So no matter what the arrangement we all have our poop reports going off through cyberspace. :-) :-)

I just heard I need a biopsy of a thyroid nodule. Was told locally all were fluid filled guaranteed benign by docs here in western Mass (unsafe place to live medically in my experience) Had the scans looked at at the hospital where they saved my life with the ileo and one of the nodules is really solid, so could be cancerous! Glad I had the scans checked down at the more advanced hospital. Am going to seriously think about the needle biopsy but after my trip to South America. I need a break. Rosemary
Posted 11/17/2009 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
hoddaya,

Yes, fortunately since my llast surgery (colectomy and ieostomy) I am able to eat some by mouth. I am very grateful for this since before surgery I only had to force myself to eat and I had terrible nausea and cramps when eating. I had already developed a disgust for food.

Now I am able to eat soem but it isn't enough to meet my caloric needs. I have been on tube feedings for 4 months but I couldn't gain much on it. I was down to 38kg (i guess 78lbs) due to not being able to eat more than 300kcals a day prior to the ileostomy.

Now I am on parenteral feedings in addition to what I can eat by mouth.I am gaining weight this way. After 5 weeks I am now 45kg (90lbs).
I guess I will rely on some additional nutrition (tube feedings or parenteral) even when I am not supposed to gain weight. But we'll see.

Good luck to you and all the best. I hope it's an outlet problem that can be improved.
Posted 11/18/2009 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
pelztier,
How long did you actually go without being able to eat prior to getting fixed up the best you could?

I had to go 7 months and was given no parental nutrition and no IV nutrition. I went from 125 to 99 as I searched for help (had to see 11 docs at 7 medical centers before they figured out my small and large intestine and rectum had been scarred in.)

I kept asking for some nutrition supplement and everywhere said no.

Just curious how long you had to go with no nutrition before you got your parental nutrients. Rosemary
Posted 11/18/2009 12:54 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Girls,

Sorry it's been awhile but I only get a chance to read and post about once a week for 15 min or so.  Still VERY busy at school.  Love the kids even though I call my class the "zoo" not out loud though:)  I have many challenges and many unique personalities but the kids are great; they keep me from feeling the kidney pain until the end of the day and I love to go to school each and every day!!!!!

I talked with my dr today, he's the best!! We discussed the "tail" stent to hopefully relieve some of the spasms.  He also said he was going to see if this stent possibly has worked and he could leave it out altogether but I said no because I can't risk something happening and then an emergency surgery and missing work again.  He said that would be fine so we are removing the stent Dec 28th and replacing it with a new one at the same time, please pray that scare tissue hasn't grown around it.

Shmuel wasn't able to have her surgery.  I don't know if she wants me to tell why at this point.  I will let you know more when she says it's ok too.

Lizzie-my stools are all different sizes and shapes throughout the day from pea size to flat, twisted, worm-sized, shrimp-sized, etc. this is very normal for us.  Right now my bowels are really messed up due to stress and eating a lot of wheat products and junk food so I've be drinking several doses of miralax.  I was even up most of the night over the weekend with severe spasms and pain, most would have gone to the hospital but I suffered through it until I finally got things to move.  So this week I'm back to my strict low residue/fiber diet, it's just not worth the agony.  Also I had 8 students with H1N1 but fortunately I didn't get it:) just keep washing your hands and sanitize everything. Love you always!!!  Oh, by the way, I used to use cymbalta for migraines and had the worst side effect (no orgasms) sorry for the bluntness but we talk about everything:) so watch this drug.  Needless to say I didn't stay on it:)

Hodaya-Miss you and love you:) Take the miralax, but if you decide not to, go to a health food store and get some tea with a natural laxative, they work well.

Amey-LOW RESIDUE DIET!!!!!! Did Isay that loud enough??  No I'm not yelling, I just don't want you to have an obstruction.  Most surgeons will tell you to try things and your body will tell you if you can handle it but most foods are not okay to eat.  My GI has made and is making me basically stay on this diet for the rest of me life and if you read back I haven't had any problems with this surgery.  My surgeon said I could eat whatever but my Gi said no and I'm glad I listened.  Please, please, please do your body a favor and stick to the diet, you will feel so much better. :)

Jen-Hope you are doing well and everything is okay.  Let us know what the dr said.

Jenise-Keep positive thoughts and know that you're in my prayers.

Janie, Christy, Marisa, Tracy, Rosemary and anyone I missed please know I pray for you all daily and miss talking to you.  I hope you are doing well and keeping healthy during this flu season.  Try to enjoy painfree holidays.

Love, peace and prayers to all of you,

Judy

Posted 11/18/2009 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Judy,

Hope your stent surgery goes well and there is no scaring. Thanks for update on Shmuel. I admire you for working through all this; I was a teacher and I hear what you're saying about it keeping you focused on other things. Kids give you no choice. :-) I agree with you, no matter what we may hear, we with altered guts, simply cannot eat "anything we want" without trouble. (I almost had a stomal food clog on mashed potato, so needless to say I'm sticking back with my bland, boring old stuff: yogurt, cereal, baby food meats, eggs, pureed everythings and am thankful I can process that.

Jen,

Hope you are OK and just taking a break. If that pain was anything serious, hope you're going to be OK and good thing you went to the doc. Rosemary
Posted 11/18/2009 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning!

Jen, what happened at the doctor visit yesterday!?

Judy (HUGS) I MISS you! I'm so glad you still check in and catch up with us. I can only imagine how exhausting it would be be teaching little ones! I will be praying for your upcoming stent surgery - and pray it all goes well. I don't know how you do it... honestly. Thanks for shmuel's update - we have been worried about her.

Rosemary, again.. you've really had to go through so much garbage with these surgeries and men who call themselves "doctors". I'm glad your here for us... that's so scary about your thyroid. I'll send a pray that it just disappears and is nothing! Those things do happen all the time.. so I'll pray for you it happens to just disappear and leave them baffled!

pelztier86, sounds like you have been through so much too. (hugs)

Sooooooooo... my pre-op yesterday was a long day. It was just all the normal pre-op stuff and an EKG, but I had to wait over an hour before called.. they were busy. As I was there they were a little confused about the paper work, and the surgery that was canceled last month, but called my doctor's office and confirmed things. I also found out that my uro-gyn is going to be attending in the OR as well! That really makes me so happy, as I feel if there is an issue with the mesh, he is experienced to help with it.

So, I get to the pre-op, and the nurses just went on and on about how I have the "best" 2 doctors! It really made me feel good all the good things they were saying, because that isn't there job, and I don't think they just say things. I have nurses in my family - and they said that if the doctor isn't good, they usually say nothing or may say "he's a nice guy or He's a funny man.." but the nurses were saying that were the best of the best.

I knew my uro-gyn had a great rep., but my colon surgeon is newer at my hospital.. and I wasn't sure, but when I came home I had an email from our healing well friend Amey - and she knows my surgeon and went on how wonderful he is! He friend had surgery by him and is doing great.. soooo I'm very calm. I don't know if my surgical procedure has changed, I'm not sure exactly what he is doing.. or how much colon on the left side will be removed.. but I do know that the nurses told me that a temp. ostomy may be required because surgery is on the left side. I guess the need for an ostomy is more common in when they do the colectomy on the left rather then the right or whole colon... but I'm okay with it.. I feel at peace with my upcoming surgery.

After I was done, I did what any normal women loves to do.. I went shopping! Didn't buy too many things, but had fun. I'm looking for a new pair of warm PJ's in hopes that it gets cooler here.
Posted 11/18/2009 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenise,

Sounds like you got all the positive vibes you could from everyone. Good that your UroGyn will be there in surgery too. Sounds like these docs are thorough and that you do have the best. I'm glad you're at peace. I send you the best wishes. Glad you went shopping. :-)

Jen,

I'm worried about you; drop us a quick line the minute you can. Not being nosy, just honestly concerned.

Rosemary
Posted 11/18/2009 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
What has your experience been with your doctors, nurses, etc.? Have they had a lot of experience with total colectomies for colonic inertia? Maybe be I just got a rookie GI Doc and Surgeon.
Posted 11/18/2009 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
pelztier, thanks so much for your well wishes! 45 kg is still low. i hope you manage to gain some more. how tall are you? i'm glad the surgery improved things for you though, and that you now can at least eat a little by mouth. what do you eat? did you first have a colectomy with ileo rectal anastomosis? or did they go streight to creating a stoma? on case you had the anatomosis, did it work at first and then stoped? i'm sorry.. i don't remember exactly the details. hope you keep improving! sending my best wishes your way! pls stay around and keep us posted on you condition.
Posted 11/18/2009 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all,

I finally did something good for someone. I got the geriatric psychiatric doctor to take a look at the 3 pages of mom's meds she was on at the nursing home. He said I was right on target with all of the drug interactions I figured out. He said I'd obviously put in the time that the nurse prescribers should have put in in the first place. He took her off the alzheimer's drug and agreed that she does not have alzheimers. He then took her off some of the drugs that in combination can mess with the heart rhythm. SOOOO she may not need a pace maker after all. Plus having her taken off the Beta Blocker Blood PRessure med they had her on that she should not have been on in the first place as she had a history of past problems with this was the right thing to do. I'd already gotten her primary care doc to switch her to a blood pressure med she could tolerate.

He was funny, had a genuine sense of humor, he said, now that you did such a good job figuring this out you don't have to go to medical school. I laughed and said, WHEW that's a relief as this was such the workout. (IF THIS MAN ONLY KNEW THE FULL EXTENT OF MY MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE HE WOULD BLANCH!) He seemed very personable and knowledgable of drugs and added a lot more info to the info I'd figured out.

I also found out today that I do not and did not ever have pernicious anemia. WHat my pcp detected and treated was a B12 deficiency from nutritional issues because I was unable to eat for 7 months after the 2006 disaster surgery. the endocrine specialist at Lahey ran some additional tests and found I had no parietal cell antibodies and no instrinsic factor antibodies. So this ruled out B12 deficiency due to pernicious anemia. I am waiting to find out how my record amendment requests go (the ones where I requested my PCP in my home town saying I had a bunch of psychiatric disesases which I didn't as cleared by two real psychiatrists that she wrote in my records just because she didn't understand my 2006 post-op complications) goes, then I may present this new information to my new primary care doc which I'm aiming to get. I may just stay on the B12 shots because now I have an ileostomy and many ileostomates do lack B12 due to the end of the ileum no longer being inside their body to absorb it from food. But I would let my new primary care doc know of this and not make this decision on my own. So, Friday I'll call and see if the record amendments are being approved and book an appointment with the new primary care doc.

Next project, Dec. 11 is tribunal where the panel of judge, doctor, and a general atty see if my medmal case can go forward or not. I'm assuming it will fly through tribunal as even the clerk at superior court said mine was one of the worst medmal cases she'd ever even seen filed. South America trip is Jan. 7. I pray I stay OK. I have too much to do in life to kick the bucket.

I decided to put the thyroid nodule biopsy on hold until after my trip because I honestly can't deal with having it. They put a needle into your neck and suck out samples from the nodule with just novacaine. The specialist agreed that is was OK to wait. He said he has to recommend this as any thyroid nodule that has solid portions CAN be cancer. But he said because I have several nodules (others made of liquid) that the chances of the solid one being cancer is only 4 %. It's when you have just one solid nodule that you really need to biopsy right away. So, will deal with it in late March. I do trust this doc as he is at Lahey, the place where they saved my life with the ileo, plus he was very down to earth, not high on himself at all, and just dealt with the facts. Sooooooo wish I'd found this place in '06 but you know the story. Way tooooo much medical knowledge way too late that I now have. But here I am going to trust this doc, do I have the energy to do in depth knowledge on thyroid nodule biopsies? No. So I can see why I did not run about learning how to interpret defecogram scans back in '06. Patients just trust unless they get a bad vibe from a doc or something seems real out of whack which it did not.

Jen, how are you?....


Rosemary
Posted 11/18/2009 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all.....

Just checking in, worried about Jen????

I am pretty sure I am getting H1N1, I have a horrible cough, tight chest, body aches, chills, fever of 99.7 (low grade), and it just all started last night. I am still the same with everything else...I have biofeedback tomorrow so we will see what is going on with my rectum. I bought some baby food. I still have no appetite for anything, but I am getting in about 500 cal a day which is maintining me at about 100. I just cant afford this flu, i already am weak from the surgery and last flu still.

Going to lay down, just wanted to check in, I do not see my surgeon until December....if i have to increase the laxatives i should call right? It was about three months when my connection failed last time....that will be when i see him about. Praying its just nothing, but i will admit I am so scared of food and obstructions, and another bag.

Lizzie

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