Ten months ago I posted a picture of me at the VMC ER waiting for a hospital room, a visit prompted by a GI bleed. This picture is after this week's repeat trans-jugular liver biopsy at UWMC. The intervening months have been a multifaceted adventure with multiple medical procedures and a second GI bleed hospitalization. Along the way I've been richly blessed by the prayers of faithful friends and family.
I've always believed that people who agree to pray also deserve to be kept up to date, and I have to confess that I have not done as well in that department as I'd like to. Valerie has done much better than I have in that regard, but with an ever-changing medical schedule and a continuing search for elusive answers, I've left some good friends praying in the dark. I'm hoping this post will provide enough background and current info to help correct that. If you want more (or less!) info, feel free to holler.
First, a bit of history: For a few years before the first bleed, I had been tracking a slowly sinking platelet count. For me that triggered memories of Joan's blood cancer adventures. Particularly in her last months, her lack of platelets was a major issue. Low platelets can be a production issue (bone marrow, as in Joan's case?), destruction issue (malfunctioning immune system?) or a storage issue (where are they hiding, and why?) An enlarged spleen pointed toward the storage answer.
The doctors then looked for a reason for the enlarged spleen. Assorted tests and the first bleed led to a tentative diagnosis of portal hypertension (increased blood pressure in the digestive system), a condition that does fit the enlarged spleen, low platelets, and GI bleeds, but is usually the result of alcoholism and liver damage. But my liver seemed to be functioning normally, and I don't even like the taste of alcohol, so the focus of the search shifted again to seek a reason for the portal hypertension, a question that has not yet been fully answered. My GI doctor had only seen one other case of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, and that one was caused by a parasite (one more negative test for me!) Meanwhile he has referred me to a liver specialist at the University of Washington to help with the search for answers.
Three months ago I experienced a second bleed and hospitalization (along with an incidental positive covid test) and was blessed with four units of other people's blood. Since then the medical schedule has been much busier than I would like. Most recently that has included an endoscopy last week in which the doctor removed a benign duodenal polyp and banded five veins that may or may not have been the source of the bleeds, and this weeks repeat liver biopsy, this time at UW. On the schedule going forward are a zoom visit next week with the UW liver specialist and another liver MRI the following week at Valley Medical Center.
The good news is that for a guy whose calendar has been dominated by medical stuff, I feel pretty good in spite of energy returning more slowly than I would like in the wake of the last bleed. Usually I like to wait to pass along information until I have something definite to share, but the nature of this odyssey is such that I don't know when or if that time will come. Meanwhile, know that your prayers and concern are deeply valued. Once again a significant part of our joy comes from God's gift of praying people like you. Thank you!
