Just when things are going well for Bill, the doctors discover another problem. The extreme stomach pain Bill was occasionally experiencing turns out to be a gall bladder problem. After an ultrasound and CT Scan the doctors concluded he has 3 small gall stones, and a small tear in the lining of his gallbladder which is allowing bile to escape. Because he doesn’t have white cells to fight infection, this is a very dangerous situation.
Today they performed a HIDAscan (Hepatobiliary scan) in the Nuclear Medicine Room. This machine is like a big Geiger counter. A saline based tracer was injected into Bill’s veins. In his case, the tracer went right to his liver, and they watched it travel down the duct to his bowels. They were hoping it would go to his gall bladder so they could then see if it left the gallbladder through the tear in the lining. But, because of inflammation of the duct, it never entered the gallbladder.
If Bill was a healthy man, the doctors would just remove his gallbladder. Instead, on Wednesday morning between 7am and 9am CST they will place a drainage tube near his gallbladder to remove the bile. By doing this, they hope the inflammation of the lining will heal, and then the tear. Later they will scope his gallbladder to try and remove the gall stones. They say small stones are more dangerous then large stones because the small stones can block the ducts.
Bill will receive 2 bags of platelets, and 1 bag of red cells tonight. Then tomorrow before surgery, he will receive up to 2 more bags of platelets. The goal is to get a count of 75,000 in platelets.
Bill is still handling the clinical study drug very well. His counts are not improving, but they also aren’t getting worse, and his Leukemia Cutis (rash) has not surfaced as of this writing. Bill has more energy, appetite (if they would let him eat), and is more conversational. There are so many improvements that we hate to see any setbacks.
We will feel your arms wrapped around us in the morning.
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10 comments:
Well, at least they have found the source of his tummy ache! And they have a course of action, which is a good thing. Wouldn't you know it - he gets an appetite and they either won't let him eat, or they give him a stuff no one would want to eat! So goes hospitals!
We will be praying in EST for his good health! I am confident that the Lord is just making this another little bump in the road to his recovery.
Love, prayers (in EST), and good health!
Gail
Nancy and Bill,
As I read your updates and all the issues that are thrown your way, I'm reminded of a little "Keep the Faith" book that a friend had given us during all the procedures Tom endured. On one page it says a quote from Mother Theresa, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much." Keep the faith, we continue to be with you in prayer.
Blessings,
Julie Schlegel
Because I am a middle school teacher, I want to scream--"This just isn't fair!" Then I remind my self that we don't live in fair, we live in faith. We will be praying for both of you tomorrow and will hope that the surgery makes Bill feel better and Nancy breathe easier.
Love you, Ann and Jim Reego
Oh my goodness! Crazy things just keep happening, don't they. At least this is somehting the doctor can do something about. Bill is always in our prayers.
Lynn and Lake
Uncle Bill can never have things uncomplicated for him. Those little, nasty, small issues always pop up at the wrong time. Hopefully the chemo will take it's course and those white little fighters will start building along with the platelets.
May this procedure go on without complication. We will be thinking and praying for you.
Lots of love & prayers,
E.B.
Praying for a successful surgery in the morning EST. Hope all goes well and you will again put another bump in the road behind you.
Take care,
Love and prayers,
Paula and Jim
Praying for a successful surgery this morning. I know its been such a rollercoaster ride, but we will keep the prayers coming. Keep the faith. God Love you both. Gail and Chris
Best of luck during the surgery! I hope all goes smoothly and that the road leading down into this valley curves upward as soon as possible. We'll be thinking of you and hoping that everything goes well. Hang in there, Bill and Nancy!
- Janet and John
As my Grandmother use to say - "If it aint piss ants, its bed bugs". You are doing all you can and we wish we could do more. Love you guys.
David Eaker
I don't know Dave Eaker but I certainly appreciate his grandmother. Bill has to love that comment. Thanks for making me laugh out loud today.
Lynn
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