Really?

    I've had a few people ask me about my test results from my CT scan. I apologize for my delay. The truth of the matter is we received news last Tuesday that my CT scan showed no occlusion in the portal vein or TIPS. But on Friday one of my doctors called and said that after reviewing the CT scan again, they found what appears to be a cyst on my pancreas. I asked him about treatment and he said that they would have to go in and drain it to see if it was cancerous. He also told me that most pancreatic cysts are benign and that he didn't feel like there was anything to worry about. Of course it is hard not to worry about; so I have been dealing with this in my own head.
   When I asked him what would happen if there was cancer, he said that they would have to remove part of the pancreas and that in the worst case scenario I would be removed from the transplant list. The procedure is called an EUS and my appointment is scheduled for the 10th of January. That gives me a whole lot of time to worry. Sigh.

New MELD (Kind of)

   I had my labs done yesterday. My MELD dropped 2 points. It was a bit discouraging in the midst of everything else that was going on. I also managed to get my ultrasound scheduled for this morning. I figured that since it was scheduled for 7:15 in the morning, it would go fast and I'd be out in less than hour. While the technician performed her task, I told her about my blood clot in the portal vein and asked if she could look at it. I was curious about its size. When the test was nearly done she had trouble looking at the whole area. She excused herself and went and got her boss hoping he would have better luck. He seemed a bit bewildered and asked, "You've had a TIPS procedure?" We told him yes and let him know it was at the beginning of the year. He explained that he couldn't see any blood moving through the portal vein and it looked like the TIPs procedure wasn't doing its job.
   Some of you might remember the TIPs was put in to help me with my ascites and to re-route the blood flow that was alarming the doctors because the varice in my stomach were dangerously close to bursting. The tech didn't like what he was seeing and admitted that the equipment they were using wasn't picking up the images the way it was supposed to because it was old. He took his readings to the radiologist and the radiologist called one of my doctors to tell him what was going on. Unfortunately it was still early and we had to wait around for a couple hours. Lois headed back to work so I decided to go to my transplant clinic and wait to hear from my doctor. I figured if I was there and he showed up then he could come out and talk to me. Meanwhile Lois had decided to turn around and come back and wait with me. I felt bad because she had taken so much time off yesterday. Eventually my doctor called and my nurse set up a CT scan that he wanted. Now we have to wait for the results. They told me it it would be 24 to 48 hours. I am hoping to hear something on Friday, but I'm guessing it won't be until Monday. This has really been a lousy couple weeks. I have 10 days off, three days have already passed. I am going to vegetate for the next 7 days. Maybe. I don't know yet. I'm going to be housebreaking a puppy. More on that later.