May 15, 2013

DAY 78 – MORE FUN TO COME

 

I’ve been having nausea and diarrhea for the last few days.  We saw Dr. S yesterday and he says it may be GVH, Graft Vs. Host disease.  GVH is common in transplants.  I’m hoping that this will be a mild case since I had a sibling donor. 

Typically GVH manifests itself in the skin, rashes and such.  My skin is doing great but digestive track, no so well. So tomorrow I have a full GI series.  They will look down my throat and up my stoma.  The stoma is the nipple created protruding from the abdomen to replace the rectum. I’ve have mine since the emergency surgery back last September.  The surgeon, Dr. R, refers to my stoma as a ”beautiful nipple”.  I’ve had colonoscopies before, no big deal, just get the injection and sleep. They do their thing and you wake up groggy.  I confess it might be interesting to be awke this time because they will be going in the stoma instead of the “regular” way.  I say interesting and it would be except that there is no way I’m staying awake for one of these procedures.  That would too strange, painful, weird, creepy, etc.

So today I’m doing the fun part, the prep for the procedure.  Most of you I’m sure know that this means drinking a half gallon of a mixture that cleans you out.  Really cleans you out.  Everything has to be clear.  The GI guys are picky that way but having heard tales of folks not cleaning before the procedure I can understand why.

We go back to Dr. S on Friday to get the results.  I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Boone