Pete’s Musings

Just checked my blog and saw that it’s been a month and half since last post. Would like to say that this is because I’ve been super busy and all is going well. But that’s not the case, things are painfully boring here and aches and pains are wearing me down! Back is still messed up - walks are out of the question as is bike riding. Joints are sore, but possibly getting better now.

I had a visit with my liver specialist yesterday. All is good on the AIH front. My LFT (liver function tests) are still excellent, very low and normal, and unchanged from 2 months ago. And over that time period I’ve come off the evil steroids completely and am currently celebrating my first week without them since March. 4 months to regulate the inflammation caused by that stupid biopsy. The pain from Read More »

Good news is that I am finally down to ‘just’ 5mg of pred as of Saturday. Bad news is that I think the joint pain from the withdrawal is starting. I hurt my back pretty bad last week (read last post) and that still hasn’t improved. Add to that a pretty bad neck ache as well as pain the hands and ankles. I know it’s worth it in the long run, but why does it have to hurt so much? Went through this late last year and was bad then too. I have another 2-4 weeks at this level, then drop again. 2.5mg is not any better. blah.

I don’t like to complain (despite doing it a lot!), but this Read More »

This always happens. I start to feel as though I’m doing ok healthwise and maybe can start to get back into life more … then something happens to give me a reality check.

We lost power here in St-Jean yesterday. It was hot and there was a powerful storm that knocked down power lines, etc. I had the misfortune of actually being up and about when the power went off. Why? Well, let me tell you. Because I was up doing this or that, I was not in bed and I was not in my chair. So that means that BOTH power-adjustable devices were locked in their unusable positions Read More »

Some good news last week from my doctor … results from my blood test shows that my LFT (liver function tests) are all NORMAL. And really low on top of that. ALT 17 AST 18 ALP 96
Even last fall when I was excited about reaching normal, they weren’t this good (they were in the 30’s). So that’s great news, meds are doing their job and Read More »

I meant to post this a month ago … but the images just sat on my desktop. Well time for a cleanup! OK. so I had a transjugular liver biopsy and they took the sample in an unfortunate area which basically short-circuited the circulation in my liver … connecting the input directly to the output. This resulted in sporadic and sometimes massive blood loss. It’s a very rare complication, but obviously it does happen. Most doctors don’t even consider it a possibility because it’s so rare, and are convinced that the bleeding must be from elsewhere (despite the patients insistence!). Many Many endoscopies are required to convince them that the bleed is not in the stomach, intestine, or colon where it is more commonly (i.e. varacies). The bleeding actually occurs in the liver and drains into the colon through the common bile duct, as depicted in the above diagram. Read More »

Looks like I’ve been a bit remiss in my blogging. I guess I’ve been a bit preoccupied with all the goings on around here. I’ve been to my doctors, things are looking ok. My liver enzymes are dropping and so is the evil prednisone that goes along with them. My blood pressure is good. And I’ve been following my blood sugar also, which seems ok. Gets a bit high after supper, but not too high that it’s dangerous. Important thing is that it’s normal in the day and not high all the time. It seems to bounce back fairly rapidly too, so i’m producing plenty of insulin. It’s just the prednisone that Read More »

It’s April, this month marks 3 years since I returned to Canada after my postdoc and PhD in the US. That’s a long time. And what a mess it’s been for the most part!

When I returned to Canada, I was burnt out from research and in a depression of sorts. My intention was to take a few months off and just relax, something I never did between all my other major life changes (i.e. between my various degrees). At the same time, I figured that I would be able to stay with my sister for a short time, help out a little bit with her kids (who were still in after school daycare at the time!) … all this while myself getting settled back in Canada and start looking for a job.

Well it certainly didn’t turn out that way! The first few months were fine. Getting to know the kids as their unique personalities started to develop, spend some time with them, have fun. Made the decision to move in with my sister, finding a nice place to live closer to her work and where I could be around, but still independent. That didn’t last too long. I quickly became wrapped up in all the household disagreements and troubles … then I started to get sick. Read More »

Just thought I would post to let everyone know that things went well with the surgery to plug the hole (fistula) in my liver. I had the operation last Monday (March 31st) in the afternoon and was sent home via adapted transport early evening on Wednesday. When they told me they were sending me home so soon I was kinda freaked out because I was having constant liver pain, still had residual bloody stools, and was experiencing fatigue and exhaustion 10-20 times sooner than before (and that was already way too soon for comfort). But a little reassurance from my doctor that the bleed shouldn’t reoccur and I was ready to come home … just being in the hospital was driving me crazy. All those sick and annoying people screaming all day long. lol.

Anyway here’s what happened … Read More »