Some Bad Health News - UPDATE x 2

[silverscreenselect]

I've gotten some very bad health news recently. I've been diagnosed with colon cancer. About a month ago, I had a colonoscopy, and they found a malignant growth. They removed what they could during the colonoscopy, but I'm going to have the part of my colon above the appendix removed. Then, they will resection everything together and will hopefully catch everything. However, we first ran a battery of other tests to see if I was up to the surgery. Those tests revealed I also have a large kidney stone. It hasn't caused me any pain or discomfort, and I didn't know I had a stone (I had a painful stone pass about 20 years earlier.) The fear is that this stone could shift which could be a much bigger problem once they've taken out a big chunk of my colon.

So, I'm going in tomorrow for outpatient surgery where they will (hopefully) blast the kidney stone and remove it. I should be out tomorrow afternoon from that. Assuming all goes well, they will operate to remove part of my colon in two weeks. (I won't need a colostomy bag; thank goodness for small favors.) They think we've caught the cancer early enough so it's still localized. However, it may have spread to the lymph nodes, which would mean chemotherapy. They can't even tell me what stage the cancer is until they go in there. It could be anywhere from Stage 1 to Stage 3. They also found that my lowest L1 vertebra is fractured, something else I've lived with for years with no pain. Any treatment for that will have to wait until I get through this. The one saving grace in all this is that Mrs. SSS can't understand all this any more, because if I'd been diagnosed two years ago, she would have gone completely to pieces worrying. I do have two daughters who have been very supportive and will be taking me to and from these various medical appointments as needed.

So, I'll be having outpatient surgery for the kidney stone tomorrow and bowel surgery on August 14. I should be in the hospital for 3-5 days after that and then limited activities at home for up to a month (no lifting over 10 pounds).

That's the reason I dropped out of the Grab Bag game. I didn't know how long it would run and didn't want to have to quit when I was just in a position to win. I'm also going to drop out of the Political Lounge for a while until I get back on my feet. Much as I enjoy sparring with the usual suspects, I probably won't be at my best mentally or physically for a few weeks. I'll keep people updated on my medical progress if and when I can, and may drop in to leave an odd note or two as well.

I really enjoy the time I spend here and look forward to continuing it for quite a while to come.

[kroxquo]

Take care of yourself. Best wishes are being sent your way.

[Beebs52]

Please take care of yourself. This is is hard.

[Beebs52]

And you'll be spending time here, no worries.

[Vandal]

Best wishes, SSS.

Kick its ass.

[Beebs52]

A couple of friends have had bowel stuff lately, as in reconstruction,

[tlynn78]

Best wishes for optimum outcome!

[mellytu74]

Kick its ass, as has been said here.

Take care of yourself, that's the most important thing. Please check in when you can.

[franktangredi]

Best wishes during this tough time.

[a1mamacat]

Sending lots of positive thoughts for you

[SportsFan68]

Ouch!

Good luck!

[jarnon]

Wishing you a speedy recovery with no more bad reveals.

[Game Girl]

I hope you get better, hopefully you get around to watching some great (classical and modern) movies in your recovery.

[Bob78164]

Many hopes for a good outcome and an easy recovery. --Bob

[ghostjmf]

Best wishes.

When they lasered my kidney stone last year it took 2 goes. Hope it goes for you in one.

I haven't had any stone pain since. Am taking huge sodium bicarbonate pill 3X a day because the other thing they prescribed made me sick. This & lots of water is to prevent stones.

[BackInTex]

Sorry to hear the news Steve. You've got enough on your plate with your wife. Good luck with the kidney stone today and with the surgery on the 14th. You have a lot of emotional support here when and if you need it.

[Bob Juch]

Good luck with everything.

[silverscreenselect]

Thanks for all the kind words.

Today's procedure went very well. There was a 10-15% chance that they wouldn't be able to complete it today if the channel to the kidney stone wasn't wide enough, which is kind of what happened to ghost, and that would set back my entire timetable. (And when they're talking about cancer spreading, you don't want delays in the timetable.) But everything worked out and I've just got some mild discomfort now when I pee.

So now I wait two more weeks for the big one.

[Beebs52]

[Hotseat Or Bust!]

Sending good vibes to you, SSS!!

[a1mamacat]

Keeping positive thoughts

[ghostjmf]

In my kidney stone case, they were going to go in through my back but decided I would bleed too much so went up through a vessel in my leg. In women the ureter is so much wider than in men they don't worry about the size of pebbles you'll pee out, but they try to collect & remove as many as possible.

They never gave me percentages & it was a surprise to me they'd have to do it again.

Also the dr went away on family business for 3 months so my stent stayed in for 3 months, giving me a urinary tract infection & making me feel like I had to pee every 3 minutes. Apparently Mass General has no dr subs, or something. Doc has since left so I have no doc.

All this delayed my heart valve replacement 'til stones were gone.

[Timsterino]

Steve,
Just happened to come by the bored and saw this. I hope that the surgery goes well and you have a very speedy recovery. Sending love, prayers and good thoughts your way.
Tim

[Ritterskoop]

In honor of our friend silvercamaro, I'd like to deploy The White Hot Glare of Righteousness on your behalf.

[Beebs52]

In honor of our friend silvercamaro, I'd like to deploy The White Hot Glare of Righteousness on your behalf.

Brilliant and yes!