First day back. Blood test revealed a 19K... more than I expected but low enough to continue the doubts about effectiveness. Plan is for a test on Thursday and transfusion on Friday if needed... or not if the count stays up.
These stitches are starting to itch.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
29 October 2012
This should be a day for checking out of the hospital and going home to Maui. Waiting to see Okazaki to discuss the plan. First blood test gave 60,000 after the two units yesterday and just had a new blood test. Waiting for results.
Looking forward to getting back home and taking the next steps forward, whatever they are. I'm in a battle with some unknown force, one that wishes to challenge my life philosophies.
Straub Clinic could use Internet for coherent patients. This room is a triangle also and a bit hard to fit things for comfort, but it's private and that's cool. The guy next door is the loudest snorer I've ever heard. Other than those, this is a good place.
Will update this entry in awhile.
4:10pm... at airport heading back to Maui. Released by surgeon. Discussed plan with Okazaki and it comes down to watching platelets to see where they stabilize. An underwhelming response. I'll get a test tomorrow. He was more impressed by the 60,000 numbers this weekend than me.
Tomorrow will begin the new era of this challenge aimed at further correct specific diagnosis of the problem.
Looking forward to getting back home and taking the next steps forward, whatever they are. I'm in a battle with some unknown force, one that wishes to challenge my life philosophies.
Straub Clinic could use Internet for coherent patients. This room is a triangle also and a bit hard to fit things for comfort, but it's private and that's cool. The guy next door is the loudest snorer I've ever heard. Other than those, this is a good place.
Will update this entry in awhile.
4:10pm... at airport heading back to Maui. Released by surgeon. Discussed plan with Okazaki and it comes down to watching platelets to see where they stabilize. An underwhelming response. I'll get a test tomorrow. He was more impressed by the 60,000 numbers this weekend than me.
Tomorrow will begin the new era of this challenge aimed at further correct specific diagnosis of the problem.
28 October 2012
This morning was the first blood test to see what impact the missing spleen has on platelets. Yesterday, post surgery count was 68,000 and the reading today was 28,000. This was not good news, but to get a better feel, another blood test happened later in the day. The count for that was 14,000. So, platelets are still not surviving. The attending doctor visited a couple of times and said he'd keep me here at the hospital until tomorrow when the other doctors could come up with a way ahead plan. He hooked me up to a couple more units of blood.
The primary issue through most of the day was to move gas through my system and deal with the massive post-surgery bloating I've been dealing with. Had some success there. Went on liquid-only diet, etc. Walked the hallways and took a walk to the "healing garden" at the hospital as well.
The primary issue through most of the day was to move gas through my system and deal with the massive post-surgery bloating I've been dealing with. Had some success there. Went on liquid-only diet, etc. Walked the hallways and took a walk to the "healing garden" at the hospital as well.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
26 October 2012 - Post Surgery
Splenectomy is complete.
No complications I'm aware of.
Private small room.
Old "War of the Worlds" movie on.
No results yet on whether it worked - i.e., higher platelet count.
On a morphine drip controlled by me.
No complications I'm aware of.
Private small room.
Old "War of the Worlds" movie on.
No results yet on whether it worked - i.e., higher platelet count.
On a morphine drip controlled by me.
27 October - Recovery Day 1
The first night went pretty well. Mr. Morphine kept the pain to a manageable level and I was able to sleep off and on with the typical hospital sleep interruptions. Woke up for the new day at about 600am when they wanted some blood. That resulted in some decent news of a platelet count at 68,000. However, the surgeon pumped a lot of platelets into me during the operation, so it's not clear how much of that came from surgery. The next read will be tomorrow morning and an increase will say a lot.
I have four incisions... three on the left torso for the laproscopic spleen removal and one on the lower right near my groin where the radiologist did the embolization of the spleen artery. According to the surgeon, there were only 9-12 drops of blood during the operations. Nice to hear.
Just went for a walk around the hospital floor hallway with Lisa. Used a walker and it went alright. I'm off the morphine and on to Vicodin in pill form. Eating regular food and not attached to IV at the moment.
Doc said I would likely be released tomorrow, but would need to stay in Honolulu until Monday to get a platelet read and see how that's progressing.
I have four incisions... three on the left torso for the laproscopic spleen removal and one on the lower right near my groin where the radiologist did the embolization of the spleen artery. According to the surgeon, there were only 9-12 drops of blood during the operations. Nice to hear.
Just went for a walk around the hospital floor hallway with Lisa. Used a walker and it went alright. I'm off the morphine and on to Vicodin in pill form. Eating regular food and not attached to IV at the moment.
Doc said I would likely be released tomorrow, but would need to stay in Honolulu until Monday to get a platelet read and see how that's progressing.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
25 October 2012
Spent the day at Straub Clinic and Hospital doing pre-operation activities. Flew over with Lisa at 7am and started with meeting the surgeon and going over the planned procedure. It seems likely that she'll use the laproscopic approach. Had some blood tests and a contrast CT scan to check out the surgery region. The contrast fluid via IV was supposed to make me feel warm and give me a sensation that I'd peed my pants.... that didn't happen for me. Talked over the procedure for cutting off the blood supply to the spleen with the doctor that does that. Met with the anesthesiologist. A nice lady from the French part of Canada.
Overall, it was smooth and professional and well-coordinated. Tomorrow will start at 0730 in admitting and then move to radiology for the embolism in the artery to the spleen. The main surgery is now scheduled for 1210pm. It's supposed to be 2 hours with a 1 hour recovery either in the normal recover or ICU depending on what the doctor thinks. I guess all of the rooms there are private, so that's nice.
The good doctor doesn't expect to see me leaving before Monday. There seems to be a desire to monitor my platelet response carefully prior to release. Makes sense.
Also scored some new Vicodin the other night which worked better than the previous... better mix. That's helped the hip situation, but it's still pretty sore.
It's been a long road to get to the splenectomy. It's now a milestone of sorts. Let's see how it plays out.
Overall, it was smooth and professional and well-coordinated. Tomorrow will start at 0730 in admitting and then move to radiology for the embolism in the artery to the spleen. The main surgery is now scheduled for 1210pm. It's supposed to be 2 hours with a 1 hour recovery either in the normal recover or ICU depending on what the doctor thinks. I guess all of the rooms there are private, so that's nice.
The good doctor doesn't expect to see me leaving before Monday. There seems to be a desire to monitor my platelet response carefully prior to release. Makes sense.
Also scored some new Vicodin the other night which worked better than the previous... better mix. That's helped the hip situation, but it's still pretty sore.
It's been a long road to get to the splenectomy. It's now a milestone of sorts. Let's see how it plays out.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
22 October 2012
It's morning in America (afternoon in parts) and platelets pump into me earlier than normal.
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