valjee

Hi Louise,

Keeping everything crossed for your speedy recovery from the pig flu or whatever is causing the problem – good luck for your PET scan SOON!

Val x

Hi Betsy,
I’m still in the dark on my itching I’m afraid. When I have the next round of blood tests my doc is going to check for antibodies to whatever list of foods i can provide as possible culprits.
It certainly seems allergic but i do wonder if there’s a relationship to the surgery & certainly to the huge amount of antibiotics I’ve had to take, which inevitably cause candida problems, which then makes you more sensitive….

I had a bile duct resection (May 14th ’09) only (only?), the docs were not at all sure if I had cc or not (I did, the tumour was at the cyctic duct), the surgeon had originally said that he would do a liver resection as a matter of course but as time progressed seemed to back off this option & his letter to the hepatologist said that the liver & pancreas ‘looked very healthy’ during the operation so he just re-routed everything else he could find, hence the digestive changes.
I’m due my next scan in November – I’m on 6 monthly CT checks, bloods more often, due to the abnormal liver enzymes, both my AFT & ALP are raised although the AFT had dropped by around 50% last month. I think that’s the right way around!
My main problem has been wound infection, it still hasn’t completely healed although having started using manuka honey dressings only last week it’s shown a staggering improvement. Only 6cm long & 5mm deep now – that from 8cm & 8-9mm deep a week ago (When I came home from hospital in June I had the whole 30cm ‘roof-top’ incision open).
I feel that having this almost constant infection (although low-grade) has been dragging me down for months & has to be affecting blood results. Time will tell I guess!
Good luck with yours next week – I hope everything remains stable – keep us posted!

Best wishes Val

So sorry for your loss Sandy,

Condolences to you & yours

Val

Hi Betsy!
I’ve also had problems with diet – I had thought that how it was with the drain into the bile duct is how it would be after the bile duct resection – oh no! Small meals seem the way to go, I find it much easier with white meat, fish, vegetables, fruit & not much in the way of red meat, cheese etc unless low fat versions.

As for clothes, my waist is still about 4 inches larger than before – fortunately i’d lost about 28lb prior to the operation so have been able to wear trousers that were about to go to the charity shop/ebay!

I find drawstring or elasticated waists are good, and as Kris recommends, anything which gathers under the bust then flares out is good – covers the baggy bum on the otherwise too large trousers as well!

On a positive note I haven’t been able to wear a bra since last December firstly because of the drains & then because i was so swollen after the surgery – well this week i did the usual monthly try out & HOORAY! No pain, no discomfort – the bras are back! Cleavage – YAY! I’m hoping the waist will follow soon….
I was very interested to read about your itching problem – I’m having problems with nettle rash (? hives) & seemingly two other rashes which keep coming & going despite constant antihistamines. I’m thinking nuts are involved as it’s always much worse after peanuts, but two of my liver enzymes are still elevated – I will do some research on that. It’s not like the itching I had with the jaundice – that was horrendous & constant, which this isn’t.
A day in bed is extra special therapy & always allowed! Enjoy it.

Take care, Val

Hey Louise – SWAG, that’s really funny!

I made your cookies – did I get them right? They’re quite like fudge in consistency? Really good flavour, though a little sweet for me. I did substitute xylitol for half of the sugar & wondered if that made the consistency wrong!
Apologies for not replying before & also to Gavin & Jolene for their good wishes previously, my broadband has taken it upon itself to decide when & with who I can do anything much online, it’s caught up with this site now. Email & Facebook have been on the hit list for several weeks – I’ll be changing providers very soon!

Having read lots on here this evening I’m currently feeling like a bit of a wuss. I haven’t worked since early last December (certainly couldn’t do the job I was doing & likely never will be able to again) due to the drains followed by the operation & the continuing wound infection – currently feeling yuck due to yet more flucloxacillin at a dose suitable for a horse – it’s been about 15 years since I had thrush this badly. Ouch.

And then I’ll feel even more af a wuss for grumbling about thrush when there’s such horrible symtoms going on out there. My LFTs are still abnormal – that help?
In a couple of days when I’ve finished the antibiotics I’ll be grateful for small mercies – such as;at least my still unhealed wound is not a fistula from a whipple – it’s just a pain in the guts & a damned nuisance.

Thinking of all you guy & sending positive thoughts (I am really!) Val x

Hi Julia,

You can fight for the both of you – I’m sure Billy D will do his bit too.

Val x

Ps Is Laura out of the wardrobe yet?

Oh damn & blast mate!
That’s totally unneccessary stress added to an already highly stressful situation.
If it helps to turn the pressure cooker down a little, I think that a lot of nurses & doctors do give a damn but the conditions they work under makes it very hard for them to prove that at times. But it’s not really any consolation when your blood pressure is way up & just a few words would put this right. As Lainey rightly says at least you now know the situation, you can all take some deep breaths & explore Sue’s options over the coming days & weeks.
You take good care, stay strong, big hug, Val x