After not doing much on the computer for quite sometime, now, I have finally gotten to the point that I can sit in the chair by my Mac for more than
10 minutes at a time without my back getting dilapidated and have to head for the couch to lay down.
For those friends (and family) who are not familiar with my very serious medical condition:
On evening of June 29 of this year, I had a horrible stomach ache, and since we just got back from spending 12 days at our beachfront house in Bahia
Asuncion in Baja California, I was blaming it on something I ate. Paramedics and fire trucks came by after a 911 call, and took me to the emergency
room. Several x-rays, an MRI and a cat scan, the conclusion was that I had a gall stone.
So off to the operating room I went. Once they opened my stomach, the doctors found out what the real problem was: My heart threw a blood clot, and it
lodged itself in the vein that surrounds my intestines!
Almost 4 hours later, and several trips to tell Jana that I may not make it through the operation, they removed 26' of my small intestine, and 2' of
my large intestine.
I came out of the room with an ostomy bag attached to my stomach. Technically it is called an ileostomy because it is in the upper part of my
stomach. The technicality behind this, is that the doctors leave a piece of intestine outside the skin (about an inch around and ½ inch above the
stomach). The bag is then attached with adhesive strips surrounding the intestine...this is technically known as a STOMA.
So after a week in ICU, and IV's hanging all over me I finally figured out what is happening to me.
My stomach was considerably smaller now and could eat very little meals, so I ate 6 high calorie meals a day. I drank so much water that I was
drowning.
With no small intestine, 95% of what I ate and drank went into the bag. And then it needed to emptied 10-12 times a day.
I was now receiving my nutrition through an IV that was implanted into my right arm and terminated at the Vena Cava of my heart.
But that lasted about ten days, then had to go to emergency room again because of my weakness, short breath, and inability to stand without getting
vertigo.
5 days later, they figured out that my arm implant was very infected and had to come out. They then prescribed some very heavy duty antibiotic pills
that cost $7,000 for 20 of them, and sent me home ( although at the hospital they had me hooked up to a liquid version of the same drug.)
I could not eat much or drink enough liquids (including protein drinks) to keep up with my hydration and ended up going back to the ER three more
times for some hydration IVs.
The hospital then sent a home nurse to hook me up to the nutritional liquid. But that lasted until the now infected PICC line was removed from my arm.
So then I got nothing injected into me.
Back to the ER.
Got rehydrated and had daily IV injections for the hydration packs, but it got to the point the nurses could not find a suitable vein, or the veins
were collapsed because of all the blood samples taken.
So now it got down to finding one vein, and leaving the needle in place for 5 days for my hydration pack IV.
I was finally getting stronger!
I could get off the couch without getting dizzy.
But even those IVs were getting to be a pain for the nurses.
Their solution was to have doctors implant a "PORTACATH" under my skin near the heart. It is kind of like a pacemaker, and protrudes just as much.
With it being under the skin...there was no chance of another infection. Also they switched me to XARELTO instead of Coumedin because the blood tests
were too erratic, no matter what dose they put me on. (I wonder, however, if a daily aspirin does the same thing.)
I used to weigh about 175. Now I am down to 138.
But today, August 30, 2014, is the first day that I feel somewhat more normal. I was able to walk a block without having to stop and rest every 5
minutes. And hopefully I can sleep a little more soundly tonight. It's been a trial for me to only sleep 3-5 hours a night, and no sleep when I was at
the hospital (where the took blood samples every 4 hours, injections very two, and the infernal monitors, pumps and their alarms.)
I still, however, have to empty my bag 10 times a day, and three times during the night.
But I thank God and everyone's prayers, for my current condition. Plus Jana has been a superb nurse. She reminded me every day about my drinking
liquids, feeds me very 2 hours, and help me to bathe. What an angel!Tioloco - 8-30-2014 at 07:09 PM
Sounds rough. Hope you keep getting better! Travelinleah - 8-30-2014 at 07:12 PM
Wow, Udo, that's a lot to go through! Are you still on TPN? Are you drinking Ensure plus or some other high cal/pro supplement? Perhaps something
elemental like Vital HN to drink? Hopefully you working with a dietitian? Good for you, glad you are feeling a bit better!Bajaboy - 8-30-2014 at 07:16 PM
Hang in there amigo. Headed to BA soon. Let me know if you need anything.DianaT - 8-30-2014 at 07:34 PM
Keep up the great battle!wessongroup - 8-30-2014 at 07:57 PM
dtbushpilot - 8-30-2014 at 08:01 PM
Thanks for the update buddy, sounds like we will be fishing together before you know it. Keeping you and Jana in our prayers, we are headed back to So
Cal for a few weeks, let me know if you need anything.....dtwoody with a view - 8-30-2014 at 08:04 PM
tough ol' SOB!bacquito - 8-30-2014 at 08:14 PM
Thanks for the update and good luck.DocRey - 8-30-2014 at 08:50 PM
Continued prayers for you Udo.BajaLuna - 8-30-2014 at 09:17 PM
wow Udo, you have certainly been through a MAJOR ordeal.
But you are getting stronger by the day and sounds like you have turned a corner, thanks be for that!
Keeping you and Jana in our thoughts and sending prayers up for you both!shari - 8-31-2014 at 08:16 AM
Lets hope you turned the corner on this and the docs have things figured out. Stay positive amigo...this is just a big topes!Cypress - 8-31-2014 at 11:18 AM
Wishing you the best. You've been dealt a hard hand to play, and you're taking it in stride. More power to you. Wonder how many of us could be as
strong? Know what you're going through having helped a family member with the same situation. It's not easy.Udo - 8-31-2014 at 03:20 PM
Jana has been a real angel sent from heaven to take care of me...for two months. Cooking and feeding me six meals a day, ½ gallon of liquid per day,
daily medications, plugging and unplugging my IVs, plus making sure the house is clean and driving me to the ER and doctor's offices, changing my
ostomy bag, and also bathing me.
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Wishing you the best. You've been dealt a hard hand to play, and you're taking it in stride. More power to you. Wonder how many of us could be as
strong? Know what you're going through having helped a family member with the same situation. It's not easy.
DENNIS - 8-31-2014 at 04:12 PM
Jeeezo...you are one tough sumb-tch, Udo. Hang in there, Bro.
Thanks Udo!
tripledigitken - 8-31-2014 at 05:17 PM
It was two weeks ago that we were enjoying another excellent meal at Poco Cielo (cliff side at La Mision), and I couldn't help but think of you. Your
review was what motivated me to try their restaurant.
Here's hoping its not too long before you two can be enjoying a meal out on that patio. Hang in there and get well.
KenSFandH - 8-31-2014 at 06:54 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Udo August 30, 2014
I have finally gotten to the point that I can sit in the chair by my Mac for more than 10 minutes at a time without my back getting dilapidated and
have to head for the couch to lay down.
Udo, I'd like to recommend two relatively new technologies to help you pass the time in an entertaining and constructive way.
1. eBook readers
2. Smart TVs
They are both quantum leaps in old technologies.
eBook readers are a tremendous development that make obtaining and reading magazines, newspapers, and books so much quicker, cheaper, and easier. You
can buy a book and start reading it in a matter of minutes, without getting up. I'm in Mex now and bought the Sunday New York Times this morning for
99 cents with a couple of clicks.
Smart TVs connect to the Internet via WiFi or ethernet and enable streaming video from YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and other content providers. They
really change the TV viewing experience.
Great stuff.
I recommend the Amazon Kindle backlit eBook reader and Visio SmartTVs. They will both make sitting around while you heal and get used to your new
situation more enjoyable.
Hoping for the best.
[Edited on 9-1-2014 by SFandH]Ateo - 8-31-2014 at 06:57 PM
You are lucky to be alive. I'm glad for your progress. Keep getting well.Desertbull - 8-31-2014 at 07:23 PM
Great news, bummer of an adventure but you survived! Let's catch up for a bottle of water soon!Lee - 8-31-2014 at 08:43 PM
Can't keep a good man down. Ever. Speedy recovery.bajadock - 8-31-2014 at 10:24 PM
Cheers UDO and JANA! Thanks for inspiration to work on health. Looking forward to seeing you two soon.TMW - 9-1-2014 at 10:33 AM
Wow what an ordeal. Wishing you the best.lizard lips - 9-1-2014 at 01:43 PM
Keep the faith and be positive. It seems like you are but staying positive is a blessing....Se you soon.BajaRat - 9-1-2014 at 01:57 PM
Glad your feeling better, keep it on the sunny side.
Love from the Fam.David K - 9-2-2014 at 06:30 AM
Hi Udo, we sure want to see you back to your fun-loving self again. Please continue to be strong and recover!wetto - 9-3-2014 at 10:24 PM
Udo,
I am headed for similar procedures (bone marrow transplant) and appreciate your sharing of info and your positive "tude" dude.
Love to share a beer when were both on the mend...wait, I don't want to share, I'll have my own and buy you one too!Skipjack Joe - 9-4-2014 at 12:03 AM
Whew, that sounds tough. I went through something similar 2 years ago but your experience was worse. It really sounds like your doctors were very good
and that's very important. An accurate diagnosis early on is so important.
Someone had recommended taking ensure as a way of keeping the weight on. I did that as well. Ensure Plus has 12g of fat though which was difficult to
handle. Normal ensure has 6g which was easier to digest.
Thanks for posting your ailments. Many are too embarassed to do so.Udo - 9-4-2014 at 08:31 AM
I HAVE A NEW UPDATE:[/I]
On September 1, 2014, the doctor's OK'd the usage of my PORTACATH, implanted in my chest. )It was installed on September 26.
The implant is now usable to be able to be fed intravenously with a TPM. A one liter bag of nutrients, plus some hydration.
Due to it's usage for the last 5 days, I was able to finally start gaining weight (intend of losing ½ lb. per day). Saturday I weighed 134 lbs (
weighed 172 lbs before my ordeal) and this morning I weighed in at 146! I am gaining between 1 and 2 lbs per day, thanks to my TPM!
WOOOOO-HOOOOO!monoloco - 9-4-2014 at 08:40 AM
Hang in there amigo. Hope to see you back in Baja someday!BajaBlanca - 9-4-2014 at 10:16 AM
great news!DENNIS - 9-4-2014 at 10:41 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
A one liter bag of nutrients, plus some hydration.
Well...that's a start. Tell them to upgrade the bag to Cajuama size asap.
You're doing great, Udo. Glad to hear this.Kgryfon - 9-4-2014 at 12:21 PM
Glad to hear you are on the mend, Udo!Udo - 9-4-2014 at 05:33 PM
I think the bag is larger than the CAGUAMA that the beer comes in, Dennis.
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
A one liter bag of nutrients, plus some hydration.
Well...that's a start. Tell them to upgrade the bag to Cajuama size asap.
You're doing great, Udo. Glad to hear this.
