Changing the rules..

I'm changing the rules.  From now on, NOBODY should have to get two colonoscopies in the same year.  Not sure that I need to say more...

Been an interesting month which is probably why I haven't updated the blog.  I've been busy--trying to catch up on all of the things that I missed out on doing last summer.  Pictures will be posted later of some of the places I've gone and things that I've done.  I've noticed over the past 2 weeks though that my energy level was greatly decreased and I was finding myself very short of breath.  I thought it was weird.. and was just hoping that it wasn't the new "normal".  Finally, on Tuesday I called the transplant coordinator and described what was going on and she ordered some lab work done to try and figure out what was going on. I had the labs drawn and was able to check them at night, even before I heard from the doctor.  Weird thing was that a lot of them seemed like they might be better.  Got a call the following afternoon though that they needed to be re-drawn because something didn't look right and maybe the blood samples were contaminated somehow.

I left work a few minutes early to get them re-drawn and within a half hour of getting home, the doctor at the lab was calling saying that my blood levels were low and that I needed to get to an emergency room right away for blood transfusions.  I thought about waiting until the next day to talk about it with my doctor but decided to call the after-hours number to check on it that night.  After the coordinator-on-call checked the levels, she said that I needed to get to the hospital right away and be prepared to be admitted.

Yikes!  Apparently my "crit" levels (I think it is the HCT level on the blood test) was at a 14 when it should have been at a 30.  So, I was actually missing HALF my blood.  I knew I was tired, but had no idea that I was that sick and most people at that level are passing out and having other problems.  I seem not to be the most reliable source regarding how sick I am...  Good news though was that most of the levels they track to see how the liver is doing were a bit better than last month.  

Anyway, checked in at the hospital in SLC (instead of Provo) because that's where most of my doctors are.  Got four units of blood the first night and 2 more the second night.  The doctors also ordered endoscopy and another colonoscopy for the next day to try and track down the source of the bleeding.  Ok,  so it is bad enough at home going thru the colonoscopy prep... but doing it at a hospital while hooked up for a blood transfusion is just not fun.  The nurse got creative though and plugged the blood pump into the bathroom outlet so that I didn't have to call to get disconnected every time I had to use the bathroom.  When it all hits, you sure can't be waiting for a nurse to disconnect you!  I'll spare you the details but I did survive...  Both procedures went well and they didn't really find anything.  The doctor then ordered an ultrasound and it appears that the flow thru the shunt that was put in last summer is restricted which is irritating the stomach and causing a slow bleed.

On Friday night, the nurse assistant was hooking me back up to the heart monitor which I didn't really think that I needed.. when the doctor walked in.  I asked if I really needed it and he said 'no' and that he was going to send me home for the weekend but schedule an outpatient procedure on Monday to repair the shunt.  What a nice surprise!!

So, that's a quick update.. procedure is tomorrow at 9:30 am...