fairbanksb
Freedom Isn't Free
Howdy gang. I can't exactly remember the last time I posted but I thought I'ld update while I feel reasonably well.
Just a brief synopsis for those who are not familiar with my situation. In June of last year I noticed changes in my bowel movements which progressed to noticing blood when I wiped myself. A colonoscopy revealed stage 3 rectal cancer. I can't even count the number of tests and procedures I went through. Endoscopic exams, x-rays, CT scans, MRI's, blood work. The tumor was too large to remove so I went on chemo and radiation treatment in hopes of shrinking the tumor so it could be removed. I finished those treatment in Sept. I was operated on Oct. 27th. The tumor was removed and I was given a ileostomy(temp ostomy) instead of the feared colostomy.
Things were going fairly well and in late Jan. I felt well enough to go to DD's house for a bbq. The dates are not exact but I think it was the 23rd. We were there a couple of hours talking, drinking some wine and waiting for the food to finish when my stomach started to ache and I could not get comfortable. DW had to drive me home. About 3 hrs. later it was off to the ER. I was in agony. I was admitted and kept on morphine to control the pain while going through still more tests. On Jan. 26th I was in the operating room again. There found a bowel obstruction and had to remove over 2 ft. of dead large intestine along with reversing the ostomy any taking out my appendix while they were in there. The operation took 7 hrs.
I was only home from the hospital for about 3 days when I started vomiting and it lasted a couple of days. I made a doctors appointment for 9 Feb. and the doc admitted me again that day. I was operated on again on 11 Feb. I had another partial obstruction do to scar tissue formation. I was released from the hospital on the 19th. Three major operations 4 months is not what I consider fun. Anyway I'm home again and hopefully on the mend this time. Will try to post more often as I feel better.
Just a brief synopsis for those who are not familiar with my situation. In June of last year I noticed changes in my bowel movements which progressed to noticing blood when I wiped myself. A colonoscopy revealed stage 3 rectal cancer. I can't even count the number of tests and procedures I went through. Endoscopic exams, x-rays, CT scans, MRI's, blood work. The tumor was too large to remove so I went on chemo and radiation treatment in hopes of shrinking the tumor so it could be removed. I finished those treatment in Sept. I was operated on Oct. 27th. The tumor was removed and I was given a ileostomy(temp ostomy) instead of the feared colostomy.
Things were going fairly well and in late Jan. I felt well enough to go to DD's house for a bbq. The dates are not exact but I think it was the 23rd. We were there a couple of hours talking, drinking some wine and waiting for the food to finish when my stomach started to ache and I could not get comfortable. DW had to drive me home. About 3 hrs. later it was off to the ER. I was in agony. I was admitted and kept on morphine to control the pain while going through still more tests. On Jan. 26th I was in the operating room again. There found a bowel obstruction and had to remove over 2 ft. of dead large intestine along with reversing the ostomy any taking out my appendix while they were in there. The operation took 7 hrs.
I was only home from the hospital for about 3 days when I started vomiting and it lasted a couple of days. I made a doctors appointment for 9 Feb. and the doc admitted me again that day. I was operated on again on 11 Feb. I had another partial obstruction do to scar tissue formation. I was released from the hospital on the 19th. Three major operations 4 months is not what I consider fun. Anyway I'm home again and hopefully on the mend this time. Will try to post more often as I feel better.
