This past Thursday I had my first follow-up appointment in Madison with Dr. Heise. Since my last update I have continued to improve and have finally been released into my own custody (as opposed to forced convalescence with my family). So the appointment was pretty short and sweet. Everyone said that I looked good. This isn't saying much as their only basis for comparison was me unbathed in an open-backed hospital gown with messy hair and assorted tubes coming out of me. I took the compliment either way. We ran through the next couple of months and what they were expected to entail. Basically, it goes like this: in 2-3 weeks I go back for a flexible sigmoidoscopy (flex sig) in order for them to examine my new pouch and see how it is doing. For anyone that hasn't had the pleasure of one of these guys, basically it is like a colonoscopy, but they don't go as far and there is no sedation. In my past experiences this procedure has largely involved me swearing at the medical staff and calling them sadists.
If everything looks good in the flex sig, then a couple of weeks later we do that fun barium test thing. I have never done it before, but I have heard that the barium tastes horrible. Which brings me to my next point. I asked Dr. Heise how that test would work as I currently have a bypass and the barium wouldn't be able to make it to my pouch. The answer to this had already occurred to me before he answered. The inevitable barium enema was explained. Good times. At least I don't have to taste it. If that test looks good, then we schedule my takedown (hooking everything back up and getting rid of the ostomy) a couple of weeks after that.
That is about all of the excitement for now. Things are pretty status quo. I am getting more comfortable with changing my appliance everyday. I also feel a little better and have more energy each day that I get up. I had heard from multiple sources how they felt better immediately after the surgery because their diseased colon was gone. I thought that they were crazy, but now I have to agree. There is a lot that I feel like I can do that I haven't been able to in a long while. Unfortunately, things are still healing and I have to take it slow, but overall I am beginning to feel pretty good.
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2 comments:
Rich,
You are really doing quite well. Carrie would tell you that her recovery was tough and I don't think she could have written a "blog". It's nice to read your
news.
Wanda Kjar-Hunt
Dude... you are a RIOT! Your momma (the encyclopedia sales woman) gave me the link... I too, work at Encyclopedia Britanica... She thinks the WORLD of you, and I of her... she is one my favorite people here at Wire One, whoops, BT Conferencing...Keep on gettin' better... Don't forget Jerry Springer comes on twice a day here in Ohio, I'm sure he does there too... and he is from my town... Cincinnati! Be sure to watch that judge whatsherface who screams at everyone in New York. Hmm, what else... oh, be sure to watch all the episodes of Scrubs-Notice that the equipment is not plugged in... :) Be good, and take care of yourself! Jay P.
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