GotToRollMe
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Thanks for the good wishes, guys!
Unfortunately, I've been a little under the weather lately. For anyone interested, this is the latest:
This past Monday, my bloodwork showed that my liver levels went way up. My doctor said it could be one of three things: 1) Rejection of the organ, 2) the Hepatitis-C virus coming back with a vengeance, or 3) my biliary duct could be either clogged or constricted. He was hoping it was 3, because that would be something he could fix with a stent (a small plastic tube which would expand the duct). The other two possibilities would have to be treated with medications and would be more problematic.
So that afternoon I had an ultrasound, and the next day I was admitted to the hospital for a biopsy and an MRI (not to detect cancer, but so the doc could find out what we were dealing with). Well, lucky me, it turned out to be number 3, so he scheduled me for an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which meant they inserted an endoscope down my throat to my stomach and injected dye so they could see where the stricture was. Then they inserted a stent (sometimes they use a balloon to widen the duct, but they didn't have to in my case). I was discharged on Thursday after my bloodwork showed that my levels were dropping.
I have to keep the stent in for six weeks, and then they're going to take it out. If the duct stays open on its own, I'll be okay, but if not, they'll have to put another one in. Then after another six weeks they'll do it again. If it doesn't take after three times, they'll have to reattach the duct straight to my small intestine with surgery.
Wish me luck and say a prayer, please. Thanks.
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