Sunday, June 22, 2008

Charles, NC

Charles had to go for an Endoscophy yesterday (6/19/08) and the results were not all that good. He is scheduled for another test June 26th and also a blood test(liver panel) that morning. The doctor told us yesterday that his esophagus showed "blood veins" ( like varicose veins) and that indicates some sort of liver disease. He has a follow up doctor's appointment for July 28th. Needless to say, we are a little nervous about it....but hopefully everything will turn out ok.

I forgot to mention in the other email but he is going this coming Monday (6/23) for another shot in his spine. His back is still bothering him quite a bit. I am afraid he may be looking at surgery for that. I sure hope not. Please add him to your Prayer and Praise list. We are both worried about it. The doctor showed quite a bit of concern when talking to us about the situation with his esophagus/liver.
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14 comments:

ADMIN said...

RECEIVED VIA EMAIL FROM CHARLES' WIFE, BRENDA (MY MOM) ON 6/27/08:

"Charles is much better than he was a week or so ago. His back is doing ok. Still has pain in it though from time to time. Hopefully these shots will last longer than the first ones did. Time will tell.

We haven't heard anything on the ultrasound yet. I kind of hope we do before we leave, but then again I don't want to know right now...you know what I mean? I will let you know something as soon as we hear something from the doctor."

July 6, 2008 at 5:18 AM
ADMIN said...

RECEIVED VIA EMAIL FROM BRENDA ON 6/29/08:

"I can't remember if I told you what the doctor found or not. It was called Grade II esophageal varices. He also took 2 biopsies; one of his stomach and the other one I believe just at the edge of the small intestine."

July 6, 2008 at 5:22 AM
ADMIN said...

RECEIVED VIA EMAIL FROM BRENDA ON 6/30/08:

"Just thought I would drop you a note and let you know that Charles heard from the doctor's office this morning and the 2 biopsies were ok...We are still waiting on the results of the ultrasound. He is doing ok...hurts from time to time..and not feeling good...achy like...he went to work this morning...I think he said he was taking Wed, Thurs and Fri. off..."

July 6, 2008 at 5:27 AM
ADMIN said...

RECEIVED FROM BRENDA ON 6/30/08:

"Update on Charles: The doctor's office called him again this afternoon and told him the following:

He is going Wednesday for additional blood work for hepatitis A,B and C.

He has low platelets and needs to be very careful not to cut himself or get cut.

He has nodules on his liver indicating cirrhosis of the liver.

He has fluid in his abdomen.

His spleen is enlarged.

Yes, we are still going to Bermuda....he is calling the doctor tomorrow to let him know and see if we need to take any other precautions.

I am worried about him...he is opening up to me slowly but surely. I don't think he realized that this could be/is serious.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Love you all,

Mama"

July 6, 2008 at 5:29 AM
ADMIN said...

PRAISE THE LORD! REC'D VIA EMAIL ON 7/12/08:

"we did hear from the doctor's office yesterday. All the test results are not in yet...but he does not have hepatitis a, b, OR c."

July 12, 2008 at 4:49 PM
ADMIN said...

I spoke with Mom this a.m. re: Charles. The tests did indicate he does have cirhosis. She sent this info via email today 7/29/08:

"The doctor is going to order a test for Charles that involves him swallowing a capsule that will "take" pictures of his small intestine to see if the bleeding is coming from there. If not they are looking at it maybe to be from the esophagus(which he doesn't think it's coming from there).

The doctor changed his B/P medicine and double the kind he put him on to help with the esophagus hopefully.

He added another fluid pill to the one he already takes to help with the fluid retention. He put him on lasix...2 a day for 5 days only at a time.

He also put him on Vitamin E...400 IU each. one a day to help with the cirrhosis that he does have.

He also increased his iron from 1 to 2 pills a day.

He is going to call the doctor back tomorrow to find out when next week he will be going to have the capsule procedure done. He goes back Aug. 25th for his next doctor's visit."

July 29, 2008 at 8:49 PM
ADMIN said...

REC'D VIA EMAIL FROM MY MOM RE:CHARLES ON 8/1/08:

"Thought I would let you know that Charles goes Monday at 8am for X-rays of his small intestine-stomach to see if they can find where the bleeding is coming from. He is suppose to swallow a capsule that will travel to his small intestine and take pictures but the insurance company requires the X-rays to be done 1st.

He is Doing ok. Missed work yesterday due to some bleeding, pain in his abdomen and diarrhea. He is better today and going to go by the office for a while. He did say the bleeding this time was more than in the past.

I will let you know as things go along. Please keep him/us on your prayer list."

August 1, 2008 at 8:53 AM
ADMIN said...

RECEIVED VIA EMAIL FROM MY MOM ON 8/17/08 REGARDING THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND:

"It was a very long day and one especially for Charles. He had stomach cramps most of the day which lead him to bleeding today (he said he was bleeding quite a bit). He doesn't have much of an appetite when he's like that either... We are still waiting on the doctor's office to call us back with a time to do the next procedure. The one where he swallows a large capsule and it takes pictures while traveling through the small intestine.

He does seem to be feeling better for longer periods of time since they doubled the iron pills and put him on the Vitamin E. He still has some swelling in his legs and feet from time to time and the additional fluid pills helps a lot.

Thanks for asking and for all the prayers."

THEN RECEIVED FROM HER ON 8/19/08:

"Thought I would let know that I talked with the nurse yesterday about Charles and she explained to me what was taking so long which made me feel better about things. She also encouraged me to make Charles keep his doctor's appt. next Monday, which he will keep! He is doing ok.....just cramping and bleeding about 2 times a week. He is still have some not so good days..being very tired and drained. Yesterday he was having trouble focusing and he was not able to keep his balance very well. That comes and goes."

LET'S CONTINUE TO PRAY!

August 26, 2008 at 5:31 AM
ADMIN said...

REC'D FROM MY MOM VIA EMAIL ON 8/27/08:

"Charles had a good report from his doctor on 8/25/08. The doctor stated that his symptoms would continue but if we stay ahead of the game that would continue to keep him stable.

We do not know at this time how bad the liver disease is and the doctor does not see any reason to put him through unnecessary tests. He will have some other test done to try to pin point where bleeding is coming from and to hopefully control or stop that.

Thank you for all of your prayers and please continue to pray for him and hope that his health controls to stabilize."

August 27, 2008 at 6:07 AM
ADMIN said...

REC'D VIA EMAIL FROM MY MOM ON 10/07/08:

"Charles has been doing much better this past week. He had a doctor's appt with his MD and he ran blood work which all came back normal. He will still continue to go to his other doctor for his condition.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers and continue if you will.

We greatly appreciate them."

October 8, 2008 at 5:48 PM
ADMIN said...

Mom contacted me last night 10/13/08 via text:

Charles is sick with fever again ... he goes to the liver doctor again on Tuesday 10/14/08.

I assured her we will lift him in prayer!

October 14, 2008 at 5:46 AM
ADMIN said...

(PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR NOT POSTING THIS SOONER ...)
REC'D FROM MY MOM VIA EMAIL ON 10/15/08:

"Charles’s doctor’s visit was good. We talked to him about a liver transplant but he did not encourage that route. He said it would be trading on situation for another situation….basically, why do it?

We also talked to him about what to take when he runs fever like he’s been running(he can’t take Tylenol because of the liver) . He said I could give him no more than 4 a day for fever only.

We asked him what the fever could be coming from and he’s not sure it’s coming from the fluid buildup but it may be so he’s treating him with a maintenance antibiotic 5 days a week to see if that works. If not they will drain some fluid and see what’s going on there and what needs to be done. I say do it now!

He also said to keep taking the nasty medicine for the wobbles and confused thinking (which is better). He did cut it down to 1 tablespoon a day instead of 2. He told me to watch for symptoms and let him know if they come back.

He is also concerned about his blood still being low and even dropping a little from last time. He talked to us about him see a blood specialist to take shots to boost his blood lever back up……..said that may be something that we will need to do from time to time.

He seems to be doing ok now…when he finished taking the antibiotic last week was when the fever came back. He is now on it for 5 days before stopping for the weekend. Let’s see what happens then."

THEN, REC'D FROM MOM VIA EMAIL ON 10/19/08:

"Charles is continuing to do very well. No fever or anything like that so far. I hope it stays that way. He has had his stomach to be swollen a little from time to time, but nothing significant."

October 23, 2008 at 5:37 AM
ADMIN said...

REC'D VIA EMAIL FROM BRENDA ON 02/19/09:

"Charles has been doing well since just after Christmas. He stopped taking some of his medication and the bleeding has stopped. He does have problems with is stomach from time to time. It still continues to swell and he has pain with it also. He went to the doctor yesterday and found out that he has bacterial bronchitis. The doctor was concerned with it and wanted to get him on some antibiotics so it wouldn't develop into pneumonia.
Prayers works wonders. Thank you so much for all your concerns and prayers.

He went to his heart doctor and got a very good report from him and don't need to go back for 6 months."

February 22, 2009 at 8:21 AM
ADMIN said...

REC'D FROM BRENDA VIA EMAIL ON 4/1/09:
"Charles has been having some problems with his liver again...mostly minor. His ammonia levels went higher than before and he had to start taking the medication again. He was hoping not to have to do that. His sugar is also giving him trouble. He had to go up on his insulin medication as well. Thank you for all the prayers."

April 5, 2009 at 7:47 AM

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