My Operation Plus

[DiveWrite]

Hi Gals & Guys: I'm Baaaaaak!


My Operation


As many of you know, within a very short period of time I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and then colon cancer. I could not begin treatment for hepatitis until my cancer was taken care of. I just returned home from having an operation to remove a cancerous tumor that was located inside my colon at the Secom. The surgeon also removed several inches of the colon itself and some lymph nodes. This was one operation I would not soon forget.

In order to clean out my plumbing, the day before surgery I had to consume two extremely salty drinks, and inject myself with one Fleet Enema. That salty stuff worked so well that it

[regmel]

see posts on 09/03 they are for you

[mikesimon]

I was just thinking of you when I saw your post. I'm sorry to learn that you will have to undergo chemotherapy. I know that is not something you are looking forward to. I just hope and pray that the treatment's successful and that you are soon cancer free. The methadone story is alarming,but from my experience not incredible. I have found few doctors who really listen and contemplate before these procedures. I have had similar experiences unfortunately. Good luck. Mike

[Revenire]

I'm sorry life has been so rough for you lately. I can't believe the thing about the "choking me to see if I can breathe" but knowing HMOs/our medical system/hospitals I shouldn't be surprised.

I pray for you.

Scott

[doll face]

I just asked if anyone heard from you yesterday a couple of post down. Been worrying about how your surgery went. I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that unnecessary pain. So, what is the plan now chemo? How long do they guess before you can start treatment for Hep? Well I send prayers your way. Good luck and God Bless. Kim

[Foreign girl]

I am sorry you will need to have Chemo done. I mentioned to you before that my mom is going through chemo treatment for colon cancer now. The type of chemo that she is getting is normally pretty easy on patients. I believe all of colon cancer patients get this type of chemo. I hope you will be cured soon and you will not have a very difficult time with chemo.

Good luck and be strong!

Foreign girl.

[CARUU]

Wow!  What a story!  I've been through the colon surgery (twice) and the last thing you needed was a complication with the implementation of the surgery.  It sounds like you are home now and that's behind you.  Good.  As for the chemo, I was very fortunate that I didn't have to do it.  The tumors, in both instances, were discovered and removed before they had a chance to go anywhere else.  I now only have 30 cm of colon, but that's been manageable for me over the years and much better than having a colostomy (I had one for a short time after the first surgery).  Colon cancer can be familial.  If you have children or siblings they could be at a higher risk and may need to be checked for it.  The earlier it's found, the better.  My doc. wrote to my 8 siblings and my daughter explaining the tests, risks, etc. and I have followed up with messeges to them over the years.  None of them have had it, but my father and uncle did.  Katie Couric is a champion for early detection of colon CA and has done some very courageours reports (had a colonoscopy on live TV!).  The interesting thing to me is colon CA, gallstones/surgery, Hepc.  Which came first??  Did the blood transfusion cause the hepc or is there a connection between having one and then the other?  Will never know, I guess.
I am thinkihg about you and hope you have as good an outcome with the chemo as possible.  Peace and light, caruu

[Merlin51]

Best of luck with chemo....keep your positive attitude ..you will prevail with a good attitude
Am not at all surprised about the  'done...some of these docs think they know better than everyone...and sometimes it is just an honest mistake.....unfortunately sometimes these can be disastrous...glad you made thru

[oldhippiechick67]

Thanks for posting and letting us know how you are doing!  Sad to hear you have to undergo chemo now.  Hang tough, when I feel sorry for myself all I have to do is turn on the Discovery Health Channel and see folks with all kindsa horrible accidents and surgeries.  ACKKKKK.  What you have is bad, but you are sucha fighter, sucha good soul, I am confident you will beat all those monsters placed in front of you.  As a nurse, I have seen some stupid arrogant docs who think they kno best. Where I worked the anesthesia docs would call the patients the nite before and do a review of their history and answer questions. That is so wrong that you had to go to them and wait over an hour.  There are a lot of flaws in our health system, but thank God we live in America and not Iraq/Iran.  (am I trying to be optimistic? or what?)  Well take care of yourself and see? ... ya beat them again and survived the surgery & the overdose!  Sorry it was so damn scarey waking up!

[layla]

I am so sorry to hear you've had such a bad experience. I hope chemo isn't to bad for you and your recuperating goes fast an easy. LL

[DiveWrite]

Thanks everyone for your comments, support and prayers. I just want to say that in spite of everything, right now I feel great, better than I have in years. I was told that my tumor had blood around it, causing me to bleed from both ends when I went to the bathroom. Ultimately I became enemic. Regardless of how my operation went, it appears to have done its job. I also feel okay about the Chemo. So, come hell, high water or the boogy man, my wife and I will be in Florida for the winter, and the one after that, and ... Irv.

[DiveWrite]

Thanks everyone for your comments, support and prayers. I just want to say that in spite of everything, right now I feel great, better than I have in years. I was told that my tumor had blood around it, causing me to bleed from both ends when I went to the bathroom. Ultimately I became enemic. Regardless of how my operation went, it appears to have done its job. I also feel okay about the Chemo. So, come hell, high water or the boogy man, my wife and I will be in Florida for the winter, and the one after that, and ... Irv.

[Galen]

I am so glad you posted today.  I've been worried about you.  I'm so sorry about the chemo.  I know your hopes were high that you would be able to do without.  When will you start it?
(BTW, where in Florida will you be?  I live just south of Clearwater)

[DH Bill]

We are so glad to hear from you.I know we have all been wondering how it was going. I think most of us have come to learn that the medical profession is like plumbers and electricians, we have really good ones and really bad ones, except we usually don't put our lives in their hands.
Hang in there and the best to you and yours.
Bill

[scooz]

I was hoping to hear something from ya,Been thinking about you the last few days.It is horrible waking up with that wonderful device in ya..Went through that after the transplant,They have to keep it in for about a day..Wonderful weather here in fla..You will be here soon,Best of luck with your chemo..Kick Butt!My thoughts are with ya always..


Steve..

[MajNeni]

I'm really glad you made it back!  What a lousy experience.  With that chemo, it sounds like you're on a "Learner's Permit", getting ready for hep tx down the road... sorry, sick joke.  I wish you the very best with the follow-up treatments.  Like what's colon cancer eqivalent of SVR?  That's what I wish you, and an easy ride.
Maj Neni

[Bartt]

JODI:

Sorry for posting under My Operation but was not permitted to post any additional "stand alone" questions today. How is Amanda doing? I have kept her in my prayers for months and lift her up in bidding prayers every Sunday at Service. I hope she is doing well.

Regards,
Barry

[meandhepc]

I am so sorry that you went through  all that, I wish you all the best now and please do keep us all informed, so glad to see your post.

[aaapattie]

Been wondering about you.  So glad to hear from you, but hated what we heard.  Gee Whiz!  What an experience!!!  Glad you are feeling better than before the surgery at least.  Keep planning on that Florida trip!!  God Bless.  Pattie

[harley dude]

You'll be fine ole boy, were all saying prayers for you and remember your only on earth for a short time, it's where your going to be for eternity that really counts -- good luck--HD

[aaapattie]

AMEN Harley D!

:-))

P.

[DiveWrite]

Hi Galen:

I'm meeting with my oncologist next week, when I will learn the details of my Chemo. Rachel and I bought a small place not too far from you in Zephyrhills, just down the road from Skydive City, an internationally known and respected skydiving dropzone. Some of the best jumpers in the world come to Skydive City during the winter months, which is the main reason for my wanting to live there. The last few years, however, I've been looking up more than down. If it's in the spiritual cards, perhaps this winter I'll get to jump again. There ain't nothin like watching the ground rushing up to you at 120mph. The trick, however, is to ultimately meet at a considerably slower vilocity.Ahhhh, the adrenaline, I can't wait. Why do we jump out of perfectly a good airplane? Because the door is open.

We should be in Z-hills by early December. Our phone number there is 813-788-3098. Should you want to meet and go for a skydive or something, give us a ring.

Thanks again everyone for being here for me. I'm generally the type who grins and bears it alone. However,it sure feels good when I'm not alone. Thank you.

Irv.

[latrobe]

glad you made it throug the horrible stuff that surgery brought to you. wishing you well--and a way to thrive.  please do't give a hard time to folks that post here under  your thread. be kind. and the kindness will rebound.
-m.

[Tosser]

Hello DiveWrite, I'm one of the new kids on the block, but I wanted to wish you the best, and let you know, I too, regret your unfortunate incident in the hospital. It makes me so angry when I hear about mistakes being made by medical professionals with potentially disasterous consequences. In all my years of doing what I do for a living, I am expected to make absolutely no mistakes. We are all human and will mess up from time to time, but I'm afraid it happens more often in the medical field than should be tollerated. I don't mean to step on toes here. I realize how complex the health technologies are, and appreciate the humanity given 99% of the time, but I lost my father to what I thought were very bad decisions on behalf of his Doctors, and I just haven't gotten over that yet.
Anyway, I do sincerely hope you fully recover your good health and live a long, happy life. I wish that for everone here!
I would like to ask you to go into detail some time about your leg and foot neuropathy. I have had so much trouble with mine, and they still go undiagnosed. We just concluded an old injury has led to " Plantar Faciatis", but they refuse to get any better. I am still thinking there is a connection between my symptoms and the Hep-C. My liver doctor wants to get me through these treatments first, then I get to go to a foot surgeon in the spring for further examination. I'll keep watching the posts, and may have more questions, if you don't mind. Thanks!...and Happy Trails My Friend.
Tosser

[TravelGrl]

DW...Just want to wish you good luck with the chemo...Keep the chin up and be strong...You will do fine...We are all pulling for you..Best Wishes and keep us all posted..
Jodi

Bartt~
  Thank you for your post..Amanda is now on daily infergen and Zadaxin..Just started the Zadaxin this week.. Hopefully this is the combination she needs to respond..She has not responded to any other combination to date.  She is going in for a biopsy on Tuesday the 23rd.  Hopefully she will have at least improved her liver histology with all this interferon..She is now on week 55. She is still tolerating treatment well...now if it will only work..Thank you again for your post..
Be Well,
Jodi