Even the best laid plans go awry....

Oh well....

Even the best laid plans go awry....

What was going to be a two hour operation (with a one week
recovery period) to remove/repair a partial intestinal obstruction,
turned out to be a total mess. I went in for surgery on January 28th,
and tonight (February 28th) I am home, typing.

I had been released last week on the 23rd, after insisting that if
they refused to release me, I would sign myself out. There's an old adage,
that if you stay in the hospital long enough, they will figure out how
to kill you; they came damned close!

Three major operations, each taking an average of four hours, were
spread across three weeks, and my "recovery" is still in progress;
it ain't over yet.

There were numerous adhesions and hernias, not just one or two.
Unexpected major infections after each operation complicated
each procedure. The procedures to remove the heavily infected
and abyssed areas, left me in a really weakened state. I've become
deydrated, in spite of the TPN and saline drip.

I had bad reactions to whatever they used for anesthesia,
and remained lashed to the table (bed) with an NG tube, TPN,
and an assorted amount of Sci-Fi looking devices. There was
absolutely no way for me to converse, and nothing anyone
was saying made any sense to me. It was a surreal experience,
at the least!

I've lost about 13 feet of the total 25' of small intestine, and my
original Ileostomy stoma is no longer usable. The old stoma
will remain sitting there doing nothing, while my new Ileostomy
stoma takes it's place.

The new stoma is not anything like the old one; this new one is
recessed, elongated, and a major challenge to maintain. It's also
disappointingly well above my belt line, and will make wearing my
usual clothes a real challenge. I'm being told that no revision to it
will be possible for quite some time (if ever).

I'm 5'4", and went from being overweight at around 175 lbs, to
a nice slim 125 lbs. Losing 50 lbs in four weeks would have been
more to my liking, had I planned it to be that way....!

I should have the "op reports", etc, sometime over the next few
weeks, and from that I might know better about everything that
actually transpired.

I guess cancer doesn't stop taking from us. Long after we think that
we can put it all behind us and relax, some filthy nuance, like
an adhesion, or hernia, or some sort of intestinal infection, will
awaken us in the middle of the night.

For me, it was almost five years after surgery, but the surgeons
told me about patients with ten (and more) years post-op, just now
feeling the ramifications of past intestinal surgery.

Regardless of our type of cancer, our stage of cancer, or the methods
we've chosen to do battle against it, we're all in this together.

Thanks to all that sent "PM"s, and to all those that have expressed
their concern regarding my health and absence! I really appreciate it.
I'm sorry to not have written sooner, but I have been so damned
weak, that just sitting up took more energy than I had.

As I read through all the "PM"s tonight, I realized that it would be
better to write and post this, than to attempt to answer each of the personal
notes. But I will follow up as soon as I'm able! Right now, I'm running
on Loratabs just to have the energy to be able to get this typed out.

My best wishes for better health to each and every one out here!

Thank you all so much for caring!

John.