Bad news, bad day--update 3/12/2010

[sidewinder]

Ok, I wasn’t going to share this with he forum because I didn’t want people treating me with kid gloves, but, I think it’s time to let everyone in on this.

I spent the better part of yesterday balled up in a fetal position experiencing more pain than I have ever endured in my life (and I constantly do stupid things to hurt myself so that’s saying something). I resisted going to the emergency room hoping things would pass; they didn’t. And, at about 2 pm today I was transported to the emergency room at the Cleveland Clinic (Wooster campus) where I spent the day being re-hydrated and received a heavy dose of two antibiotics. I was showing early signs of sepsis and my colon was inflamed and bleeding (more on that latter). I am home now and doing better and not in septic shock, thank God.

I should back up and explain how I got here I guess. Close to a year ago I was going to the bathroom and urinated what looked like pure blood, at the end of the stream I passed gas from my bladder. Being pretty sure that men weren’t supposed to fart from there I called the doctor who began screening for cancer. The initial tests were not encouraging but the subsequent ones have been inconclusive (apparently everybody has some cancerous cells that may never grow and the only way to tell ,in some cases, is to remove a section and examine it).

Anyway, in the mean time, the source of the gas was discovered; Diverticular disease that has progressed to the point that it has cause several fistulas, the bladder one is a Enterovesicular fistula that is causing infections and wreaking havoc. So, simple enough, the just have to cut me open and disembowel me...they call it a bowl retraction. Not a big deal usually, however, without going into a lot of disgusting and depressing details, I am a very high risk for surgery.

I’m not sure how fast things will progress now; I am scheduled to talk to a surgeon on Friday the 12th. I finally asked forst surgeon point blank the other day and he admitted that the reason he switched the venue for the surgery (from our local hospital to a high risk unit at the Cleveland Clinc) and referred me to the new doctor is because he’s convinced he can’t do the surgery without killing me. As it stands now, even with the specialists and the high risk unit the risks are still very high and I may require a few other operations before they can even attempt this. As an added fun bonus I get to wait after the surgery (assuming I make it) to have them dissect the removed section and look for cancer...so the fun could start all over again.

The option of not having the surgery is not really an option either as today I learned why you don’t want to risk death by sepsis. Apparently actual septic shock is even worse than what I experienced the last two days and is a slow miserable process that will happen over and over until I die if I don’t have the disease removed.

So, that’s where things stand right now. I wasn’t sure about sharing this but the few people who knew have almost all encouraged me to share this with the board. I really appreciate everyone here, you guys have been like family and as my uncle reminded me today when he rushed down to the ER “why didn’t you tell us? FAMILY should know these things.”

One last thing, if you believe in prayer I’d appreciate it if you keep me in mind every now and then. Thanks– Jim

[Scorpion]

Wow dude, That really sucks I hate to hear that I dont know you as much as the other guys here, but it sucks to hear that about anyone..

Im not a very religious person, But with todays advances in the medical feild im sure theyll be able to take care of you..

Keep your head up buddy youll pull through it..

[Smoke&Mirrors]

You've got our support. All of ours I'd wager.

[sidewinder]

Thanks guys.

[BilboBaggins]

Praying for you dude.

[PimpFloyd]

Hey Jim - Sorry to hear about all this...I guess I thought you had surgery already. Wish there was something I could do for you but you do have our thoughts and prayers.

Keep us posted on what happens after Friday...

[Murdoch]

well shit, i don't know what to say other than i hope you'll pull through.

[CaboWabo]

No doubt, we're all behind ya man.
Stay positive!

[Sqwalerrr]

sorry to hear about this man, you got my hopes towards you...

[frizzen]

Crap dude! I think that goes beyond a bad day.

Atleast you've been upgraded to a higher skill doctor at a better facility. You'll definately be in my thoughts. Let me know if there's anything we can do.

I didn’t want people treating me with kid gloves, but, I think it’s time to let everyone in on this. So, you want us to still be just as abusive as normal?

[betty.k]

definately hoping the best for you, i'm even posting sober!

[papataratuga]

Sounds really bad, man! All my best and positive vibes to you!

[BilboBaggins]

Treating him as normal will probably keep him in better spirits, and will to live, and that helps in recovery.

[MotorGong]

Dang dude, yeah I'll pray for ya. Thanks for sharing with us.

[sidewinder]

Hi all, thanks for the outpouring of support. I'm a lot tired and a little drugged up right now, but I wanted to get on and update everyone.

I saw the new surgeon today, who poked and prodded and took any remaining modesty I may have held unto. That parts not really important now. After what seemed like a few days he decided a couple of things, he's a bit concerned that my temperature is still 101.3 F after six days of antibiotics but thinks it's a secondary thing and I should see my regular doctor for that (probably a nasty sinus infection...would have been nice if the ER people had looked when I mentioned it could be sinus related, but what are you going to do? ).

The surgery thing was a good news - bad news thing. After he told me for the third time that surgery would be "very, very, very high risk" he suggested that I try a new medical treatment they have been developing at the clinic. If it works it will delay the surgery. I would then go through other preparatory procedures that would lessen the risks of surgery and have it done maybe in a year or two. The down side is it may not work and I could end up with a sever infection that would be very quick moving and could wipe out my kidneys--or just kill me. I live to far from the clinic to get there quickly unless I was life flighted so the Wooster campus of the clinic has been put on notice of the possibility in the future.

Also I have no idea yet what the whole medical treatment thing entails, but whatever it takes I'm on board.

So, the upside--no surgery in the near future if things go well; the downside-- could go downhill quickly without warning and require and emergency surgery that would be even more risky, ------ 'ya know, until now I always like that whole Sword of Damocles thing.


Oh and thanks Betty for posting sober.