We had looked ahead to January 2nd and the visit to the Medical University Hospital at Charleston with much anticipation. Dr. Hawes, the noted expert of endoscopy, had been touted as the Guru that could correct the pseudocyst that continued to drain now months past my attempted Whipple. I have now worn a drainage bag that collects the amalase secreted from the pseudocyst for over a month. You may remember that the bags needed to collect this drainage were donated by Marty Bridges (Thank you, again!)
Well, the visit to Charleston was much less than expected. I have undergone four ERCPs and an EGD, so I am familiar with endoscopic procedures. At this facility I was not anesthetized deeply enough and vainly tried to communicate this to the team. The result was a very uncomfortable experience that I do not want to undergo again. Afterwards, Dr. Hawes met with Cindy and I and told us that rather than he fix anything that he felt that time might be a better healer, or at least create something that really needed to be fixed, such as an infection. He felt that since the pseudocyst had shrunk in size that it would likely continue to do so and perhaps moving the drain might be the only intervention needed at this time.
What I had expected was not to be; I would go home with that damned bag attached to me. The golden nugget in it all is that the pseudocyst is getting smaller. I pray that in time that it stops draining. For now, it drains about 100-125ccs/day. Dr. Hawes said that if it gets down to 30-40ccs/day the drain could likely be removed. I look forward to that day with every fiber of my being.
Tomorrow I go back for more Chemo, so I'll likely have a rotten Friday and Saturday. I hate being in this funk, but that's life with pancreatic cancer sometimes.
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4 comments:
Hey Mack,
While you weren't able to get the bag removed, the good news is at least the cyst appears to be shrinking. Hang in there buddy. Let us know if and what you need. We love you guys and miss you and are always thinking and praying for you all.
Hi Mack,
Mary and Jimmy said they saw you today and that you looked good. I'm sorry that I missed you. It is good to hear that the cyst is shrinking. We all miss you alot and await your return.
BC
HEY BROTHER!
DONNA AND I ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU. MONICA HAS BEEN KEEPING US INFORMED
ON HOW WELL THINGS ARE GOING FOR YOU.
WE ARE ALSO TUNING IN REGULARLY TO YOUR WEBSITE. MISS SEEING YA AND WILL STAY IN TOUCH!
HANS AND DONNA
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