Here's the Report on What Was Removed From my Gut

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tex
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Here's the Report on What Was Removed From my Gut

Post by tex »

I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find out, but I finally had a chance to talk with one of the surgeons this afternoon. As is usually the case, they were sure that it was cancer, but fortunately they were wrong.

Actually, it turned out to be more like a minature version of the Loch Ness Monster. They decided it was an extreme case of diverticulitis, of all things.

I was pretty sure that I didn't have cancer, since I didn't show any of the signs, otherwise, but it's always good to hear it from a doctor's mouth.

He removed the staples from the incision, and since it was still oozing blood, decided to open it up and mop out all the blood, and pack it with gauze. Then he instructed me to do the same, twice a day, for a week, at which time they will look at it and reassess it. We probably should have started packing it, a week ago, when it first started bleeding.

Otherwise, the pain had pretty much diminished to the point where it wasn't much of a problem, any more, so I figured something would happen to change that. LOL. Now I get to start over, cause it hurts like Hell, to poke that gauze in there, and, of course, now it hurts when I walk, again. Sigh. Oh well, it's only for a week, and then I'll probably have it made.

Anyway, that's the story on my gut, for better or for worse.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by starfire »

:party: NO MALIGNANCY!!!!!! Best news I've heard in weeks, Tex!!! I am soooooooooo glad to hear that. I think it's terrible that they let you go so long before telling you :sad:

You must have really had a really bad case of diverticulitis though. A good friend of mine had part of her colon removed because of it. She had a terrible infection.

I'm really sorry you are hurting again. Wish I could take some of it for you. Knowing you have to swab it out twice a day for a week has to be a bummer. Bet you'll be counting down till the end. I'll sure be hoping that all that work will pay off and things will be OK.

I sure wish you could have had an uneventful recovery, but now I'll be hoping that after this the rest will be uneventful.

I had been wondering how you were doing. I'm really glad you posted.

:pulsinghearts: Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
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Post by Mars »

That is the best news I've heard all day!!!! I've been waiting for your update but didn't want to ask. I figured when you were home, settled and ready to spill your guts (bad pun - sorry) you would! I am so relieved.

Was anything said about when they will schedule reversal surgery? How did they explain the "you won't believe this" scenario - the trips to the potty?

Ok, I've asked enough! I'm just so happy that the news was good!!!

Many :pulsinghearts:
Mars
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -- Buddha
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tex
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Post by tex »

The reason I was so late with my post, was because I got home late. I was at the Clinic til 3, and then I had to pick up some supplies at the hospital supply room, and get a prescription filled for some type of yeast-controlling powder to use around the ostomy bag. (I seem to have developed a minor yeast problem. Sigh).

While I had the opportunity, I did some shopping for some other supplies that I needed, and by the time I finished browsing the shelves of my favorite health food store, and walking all over a super Walmart, the afternoon was gone, and so was my energy.

I didn't even think about asking about more surgery, and the phantom BMs. They only lasted about 3 or 4 days, and since it ended somewhere along about the weekend, I forgot all about it.

Love,
Wayne
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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JJ
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Post by JJ »

Wow..no cancer...that is indeed great news! Sorry about the renewed pain and inconvenience ....hopefully this will all be over soon...take care friend...JJ
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Post by Liz »

Good news Wayne. So glad that it was not malignant. They still are not giving you a lot of info though, are they. Terrible letting you go so long with that worry on your mind.

Take care

Love

Liz
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Post by harvest_table »

Thank God.... :cry:

I know it will be a great deal easier for you do deal with the "small and inconvient stuff" now with C off your mind. We have anxiously waited for these results.

Your on your way to recovery and this is such great news. Take care of yourself.

:cry: I'm crying cause I'm so happy. I do that sometimes.

Love,
Joanna
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Post by Lucy »

Wayne,

This is indeed wonderful news!!!
Do you suppose that the inflammation part of diverticulitis, at least when folks like us get it, is just a localized more acute form of inflammation caused by the same conditions that cause our inflammation all over the colon? I know about the part about something getting trapped in there, like seeds, for instances, but wonder if perhaps the inflammation doesn't set up the conditions for that something to get trapped in there in the first place.

I and many others on this board have at least one little diverticuli that stays a bit sore, particularly if it's punched a bit, so I wonder if it's just an age-related thing, or if that is just a part of M.C.?

Whatcha think, Wayne?
Again, so happy for you that it wasn't cancer!

Yours, Luce
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Post by Dee »

SOOOOOOOO HAPPY to hear this news!! You scared the sh-- out of me whenever all of this took place!!! Now, in the next few months you'll be on the mend and then can get the ostomy thingy removed...
Hey, Wayne!! They returned the card that I sent to you in yesterdays mail!!!!! LOL!!!! Anyway, you know that I'm Thinking of You, so that's all that matters~~~
You take care of yourself !!
And I know it's hard to keep a good man down!

Love~
Dee~~~~~
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Post by kate_ce1995 »

Wayne, WONDERFUL NEWS!

Very glad things are working out for the best. I know this reopening of the incision doesn't seem that way, but its just a little bump in the road. You'll feel better in the long run by letting it heal well.

Katy
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Post by Polly »

HOORAY!!!!!

This is wonderful news. I, too, have been so worried. I have never heard of a diagnosis taking this long, so I figured the experts were really stumped and maybe sending the biopsy specimen around the country for confirmation. Wayne, you are incredibly lucky.......I'm sure you know that. Did they have any other thoughts i.e. how long you have had it, how often diverticulitis presents this way, etc.?

I hope the oozing stops soon and that the yeast is gone toot sweet. Glad to hear you had enough energy to walk through a Walmart. That does take energy!

Love and :pulsinghearts:

Polly
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Post by hazel »

Congratulations on the good report. :grin: Now you are really on the road to recovery. At least whatever recovery means to a person with MC. I wonder if you will be able to eat more things now or the same. What have you been trying, in terms of food?

Good luck with the infection and the incision.
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Post by Peggy »

Excellent news my friend, excellent :thumbsup: :pulsinghearts:

Love ya
Pips

ps Mars - that was a pretty dang good pun :grin:
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Post by Jean »

Wayne,

I'm so happy I'm crying!!! I, too, was getting worried because the diagnosis was taking sooooooo long. Loch Ness Monster? LOL

Sorry I've been MIA, I'm feeding a few baby birds, even a day one. Turns out young male birds are like teenage boys. They like the act of making babies, but don't like the responsibility.

I'm just so happy for you!

Love, Jean
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Post by tex »

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your well wishes. I really appreciate your support. It means more to me than you could ever imagine.

Now that I know more about what I'm dealing with, I hope to ask a few questions about it, at my next appointment. We'll see what we can learn.

I've been eating more vegetables since the surgery. Basically the same ones that I could eat before, but a lot more of them. Mostly green beans, broccoli, spinach, even turnip greens. I've added a couple of things that I was afraid to eat before. I've been eating a banana and an apple virtually every day, and today, I ate a raw pear. I peel both the apples and pears, and so far, so good.

Yes, I agree, I'm very lucky. Lucky to not have to deal with cancer, and lucky to have so many wonderful friends.

Love,
Wayne
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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