HIPEC at UCSD

Sending positive thoughts for all the best results....seems like you are in good hands! ~ Ann

A plan is a good thing!  It sounds like your team is very thorough.  I have less than a week now before my first visit with Dr Alexander's team at the Univ of MD to evaluate me for possibly HIPEC.  I have heard a lot of PMP patients say that their dr did not do a laproscopic look-see first before  the day of CRS/HIPEC.  That most of them like Sugarbaker like to breach  the peritoneum as few times as possible...so they start with a look see laparoscopically...then move onto to the CRS/HIPEC immediately after.

alex

Keep us informed.  Hope you are able to get the HIPEC surgery soon.

thxmiker said:

Thank You all for the well

Thank You all for the well wishes.  

 

The laproscopy ended with better news then expected!  The laproscopy was expected to take up to 75 min and took about 20 min. (no adhesions or strictures)   They found everything they were looking for and my mets and tumor had shrank considerably. They told me they will not be able to remove most of the mets, but the mets are not as bad as they expected. 

 

We will find out when the main surgery will be next week, and what type of surgery to expect.  We were told by the staff at UCSD it is nice dealing with happy people. I told them we chose to deal with life in a happy way. 

 

We will leave San Diego tomorrow with a positive experience, and knowing we have a positive future.  What a difference seeing the best Docs and Surgeons.  We will step up the Med Diet, juicing, and the supplements.  We also stimulated the economy while in Cali. (We do not have much for shopping in small mountain town.)

 

Best Always,  mike

So glad you had a positive experience, with doctors and surgeons you have faith in. Will be thinking of you and hope for all good results! Your happy and positive attitude is contagious ....thanks! ~ Ann

my wife had HIPEC April 5th, we are still in Houston, MDA, out of hosp now .  good experience with Dr Kieth Fournier and his crack team.  had 22 hr surgery ( longest at MDA everf for HIPEC) shes having the usual after surg stuff:  diarreah, some minor nausea.  etc.  heres some tips: eat low or no fat foods, avoid sugar,  avoid coffee if you can, ha, take it slow.  drink as much as can.  the body can go weeks without food, very short without fluids...  she lost 20 lbs or more..expect that.  its ok.  the new you.  your caregiver needs to jump in and become a nurse before you leave hospital.  trust me.  do it. watch and learn all the GJ drain tips, timing, etc. if you have a feedig tube flush that sucker often.  idiot nurse didnt ours, and stopped up.  took 3 days to unstop.  when she feels nausea, drain it IMMEDIATELY.  thumping on the connection will help drain.  also, drink some water or liquid during draining. helps. standing and walking will complete draining.  trust me on this. it works.  like dr f said this is a marathon not a sprint.  be patient.  my bride is a high intensity person wanting this to be healed NOW....patience.  its tough.  hang in there.  we are pulling for you.  Thank God daily for your life and health, and your blessings.  Life is a wonderful gift from Him.

Mike - I too met with Dr. Lowy.  He's awesome and I wish my insurance had let him do the surgery instead of one of their doctors.  You're in good hands.  Hope it all goes well for youi. Traci

thxmiker said:

Surgery Date

Thanks Again for all of the prayers and support. It does make the entire ordeal a lot easier to deal with!

 

We went to San Diego to get a surgery schedule.  (Actually we hoped to get fast tracked in to the schedule.  I must wait until 8 weeks after taking Avastin because of posible bleeding issues during surgery.)  We met with Dr. Lowey. I had a laparoscopy (camera in the abdomin) and pictures taken.  They showed 8 mets and nothing really ugly. (Better then the 30 I was told I had in November at Banner/MD Anderson.)  Dr. Lowey told my wife that surgery was not going to remove all of the mets, but that it would mitigate future problems for a long time. (Another Positive Doctor!  Yeah!) We stayed in San Diego a couple of extra days for me to feel comfortable enough to drive home.  We met with friends and had great conversation and dinner.  

 

UCSD contacted us today and we are scheduled for me to have a follow up visit June 25th and for Surgery on June 28th!  Wooo Hoooo  The note said I was scheduled for HIPEC Surgery by Dr. Lowey on the 28th.  We will get times of the surgery tomorrow. This gives me six more weeks to get stronger and healthier. 

 

A note:  USC , Saint Johns, & UCLA all told us not to worry about financing because they could help us find financing. We do not have this issue, but they all had told us this before they knew about our insurance, financial situation, etc...  (Unlike Banner whom wanted more money up front then our deductable. Banner did give us our money back after two weeks. We also had overpaid St. Johns and it took a lot of effort and a year to get those funds back.)  UCSD took our insurance and told us we are good. (Aetna PPO) 

 

Another positive:  Our garden took off while we were in California. A neighbor whom is a gardening fanatic came over and over saw the garden. I had just finished a watering system for the yard two days before we left. I had planted over 250 seedlings the week before we left. (Our living room and dining room are now void of plants.  My wife is happier. lol)   A Friend stayed at the house and watched and played with our dogs.

 

Again, Thanks to all for the suport and strength.

Best Always,  mike

Best of luck, Mike!

Sundanceh said:

Best of luck, Mike!

Best of luck, Mike!

your plans are going well,we always feel stronger in this fight when we know we can move forward.best of luck and Godbless....johnnybegood