Post by Kathy_from_England on Nov 30, 2003 15:20:45 GMT -5
Quick recap: Gary has been having partial blockages plus two total blockages for the last 2 1/2 years. It's taken our wonderful NHS all this time just to examine him from stomach to stoma to see what the reason is!
He's had the results back from his last test, a biopsy, which show nothing wrong.
Basically, the doctor doesn't know what is causing the blockages but has ruled out anything nasty.
He thinks it's a possibility that there is inflammation there - not from crohn's but possibly from some old sutures.
He tried Gary on a low dose of steroids, but he couldn't tolerate the side-affects.
So he hopes the liquid diet (which Gary has now started) will help calm his system down.
He also thinks the inflammation could be causing Polycythaemia - too many red blood cells in his bloodstream, indicating a lack of oxygen.
He went to the hospital this week to have a pint of blood removed. The nurse had great difficulty getting the needle in (he always presents as a problem) and eventually managed only to have the blood stop flowing after a minutes or so.
She sent for another needle and bag - to be told the hospital no longer keeps them in stock. They've changed the system and the nurses have to pre-order them. Problem is, no-one informed the nurses of the change in system!
Gary did offer to lend them a bag, but no-one took him up on it, lol!
So he and another patient with a similar problem were sent home and the hospital will ring when more bags are in stock...whenever that may be!
Finally, it was our school Christmas Fair on Friday. A raffle was drawn and I won one of the big prizes........a meal for two at a local restaurant!!!!!
Maybe Gary could come along and drink his liquid meal next to me. ;D
He's had the results back from his last test, a biopsy, which show nothing wrong.
Basically, the doctor doesn't know what is causing the blockages but has ruled out anything nasty.
He thinks it's a possibility that there is inflammation there - not from crohn's but possibly from some old sutures.
He tried Gary on a low dose of steroids, but he couldn't tolerate the side-affects.
So he hopes the liquid diet (which Gary has now started) will help calm his system down.
He also thinks the inflammation could be causing Polycythaemia - too many red blood cells in his bloodstream, indicating a lack of oxygen.
He went to the hospital this week to have a pint of blood removed. The nurse had great difficulty getting the needle in (he always presents as a problem) and eventually managed only to have the blood stop flowing after a minutes or so.
She sent for another needle and bag - to be told the hospital no longer keeps them in stock. They've changed the system and the nurses have to pre-order them. Problem is, no-one informed the nurses of the change in system!
Gary did offer to lend them a bag, but no-one took him up on it, lol!
So he and another patient with a similar problem were sent home and the hospital will ring when more bags are in stock...whenever that may be!
Finally, it was our school Christmas Fair on Friday. A raffle was drawn and I won one of the big prizes........a meal for two at a local restaurant!!!!!
Maybe Gary could come along and drink his liquid meal next to me. ;D
I know that is a dumb question as they have probably done everything they could except get with it stocking medical supplies. 
No excuse there! Good talking to you today! Wish I was on the other side of the pond, sometimes so I could a least be in the same time zone.
