I'm going to try to update this blog with some medical information for those who will go through this procedure in the future. Below is a summary of the information Dr. Fournier told my family immediately after the surgery, 1/8/10, and my reactions:
1) Relatively lucky, in that I didn't have much disease in there as compared to others. My disease was caught very early on. So many people aren't diagnosed, or are misdiagnosed, and that obviously makes the surgery more difficult later on. I'm obviously relieved, but take nothing for granted. PMP is unpredictable, I'm not going to let my guard down, but also try not to obsess over it.
2) Gallbladder was removed. It was very distended, I might have had trouble with it later so the doctor just took it out.
3) He took out the omentum- the fatty lining of the peritoneal cavity that hangs like a splindly drape over your internal organs. Like the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Sneaky disease likes to hide in it.
4) He peeled and scraped some disease off of the liver. The liver is fine, looks good now.
5) All the work on the right side of my abdomen left a small hole in the diaphragm, no problem - he stitched it up.
6) Because of 3, 4 and 5 he decided to put in a chest tube during the procedure. He says that sometime patients develop fluid in the lungs after the surgery from so much manipulation of the diaphram. It is terribly uncomfortable to have a chest tube put in after surgery so best to get it during surgery. He says it is a good thing that he did because it immediately drained 0.5 liter. It has still been draining! Be sure to ask your doctor their plans on that.
7) Took out about 12 inches of my small intestine, as well as the cecum and the right colon. This should not affect bowel function.
8) He saw some disease in the pelvic area and removed it.
9) Spleen was fine, the doctor left it in. Spleen recovers quickly and says suck it gallbladder.
10) At this time, "no disease left" and "complete cytoreduction," which are great words. That means that the chemo has the best chance to work now, killing any remaining disease at the cellular level.
11) After surgery I had like 7 tubes/lines running out of me: a few IV lines, chest tube, G tube to relieve pressure in stomach, J tube for feeding nutrients directly into small intestine, epidural (amazing pain blocker), and Foley catheter. J tube will be around for perhaps a few months. I look like the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
More on the chemo later.
"I Forgot How Big..."
T.P. Eck
2010
Lego and mixed media
Part of the Ole C. Eck Collection
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Location:Bertner Ave,Houston,United States