Health Update
Oct. 18th, 2022 08:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elfsToday has been a mixed day. I woke up this morning to the disappointing news that the apparent reduction in bile reflux had been an illusion. The blocked feeding tube had reduced the amount of processing my GI tract was doing, and my liver had backed off on the production of digestive fluids; that had created the illusion that I was actually processing the bile rather than having it drained by the stomach pump. With the resumption of inter-intestinal feeding, my bile output went back to approximately two liters per day. So the duodenum, the first few centimeters of my intestine, had not opened up as we had hoped.
On the other paw, the surgeon today confirmed firmly, and to Omaha’s satisfaction, that the CT scans indicated that the blood mass from the hemorrhaging had retreated signifcantly, and that the fluid buildup around the duodenum that was crushing it and causing the blockage had likewise reduced quite a bit.
The question of whether or not the duodenum is irrevocably damaged– scarred or necrotic or just incapable of the hydraulic pressure needed to stay open– has not been established. So the course of action remains the current course of action. I’m still here, stuck in the hospital, barely able to stay awake for three or four hours before I run out of brain and must nap. They’re gonna wait until next Saturday for the next CT scan, and if there are no behavioral changes in my digestion by then, we’re gonna talk about sending me home with a cart for the stomach pump and feeding tube, and a in-home nurse who’ll visit three times a day to change out my filters and feeding and watering and such. Dunno if I’ll be able to work under those conditions; I’ll be unable to even leave the first floor of the house, and I’ll be tethered to these stupid pumps until… well…
They’re talking about waiting another two weeks after that to see if there’s any resolution. After that, we’re discussing endoscopic procedures, either a straight-up stent or maybe just a balloon to inflate the duodenum back to its natural geometry, then remove the ballon to see if it holds. If any of this works, I get to start a bland diet, slowly adding more mass and more solids over weeks and months.
If not, we move on to the question of laproscopic resectioning. But they’re saying they won’t even consider that until three months after my initial intake on October 9th.
Something has to give, and I hope it’s in a good way. This is so dreary, and I feel so useless just lying here.
Omaha did come by today, and she helped me walk around the floor twice, and I felt very good doing that, and then she chaperoned my shower, so I’m clean again. She’s been wonderful. I love her so much.
On the other paw, the surgeon today confirmed firmly, and to Omaha’s satisfaction, that the CT scans indicated that the blood mass from the hemorrhaging had retreated signifcantly, and that the fluid buildup around the duodenum that was crushing it and causing the blockage had likewise reduced quite a bit.
The question of whether or not the duodenum is irrevocably damaged– scarred or necrotic or just incapable of the hydraulic pressure needed to stay open– has not been established. So the course of action remains the current course of action. I’m still here, stuck in the hospital, barely able to stay awake for three or four hours before I run out of brain and must nap. They’re gonna wait until next Saturday for the next CT scan, and if there are no behavioral changes in my digestion by then, we’re gonna talk about sending me home with a cart for the stomach pump and feeding tube, and a in-home nurse who’ll visit three times a day to change out my filters and feeding and watering and such. Dunno if I’ll be able to work under those conditions; I’ll be unable to even leave the first floor of the house, and I’ll be tethered to these stupid pumps until… well…
They’re talking about waiting another two weeks after that to see if there’s any resolution. After that, we’re discussing endoscopic procedures, either a straight-up stent or maybe just a balloon to inflate the duodenum back to its natural geometry, then remove the ballon to see if it holds. If any of this works, I get to start a bland diet, slowly adding more mass and more solids over weeks and months.
If not, we move on to the question of laproscopic resectioning. But they’re saying they won’t even consider that until three months after my initial intake on October 9th.
Something has to give, and I hope it’s in a good way. This is so dreary, and I feel so useless just lying here.
Omaha did come by today, and she helped me walk around the floor twice, and I felt very good doing that, and then she chaperoned my shower, so I’m clean again. She’s been wonderful. I love her so much.
