R.I.P. Me, almost.....

Message

BackInTex · #1 Post by **BackInTex** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:00 pm

The things you learn when visiting relatives during the holidays and everyone adds their perspective of the year in review.

We were on the road visiting relatives this past weekend. At one point we were visiting my mom's brother (my uncle). He is the one I thought had beaten luekemia 3 times. Nope, 5 times. So far. Anyway, I was talking about my adventure this summer with my gall bladder.

For those not familiar or need to be refreshed:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7175
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7558
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7238
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7558
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7900

Remember this line: "So I was pretty darn close to having some really really serious life threating issues, but just in the nick of time.."

<Paul Harvey> Now for the rrrrrrrrrRest of the Story </Paul Harvey>
Stuff I never told you.

Two weeks after the surgery I had the stint (put in on my 1st hospital stay) removed on a Friday. Later that night I started feeling very sick. I got violently ill, throwing up and up and up. I had a fever the next day. The doctor prescribed some strong anti-biotics. That Sunday I could tell I was getting jaundiced again (familiar feeling and taste in my mouth). Monday I go into se the doctor. I'm a fine yellowish color by then. So I'm put back in the hosptial. I don't feel good.

The next day they go down my throat, clean out a 'plug of puss' out of the common bile duct and put in a larger and longer stint. When I came to, the doctor told me that my common duct had collapsed and gotten infected after they took the first stint out. This time they put in a larger stint and will leave it in the maximum 8 weeks before taking it out. Hopefully it will hold up then. If not? Well, we'll just do it again and again until it does. That was not an outcome I looked forward to.

Eight weeks later I go in, have the 2nd stint removed. The weeked came. It went. The week came. And went. A month came and went. Two months. Three months. All is fine. Whew!

O.K. Now what I found out when my wife was telling her side of the experience.

Seems when I went in with the collapsed and infected duct, just after they took me into the operating room the doctors all had a conversation with my wife that went something like this....

We are concerned that Brad's gall bladder (i.e. gangrene) has done severe damage to the common duct. It has collapsed and may be too far damaged to repair. If that is the case, and it is likely that that is the case, there is nothing we can do. We can put in a titanium stint to help in the short term, but at most, if this is the case, he will have 3-4 months left before his liver completely shuts down.

Me, interupting my wife telling the story...Um, excuse me? You never told me they told you that.

Her, well when they went in, they found the duct to be pretty well intact and the prognosis was much better.

The doctor told me, prior to taking the second stint out, that it may still collapse but the he felt is wouldn't. If it did, we might be able to get a microsurgeon to repair it.

I never, up to this weekend, knew that at one time, three doctors thought, and had discussed with my wife, that my chances of making it to this Christmas was less than 50/50.

<George Bailey> Merry Christmas Everybody! Merry Christmas!</George Bailey>

mellytu74 · #2 Post by **mellytu74** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:02 pm

Merry Christmas and big hugs from here, BiT!!!

NellyLunatic1980 · #3 Post by **NellyLunatic1980** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:06 pm

Good thing I didn't read this before dinner.

While the details were extremely gross, I am happy that you have beaten the odds.

And may you continue beating the odds for years to come.

Bob Juch · #4 Post by **Bob Juch** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:54 pm

Wow, good luck to you and your stent.

SportsFan68 · #5 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:32 pm

Wow, BiT!

I love it when people beat the odds!

My Aunt Merna has beaten the odds for surving after liver cancer by something like 15 years.

a1mamacat · #6 Post by **a1mamacat** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:13 pm

oh my!

Good thing she waited for things to go well before she let you know they weren't supposed to.

A continued healthy time ahead for you BiT

silvercamaro · #7 Post by **silvercamaro** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:27 pm

I am very happy that you were able to include that "almost" in the subject line. All of this is very scary, and I'm glad that you are safely on this side of the story.

Now, stay on this safe side!

silverscreenselect · #8 Post by **silverscreenselect** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:27 am

It's better that you were able to talk about this with people this Christmas than the alternative.

Everyone knows BB's are tough.... glad to have you hanging in there.

Your insides will need to be in extra good shape to put up with four years of Barack Obama.

Bob Juch · #9 Post by **Bob Juch** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:44 am

silverscreenselect wrote:It's better that you were able to talk about this with people this Christmas than the alternative.

Everyone knows BB's are tough.... glad to have you hanging in there.

Your insides will need to be in extra good shape to put up with four years of Barack Obama.

Seems like you have a major bile problem too.

gsabc · #10 Post by **gsabc** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:43 am

Eek! Definitely the type of information that you are grateful to be hearing about at all, let alone months after the fact. Puts things into perspective. We're glad you made it through.

Sir_Galahad · #11 Post by **Sir_Galahad** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:40 am

Well, BIT, all I can say is that I am glad that you are here to tell the tale. I am sure you will be able to tell a better tale next Christmas. I don't think you could have received a better Christmas present. Stay well.

Gangrenous Gallbladder · #12 Post by **Gangrenous Gallbladder** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:48 am

I think I'll show up on beast's holiday menu..........

nitrah55 · #13 Post by **nitrah55** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:55 am

This is very good news, and I'm happy to hear it. I am also trying to replicate Mrs. BiT's thought process:

"Well, he's alive, so why ruin his day by telling him they thought he was a goner? Like when I got that dent in the car fixed before he saw it...."

Merry Christmas, fella.

T_Bone0806 · #14 Post by **T_Bone0806** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:59 am

Simply put, I am glad to still have you with us.

kayrharris · #15 Post by **kayrharris** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:13 pm

The good Lord has you here for a reason. Take care of yourself!!!

themanintheseersuckersuit · #16 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:47 pm

Yep, It cudda been wurse, Glad yur here to tell the tale

peacock2121 · #17 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:39 am

Holy Crappola, BiT!

Your wife is an amazing creature.

Glad it is 'almost'.

ulysses5019 · #18 Post by **ulysses5019** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:07 am

Gangrenous Gallbladder wrote:I think I'll show up on beast's holiday menu..........

The gall of some posters!!

AlphaDummy · #19 Post by **AlphaDummy** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:46 pm

Wow.

Wow.

I mean Wow.

Sure am glad that you came out on the good side of that 50/50! Sending thoughts and prayers and keeping everything crossed; hope the doc is right about it not collapsing again!

(Yes, I deleted my tagline for this post. "Again" doesn't quite seem appropriate in this case...)

Beebs52 · #20 Post by **Beebs52** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:11 pm

I'm sorry I haven't replied to this earlier. I ditto all previous good wishes and YOWZERS!!!

WWTBAM Bored

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