Cliff's brother came and took us to Cliff's appointment with the surgeon. We left the house at 8:30 and got home about 2:30, so it was a difficult day for Cliff, although I can see him gaining strength every day. A nurse took the staples out of the incision. The doctor then sent us to St. Mary's to get an MRI and a blood test. While we were in his office, he was talking about the surgery and said, "When we saw that hole in a bile duct, we thought, "How are we going to fix this?"
Well, they are still working on that. Poor Cliff.
The surgeon called a while ago with the results of today's test: There's still a little pocket of fluid floating under the liver. They are going to try and schedule a cat scan tomorrow, and possibly remove some of that fluid with a needle. If that doesn't do the trick, there's also a possibility they may have to put a larger stent in that bile duct than the one that's in there, which would mean another procedure where they go down his throat. Cliff is, naturally, pretty depressed. He's tired of not feeling good, tired of being weak, and tired of having to force food down. I do trust that they are doing everything they can to get him feeling better. I could hear the disappointment in the surgeon's voice when he called. Cliff is an unusual case, and I think the doctors are having to play it by ear, to a large extent.
Dangit.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear.
Hoping for one big change for the better very soon. Good luck to Cliff.
And you.
This was tough to hear I know, for both of you. They say everything happens for a reason. Maybe Cliff is just supposed to slow down for a while.
ReplyDeleteWell shoot
ReplyDeleteHow exhausting and depressing for both of you! The docs are doing the best they can, as you said, but it doesn't make his condition any easier to deal with. :(
ReplyDeleteHope things change for the better soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pain. Better get it taken care of though. It sounds like he is doing ok at home. Good luck with the fence.
ReplyDeletepraying
ReplyDeleteOh darn. I sure hope they can get it fixed easily, and Cliff starts feeling better! Prayers for both of you! Wendy
ReplyDeleteStill sending prayers for you both. That is such a tricky part of the human body, but then again, the human body can be pretty miraculous in healing. In the meantime - It IS depressing, darn it. Hope and pray they fix him up soon. -Tammy
ReplyDeleteWell, I was so hoping he was over all the problems. Maybe they will continue to try and fix and will succeed next time. I will keep praying that God gives the doctor's wisdom. Praying for all of you.
ReplyDeleteWill be keeping you both in my prayers. I hope they could remove the fluid without further surgery. I know Cliff has to be tired of not feeling well. He's always been so active and busy and must be missing puttering in his shop and working on tractors.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I had my gall bladder out on Friday and Wed. the next week went back to work. i felt better after I had it done than i had in over a year. I just had the little holes though. Daddy had a lot of trouble when he had his removed.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Cliff will be better soon.
It sounds like the doctors are being very careful with him and are making sure that they make the right decisions. I hope they get Cliff fixed up soon, so he can start feeling better!
ReplyDelete