Not having a good weekend. Mum has been poorly for 2 weeks now, a sickness bug, however she seemed to be getting better at towards the end of Friday. Then Saturday lunch time she called me in agony, ended up in hospital and has severe pancreatitis brought about by gall stones. She is in a lot of pain, is severly dehydrated and her blood pressure is frighteningly low. They have her on a drip and are constantly pushing fluids into her, along with pain killers and antibiotics. Tomorrow she has an ultra sound to see how her pancreas and gall bladder is before they decide if they are going to operate. I am very worried indeed so if I am not around for a while, you will understand.
Oh, EJ, your poor mom and you,too. Here's hoping for some better news soon. Love and prayers are coming your way. dooley
I hope the treatment your mum is getting works quickly for her and that she's soon feeling much better. If they decide to operate then I'll have everything crossed that she comes through her surgery well and is pain free in a very short time. If you get the chance could you let us know how she's doing? Pass on my love to her and look after yourself too.
Wow...that's bad news, EJ...not only for your mum, but also for the surgeons. That combination of cholecystitis with acute pancreatitis puts them in a quandry. There is the choice of first removing the gallbladder in hopes of lessening the inflammation/infection of the pancreas. The other school of thought being to first lessen or cure the pancreatic inflammation before doing the surgery. There have been studies with opposite results, so I can imagine that your mum's docs are chatting about this problem alot. Well, at least these days when they do the cholecystectomy it will be done via a laparascope and that is much less traumatic for the patient. We are all rooting for your mum, that's for sure. Take care of yourself and try and stay rested. They will know soon enough when they will be able to do the procedure. I'm not going to say, "Don't worry.", it's not something that you have control over, is it. Hang in there, Emma...we're with you on this one.
Oh man - I do feel for you. THis is not good. Hang in there and hope for the best. I will keep you and your mom in my thoughts. Stay strong - until I hear from you again.
Evening all. Spent the day at the hospital with mum today. The ultra sound first showed a 'large mass' around the pancreas and liver, so of course, she feared the worse and thought it was cancer. However more and more examinations and prodings and pokings and they finally discovered that she has a huge perforated ulcer in her stomach which has caused a large build up of liquid around her liver, pancreas and so on, which has caused the pancreatitis and gall bladder inflamation. So at last they are able to get on with treating her. They are pumping her full of liquid and she is so dehydrated and her kidneys started to fail, they are also pumping her full of blood thickners to try and get her blood pressure up. Along with that they are filling her with antibiotics to stop the infection inside her getting any worse. At least now she isn't in any great pain and is refusing pain killers. She still has tubes going in at all angles and isn't allowed to eat, hasn't had any solids since a bowl of cornflakes Saturday morning. Hopefully they will allow her some simple foods tomorrow. She is a lot perkier, after an incredibly tearful day yesterday, and is now uncomfortable due to the tubes. They have moved her into a private room as she is so poorly and because of all the pipework. She has been stuck with so many needles for blood tests, IV's, blood thinners and thickners and so on, she is so bruised, looking like a pin cushion!! Anyhows, my sister is with her tomorrow for part of the day, then her best friend for the rest of the day, and then I will go back on Thursday. Thank you for all of your well wishes. As well here on the Stew know, all of our combined cyber love, thoughts and prayers help immensly. You are all stars!!
That sounds like good news. I hope it doesn't take long for her to be feeling better and that they get things cleared up for her. We're still adding our prayers and good thoughts are coming your way. dooley
