Serious confessional
 

Been debating whether or not to share this, as I'm a pretty private kind of guy, but everyone here's pretty cool.

I'll hopefully be going in for some semi-major surgery on April 14. Last summer, after much medical testing, I was diagnosed with a rare (I've read anywhere from 8 per million in the US to 3000 new cases diagnosed annually), non-fatal, incurable, and completely horrid disease called achalasia. What this means is that the nerves in my esophagus have all died and the valve at the bottom will not relax to allow the passage of food. Eating is virtually impossible and drinking is next to impossible. I've stopped eating almost all together (I've tried to eat twice since a few days before Easter), and i only fight through the pain of drinking because I have to. It is progressive and has gotten significantly worse in the last three months. I've dropped 25 lbs since Christmas, 10 of those in the last month.

All therapies tried thus far have been unsuccessful, leaving surgery as the last option. The surgery doesn't fix the nerves, but basically cuts away the muscles from the valve to allow the passage of food more easily. However, I had an appointment with my surgeon who said I've dropped too much weight too quickly to endure surgery and he won't operate unless I get a feeding tube. So Monday, I got what's called a PICC line (kind of like an IV but in the far upper right inner arm - a Periferally Inserted Central Catheter) and am hooked up to a nutritional supplement 24 hours a day and will be until surgery. I have to at least maintain weight and preferably gain a couple of pounds or he won't operate.

So....not trying to complain, but any here who offer prayers to a higher power, I'd appreciate it. I really, really, really have to have the surgery, as the symptoms have been going on for two years and it has gotten really, really, really old.

Hey scaeagles, that sounds rough. I'm sorry that you have to go through such discomfort. I'm glad to hear that there's a solution. My thoughts are with you.
I, for one, also promise to try to keep your spirits up by keeping you entertained on the board.
Feel better, man.

Pull the tube! Pull the tube!! ;) Just trying to keep you in a good mood. No medical procedure is fun, especially such a serious one. Good to know you're getting something done about it, and it seems you're in good hands with a doctor who's actually paying attention to you instead of just getting you under the knife to collect the insurance payment.

Good luck, our thoughts are with you.

Yeah - my wife started calling me "Schiavo". Funny.

Well, Schiavo, at least you've got hope!

You keep up the laughter and I'll keep up the hope and prayers for a successful surgery and a quick recovery - and NEVER lose your sense of humor.

I'll be thinking about you. Surgery can be fun if there are drugs involved afterwards. I loved my druggie recovery.

I hope that you'll be back to eating food and drinking comfortably in the very near future. In the meantime, fatten up my friend.

Oh Leo, I hope you gain the weight you need this week so you can have surgery soon. I can't even imagine what you're dealing with right now. PICC lines are no fun, but hopefully you'll get the nourishment you need to get surgery that will help. We'll be thinking of you. Please keep us posted.....you've gone and done it. I'm speechless.

Oh yikes, that sounds horrendeous. Hugs and prayers to you, Scaeagles.

Good thoughts coming your way ~ hope you're back to full health soon.

I'm with Claire, PICC lines are no fun...
Hopefully it will fatten you right up and they'll whisk you away and deal with this hitch in your plans.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

L, yikes! I am so sorry to hear this. But I'm glad that you told us.

You will be in my prayers until you're feeling fiesty enough to muster a good political argument, and then you'll still be in my prayers. Hang in there, I know you can face this challenging time and you have a support net to keep you afloat when you need it.

Thoughts are with you and your family! Scary, awful stuff. Good luck.

Hey, maybe it's the pain that's been causing all those irrational though...err...opposing political opinions.

I have put red tape over my mouth as a show of solidarity, scaeagles. But seriously, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Take care of yourself, Leo.

Since you first told me about what you're going through, you've been on my mind. I'm glad you let everyone know and have given everyone a chance to express their love and support. Who doesn't need a little love spread over 'em every once in a while, huh?

You be strong, keep a positive attitude and come back to us stronger and healthier. I want you fit and feisty for the '06 revolution

Wishing you the best,
Sam

Bro, that sucks, I don't think I could go without drinking, I love my guinness too much.........but I will keep you in my thoughts, and prayers.

Wow, Leo, you've already been through a lot. I'm glad you shared this with us. What a heavy load to carry. You will definitely be remembered in my prayers. I hope you'll put the weight on very soon so you can get the surgery out of the way. I'm sure you'll feel much better afterward. Take care and know that you have a lot of people pulling for you. Feel better soon!!

Wow, sorry to hear this Schiavo Leo. I will definitely keep you in my prayers. Is there a date yet for the surgery?

Kevin

scaeagles,

I'm saddened and shocked to hear what you are going through. I hope that the I.V. will do it's job so that you can have the surgery and start feeling better. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts through these tough times you are facing. Thank you for sharing this and please keep us updated on how things are going. I hope you are able to find some relief soon from this awful disease. Take care, my friend.

Scheduled for April 14th, but only if I can maintain/gain weight.

Good Heavens, I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but glad to hear there's some surgical treatment that may give you some relief. I'll certainly be pulling for you and offer my good thought and good will towards a quick recovery. We'll do our best to keep this place an entertaining distraction for you.

I wonder if you can blend up a corndog or two and funnel it down that tube.

This is the part where I have a tendency to say something wildly inappropriate in a vain attempt to lighten the mood. See? Already my brain says: "vain? Vein! PICC line!" Alas. It's not even funny. So I'll just sit over here and think happy thoughts at you. Rainbows. Fluffy bunnies. Kittens. Ah yes, kittens. And when you're feeling better, you can turn them into poptarts.

Thought about something from In and Out Burger, but the damn tube is hooked up to a 1.2 micron filter. Don't think I could blend it that fine.

Surely a milk shake could ooze on through!

Wow, that's pretty heavy.

I'm relieved to hear that you must have a pretty decent HMO at least. Kaiser would probably just prescribe a throat lozenge and a protein drink and send you on your way. ;)

I'll be praying for you and keeping my fingers crossed. I’m sure that you’ve built up enough good Karma to pull you through this and hopefully you'll be back to downing cheeseburgers within a few short months!

Take care.

My father had a feeding tube put in last year (due to Parkinson's) and they were even able to get his weight back up pretty quickly!

I'm thinking good thoughts for you. {{hugs}}

Good thoughts and prayers going your way. :)
Thank you for sharing.

I've been thinking about you and your surgery. I have full faith that all will go well. Our thoughts are definitely with you.

Maybe a Dole Whip?

:cheers: to a speedy recovery and :snap: for the future!

Mark

I will keep you in my prayers....we need to have that other political side well feed and feeling good!

Oh! My thoughts are with you, Leo!

Gain that weight! Get that surgery, and know that tramspotter & I are thinking of you!

Well, 'Schiavo', there is no doubt as to whether or not your brain is intact- you may be on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but you are a fine sparring partner in debate!

I have pretty severe esophogeal reflex, and there are times my esophogeous just shuts down, which hurts like hell and makes eating an ordeal. I truly feel for you. Please let us know how you are, and thank you for trusting us twisted mofo's with such personal info- we really do care about and for you, and will be there for you in whatever way we can!

Scaeagles-I'm sorry to hear you have to go under surgery but it sounds like it's necessary. Keep up your high spirits! Here's for hoping for a better tomorrow!!!

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

If you like, my grandma can put you on the Southern Baptist prayer chain, she's just a phone call away in Iowa. They are at least a thousand strong, that should give you a whole lot of good vibes!

Keep your spirits up and do what the Dr says!

Thanks for all the kind sentiments - I gained a half pound! Woo-hoo! I'm actually amazed at how much better I feel after having this feeding tube for 3 days. Guess I didn't realize how exceptionally crappy I was feeling.

Wait....the fog is clearing....I'm a conservative? May it never be! Now that I feel better, I love Nancy Pelosi. I love Hillary Clinton. Wow.

OK - not. :p

Well, you have only been on the feeding tube for 3 days. Let's give it another 3. A little more nourishment to the brain should set you on the right course. :)

Oh wow Leo! I'm so sorry! I know this is worse on your mental game than anything...you always sound like such an active person and this must be really tough!

I'll keep you in my prayers. You and your family....as I'm sure your a joy to live with right now!!! ;)


Everything will work out...you'll be good as new before long!

It sucked when my doctor told me I had to stop working out daily. Haven't exercised in a month. Feel like a blob.

My hell would be heaven for others - been told by my doctor to gain weight and stop exercising. Sigh.

No chance of that happening, unless they start adding hallucinagins (sp?) to the nutritional supplement. :p

That really is excellent news!! :) Keep up the good work, Leo! I've got 8 lbs. that I would like to donate to the cause if I could....:rolleyes:

I try not to take my good health for granted, one never knows what tomorrow will bring. Because feeling crappy is, well, errrr....really crappy.

Get strong, Leo! I'm prayin' for ya'!!!

Hell scaeagles, I've easily got 30 lbs. that I would Fedex overnight to you if I could.

And I'll throw in about 50. I have an opposite problem. My Grave's Disease has just packed on the pounds. You can have them all.

I am deeply touched by the offers of excess fat.

We could start of telethon..."Send Leo Your Excess Fat"...give what you can people...dig deep...every pound helps!!!! ;)

I can't donate fat (they won't even let me donate blood) but I'll offer to be his "tube watcher" to make sure no one tries to pull it on him prematurely. ;)

I'm going to write to my congressman and have him draft a bill that would make me his legal guardian and order the tube be pulled.

Line up behind my wife - I have too much life insurance to be feeling really confident in my status at present. She'd be living mighty comfortably.

Hahaha!! Yeah, my husband would be feeling a bit nervous too. ;)

Tube pulling might be just what the doctor ordered... well the hot nurse anyhow... wink wink nudge nudge

Seriously Leo, keep on keeping on and feel better real soon after your successful surgery.

Will keep you in our thoughts

The nurses who have been coming to my home thus far to assist me with my PICC line and draw blood haven't been....anyone I'd want pulling the tube, ya know what I mean?

Small victories - I'm up two lbs since Monday. Guess I won't be requiring the fat stores from those of you that have so graciously offered them.

I'm so glad to hear that. That's excellent news!

Woohoo! Yay, Leo!! :)

Dude, no worries, you'll be all fat in no time. :cool:

Thanks for the update. Glad to know the process is moving ahead. The LoT vibes are with you...

Wow. What a horrible disease. I'm sorry to hear it scaeagles. I will be sending good swanky calorie laden vibes your way!

Glad to hear of the progress, scaeagles. Here's to continued success!

Met with my surgeon today. Gained three lbs, bloodwork all good now, so the surgery will happen this Thursday.

Bad news is they want me to keep the PICC line for two weeks after the surgery, as I'll be on only liquids for a week after. I suppose I can deal with that.

Thanks for all the well wishes.

Good job! Those smooshed up In-n-Out burgers did what they are designed to do!

I'll be thinking about you on Thursday. I hope your recovery is speedy and you're back to eating somewhat normally soon.

That's great! You'll be your old self again real soon!!!!

Glad to hear that the surgery is going forward. Not because I wish surgery on anyone, but rather, I hope it helps you to find some relief from what you've been going through.

On a side note, I don't know how long you will be in the hospital for but I would be happy to send an Al Franken book for you to read. :)

Seriously though, I wish you a speedy recovery from your surgery and hope everything goes smoothly. We'll be thinking of you.

Excellent news, skankeagles! I'll be sending positive vibes your way Thursday.

That's wonderful news! :) I'll be thinking of you on Thursday. Here's to a successful surgery and a speedy recovery! :cheers:

Well, while on large doses of demerol may be the only time I could handle such a book.

I'm so glad they can do the surgery! I wish you a very speedy recovery, and I'll be sure to send you some of alan colmes' favorite links to read while you're all hopped up on the big D!

First, it was 2 pounds, now it's 3 pounds more?

If you get fat, you can't be my number one crush any more. ;)



Seriously, this is excellent news. Relief is around the corner for you, bro.

Here's to a speedy recovery!

3 total. Sorry for the confusion.

Suddenly, I find new will to fight throught the pain of eating. ;)

Just had a pre surgery test where I swallow (challanging) some radioactive liquid so they can get a good xray outline of the esophagus. I could see the screen with the xrays on it. For those of you that are interested, there's a picture on this website of EXACTLY what my esophagus looks like (website's lower portion, left side) and a general description of the surgery.

http://www.smallscars.com/pages/proc_dx/hellermyo.html

OMG, Leo's showing us his sphincter. He really HAS opened up here!

Good luck tomorrow, hope all goes well.

Not THAT sphincter! I hate that word. Note in the OP I used the word (though inaccurate) "valve" to avoid juvenile jokes like that. :)

Of course, if it were someone else, I'd make the same juvenile joke.

"In this laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon limits the action of the muscles that close the lower esopheageal sphincter (LES). This allows food to pass more easily into the stomach from the esophagus."

Technically, Scaeagles won't be 'opening' up until after his surgery, which I wish him the best of luck with!

Do you even realize how long I've kept myself from making a sphincter joke?

Can I get a witness??

Your restraint is both noted and admired.

Hehehe. He said sphincter.

scaeagles, good luck with the sphincter surgery. ;)

Guess my restraint will be neither noted, nor admired. Oh well.

I do wish you a speedy recovery and a quick return to the boards. We'll keep you in our thoughts.

Good Luck tomorrow! We'll be thinking of you!

Get well soon...we'll miss you til your back!

Well, I'm off to the hospital. I cannot than you all enough for the well wishes and I will let you know how it went as soon as I can.

Oh my goodness!!

Good luck, and I'll be keeping you in my thoughts!!

Speedy recovery!!

:D:D:D:D

Let's all send out positive Mojo to Leo today. He will feel it.

as usual I have been preoccupied and distracted and came in late enough to not even wish you well before you left for the hospital. :(

All my well wishes are with you Leo- may the surgery have stunning success.

*hugs*

Thinking about you today, Leo, and hoping for a successful operation and a speedy recovery.

Hope all goes well today, Leo, and leads to a speedy recovery. We are thinking of you.

You were one of my first thoughts this morning. I hope all goes well and that your recovery is fast. Let us know how are are as soon as you can.

Hugs,

Lisa

*mojoing Leo*

Hey. That's not as dirty as you think it is, ol' boy.

Here's some more good vibes for Leo! I'm sure you'll be up and eating your words in no time. :D

Sending good, mojo, happy healing vibes your way, Leo.

-Audra

*mojo for Leo*

I've been thinking of you today, Leo. I hope all went well and you're now moving on to a quick recovery. More good vibes and mojo fo you!! :)

Home now and quite sore. Although I am sucking down a jamba juice which is actually entering my stomach. Some discomfort, but the mechanics are working better than I can remember in about 2 years. I'll be on liquids for the next week or so. Thanks again for the thoughts and prayers and mojo and PMs. The doc says everything went exceptionally well, and the pictures of my innards were interesting, to say the least.

Some post surgical observations:

I am quite thankful that my catheter was both inserted and removed while I was unconscious. Peeing hurts like hell after a catheter is inserted and removed.

After having all the hair shaved off my stomach, I realize it I need more sun. It is white and pasty looking and pretty much disgusting.

I prefer pain to nausea. The pain medicines were making me sick to my stomach, so I abandoned pain medicine and am actually not doing too badly with pain.

I have it a whole lot better than any other person I saw in the hospital and have a hell of a lot to be thankful for. Some mighty, mighty sick and hurting people. And lonely - many had no one there with them ever that I saw.

Happy, smiling nurses make patients feel a lot better than cranky, frowning ones.

That would be about all for now, I guess.

Thanks again, and know that I am doing pretty well.

Leo

I'm glad you're home and that everything went well! I agree that a hospital can be a very sad and depressing place.

Keep sucking down that jamba juice and feel much better soon!!

Thanks for the update. It's really good to know that you're okay. :)

I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Here's to a swift recovery!

So good to hear from you!
Now that's fantastic news. The miracles of modern medicine!

Now we're all pulling for an easy recovery. :)

Well, then, if you have any left over medication...I can help dispose of it in a safe manner. ;)

Glad you're back and recovering.

scaeagles, great to hear that things went well. I hope the pain is minimal and wish you a speedy recovery. Thanks for the update.

YAY! An update from you! I was patiently waiting, but wondering none the less. I'm so glad the surgery went splendidly and that your recovery is moving along in the right direction. In a few weeks time, you'll be back yo your old self again and standing up for the right - wing, that is. ;)

BTW, maybe it's just a female thing, but a catheter never caused me pee-pain.

Thanks for the update Leo. I've been thinking about you a lot and I am glad to see you posting.

All the best for a speedy recovery.

Yeah Leo! :)

That's great news! So glad you are home and on the mend!

I remember from my Paramedic days that there were three things I swore I would never allow anyone to do to me 1. Nasal Gastric Tube 2. Chest Tube and 3. Urinary Catheter! :(

(until I was in labor with Kat and they wouldn't let me get out of bed, a catheter was sounding pretty good! )

I feel your pain! :(

I just love waking up to good news. I know your wife and kids are thrilled and relieved to see "Daddy" on the mend.

So am I!

I have an unfilled prescription for percocet. We can discuss terms of me filling it and sending it to you. :)

I swear, my surgeon is simply amazing. If I pop some ibuprofen I can hardly tell I've had surgery now (as long as I don't cough or sneeze). I feel better than I EVER though I would at this point. I'm not even 72 hours post op yet. Don't think I'll be hopping on my elliptical or eating a t-bone for a while still, but I am beyond excited. I still have my PICC line in, though not eating through it at present, in case there were difficulties eating for a while, but it's looking like I'll get that out this week.

I will probably gain 50 lbs in the next 6 months eating all the things I haven't been able to for so long.

Thanks for the good vibes. Certainly helped!

Woohoo!! Three cheers for the surgeon...awesome! :snap: This must be such a huge relief for you, Leo.

Heh heh...I just read your post on the Delay thread, Scaeagles, and I knew you must be doing good!;) Very big congrats, and I hope you continue to heal quickly and pack on those pounds! :snap:

Glad to hear you're feeling better - Now you've got to come to the park, I figure we can start you with a dole whip now and we'll work up to a corn dog.

Congrats! Happy to hear the surgery went well. :)

This is fantastic news. I'm so glad and so relieved to hear you're recovering so quickly.

Your surgeon sounds like he's very, very good. Major snaps to him, and even more to you for having such a great attitude!

It's good to hear you're recovering well, scaeagles.

It's all well and good that you feel better, but there are much more important issues to discuss.

Such as -- are the scars sexy enough to pass off later as remnants from your past in covert-ops/the mob/an alien abduction plot?

Congratulations on both the success of your operation and the percocet. But mostly on the percocet.

Have you decided on your first official meal? I know what mine would be, T-bone steak, blood rare. My famous potato salad and pecan pie ala percocet.

Hooray for some good news. If your very good doctor has a sense of humor, you can ask: "What's up, doc?" In the meanwhile, here's another Jamba Juice for you (with an umbrella, too). :cheers:

Hmmm....I'll have to think up a good front story.

Well, actually, the surgery IS the front story to explain the 6 bullet holes I got in my abdomen while on a covert op. That's all I can tell you, or I'd have to kill you.

Unfortunately, I've got to work my way up to such fine suggestions at the T-bone, blood rare (something I am truly looking forward to). Been told to take it easy for a while, so I've been doing some pasta. I figure in a week I'll be investigating more delicious options.

scaeagles:

I lurked here but haven't looked in a while (don't know if you remember me from Fab's or as wwithers on MP). I just saw this thread. I am so sorry to hear about your disease but am really happy that your surgery went so fantastically.

You sound really great and I'm hoping for a continued speedy recovery for you. :)

Been escorting recently freed journalists to the Baghdad airport again, Leo? ;)



All kidding aside, I'm relieved to hear all went well with your surgery and recovery is now underway and progressing nicely. :snap:

No, actually.....all I can tell you is that I know too much about the Clintons. :p

Oh, did Bill stain your dress too?

I have been known to go under deep cover, but not that deep. I'd be one ugly woman.

Sorry to bump myself up to the front, but I am simply amazed a thow incredible I feel being able to eat. I had no idea how much my disease was doing to me in terms of energy level.

I've already started working out again.

I'm in the process of planning a much needed garage sale.

I did some much needed yard work - bigger stuff like planting new stuff and trimming trees.

I'm planning moving a wall to put some built in cabinets in the laundry room.

And this is just one week post op!

Just wanted to say how great I feel after telling ou how horrible I've felt.

That's excellent news! It's great to hear that you're doing better. I hope that your health and renewed vigor doesn't keep you from being too much of a computer-potato, though. We wouldn't want you to miss out on the lively debates here in the LoT.

Woo Hoo! Happy healing!

Hurrah, Leo! So glad to hear you're up to your old tricks again. I figured as much when I saw you started a humor thread. Good humor is with you, grasshopper.

When you've been sick so long you forget what it feels like to be well. I have sleep apnea, and for years had been interrupting my sleep cycles with swell choking due to a constructed airway. I fell asleep during movies that I was enjoying, I could hardly drive at night without dozing, I was a walking zombie. It wasn't until I got my CPAP machine that I realized just how exhausted I was. So enjoy the feeling of health, my friend! Now is the time that you appreciate it the most.

So when are you going to come down and have your corndog?

I want to know when you're going to come down and do some work around OUR house?

I'm glad you are feeling better! Just don't overwork yourself.

scaeagles, that is absolutely terrific news. I'm glad to hear that you are mending nicely...and quickly too! It must be nice to have this newfound energy. NA is right though, don't push yourself too much.

Thanks for the update! :snap:

:cheers:

Bet you feel like Superman compared to how you felt before! :)

Glad to hear things are so fantastic!

:cheers: