Pete’s Musings

I’m at home this weekend on a bit of a break from the tests at the hospital. “Conge” as the french nurses call it, which means vacation. LoL. Not quite that, but it does feel good to be home and I’m doing pretty well. Sleeping solid for 6-8 hours 2 nights in a row. Still able to do a bit of work like dishes and cleaning a bit of the fridge. Still have the pain in my gut when up and about for a while, but nothing too intense. Haven’t had any intense pain in my liver/gallbladder area since my last night in the hospital 3 days ago. Then it lasted for 4-5 hours and required a shot of pain killer. I think it was brought on by ‘trying too hard’ to produce a stool, which makes since as this is what also seemed to immediately precede my second ‘episode’ on Friday (two weeks ago now).
Doctors still haven’t given me a clear idea of what’s going on and Read More »

I think I posted before that on last friday I had 2 fainting/weakness episodes after brief abdominal pain, Bloody stools the day after. Then all seemed ok on Sunday with normal stool and feeling ok. No such luck. Took shower at 2 pm or so and had another episode, but this time the pain and rest of it did not pass after 20-30 mins like before. Didn’t pass for over a day.

Called ambulance immediately on Sunday of course (had enough of that crap!). Good thing too. By the time they arrived I was white as a sheet, barely able to move and in intense unrelenting pain. Blood pressure was something like 67/29 … Read More »

Things have finally calmed down in my system so I can blog. Feels that way anyway, future tests will show over the next month.

About 10 days ago I had my third liver biopsy since this whole mess started about 2.5 years ago. Another transjugular biopsy done at the Royal Victoria hospital in Montreal. It’s supposed to be a more or else routine and safe day-long thing … but I guess it was not so for me. Read More »

I’ve been in the hospital (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu) now for a little over a month. That’s a really long time. Back in Nov 2005 when my liver was on the verge of failing, I was in the hospital for less than a month. I guess that puts things in perspective a bit, this is a serious injury. It’s hard to accept being in the hospital … just waiting for a place to open up in the rehab centre. But there’s not much I can do about it, I’m still lacking the ability to do a few vital things … climbing stairs and bending down low being the most significant. I have to be able to get in and out of the house/car in order to be home. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do those things soon. I’ve already tackled my first flight of stairs here with my physiotherapist. Read More »

Been in the hospital (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu) for a week now after 2 months of pain and worsening condition at home. I could no longer get out of my bed and to the bathroom on my own … so had no choice but to call the ambulance and have them bring me in to hospital. i’m looking at at least 2 more weeks here while i wait for a spot in a rehabilitation centre. I’ll have to go to one of those for at least 3-4 weeks from sound of it from the ortho doc. not only do i have one lumbar vertebrae fractured and compacted 50% .. but i also have about 4 others that are weakened and fracturing. gotta do everything possible to prevent hurting myself more or i could become completely immobile. Fell 3 times at home in the last week i was there. really bad situation.

things are gonna get really rough next couple months. as if I needed more hardship eh? emotions are pretty bad ATM. then i got the back pain. worries for what future will bring. and trying to figure out how i’m gonna pay for rehab and modifications to home so I can return there. going to need rails installed, purchase a height and head adjustable bed, etc. all on welfare! grrr. life sucks

Blah. Has not been the best of months here! Started just before Christmas with a bad cold that really put a damper on the festive season. Then 2 days after Christmas I developed this horrible pain in my lower right side. Fearing the worst, I thought that I had overdone it with the fatty foods and had set off a gallstone attack … which in turn started chaos in my liver and/or pancreas. These are my troublesome organs, all taking a severe beating as a result of my ill-health and treatment. Pain was truly horrible and debilitating. I could barely get out of bed in the mornings … and only then with a sharp pain so excruciating I usually had to let out a scream and ‘endure’ the pain for a few minutes. Being somewhat stubborn and fearing reentry into the hospital, Read More »

Not sure what is going on with my health lately, but something is definitely wrong. I haven’t been able to figure it out, so I thought I better write it down before I forget in case it’s important later. On Sunday, May 7th, I had a sudden increase in abdominal swelling … probably 3-4 inches left, right, and out - all along my lower gut, and some up the middle as well. It really freaked me out needless to say. I had just started a new course of medication 4 days prior, and had over-exerted myself that day reorganising the shacks outside. At the time, I presumed that the swelling was a result of one of those 2 things. I noticed that my face was also looking swollen. Getting worried. I tried in vain for a week to get a hold of my liver specialist - an impossible task given that there is no answering service at his office or clinic. Read More »

I was filled with pride yesterday while driving into the hospital … my sister and her 2 kids spent some time on the radio talking about their experiences at the Montreal Children’s hospital - trying to help out during their annual fund raiser. Kids were so cute (on CHOM, mix96 and CJAD radio), and it dawned on me how much help this hospital has been to our family and our city. Read More »