Taken to ER Sunday for Bowel Obstruction - Hector

[HectorSF]

I just got home last night after being in the hospital since Sunday the 17th. I had to go into the Emergency Room because of of extreme abdominal pain. It turned out I had an obstructed bowel due to my intestines being stuck in my umbilical hernia. A transplant surgeon was able, with his hands, to pull the bowel out of the hernia to clear the blockage late that night instead of operating on my abdomen which every other doctor recommended.

I have felt better after 2 days of rest and care while rooming on the Liver Transplant floor. They thought I had recovered enough and was allowed to come home last night.

While I was at the hospital I also had my 3 month liver cancer checkup. I was diagnosed with a new 2.0 cm tumor and will have an appointment setup in a week or two to be treated with chemo beads inserted into the blood supply to the tumor in my liver. Since we don't know when I will get a transplant, we want to manage the cancer while it is still small and manageable. As a tumor too large could affect my ability to have a transplant. I have had this treatment done twice before so I know what to expect.

Hector

[pugdaddy]

Wow, Hector - so the saga continues.  Welcome home!  So glad that it was a RELATIVELY easy fix!!  
Your case has been such an eye-opener for many of us - esp w/regard to transplantation and the acute organ shortage.  I would never in my wildest dreams have thought that someone in your condition would still be on a waiting list.  Is much of this due to 'geography'?  At approx what MELD do they typically transplant at your center?

[PaulaAnn]

What an ordeal.  You just never know what the next day will bring.  

So glad you're home.  I always wondered whether I should move closer to the hospital..that being my second home anymore.  

I'm glad they checked out the liver and found those small tumors and will take care of them.  You have a great team on your side there.  

Rest up....Paula

[Advocate1955]

Glad you're home from this hospital visit Hector, but praying you get that call for your transplant soon. Will this new tumor and treatment delay your transplant if a liver should become available now or soon? You are in my thoughts daily.
Advocate1955

[tjaz]

Could this possibly move you up on the list?  I sure hope so.  I know you are not supposed to say one person deserves a transplart more then another.  But, I am going to say it!  Nobody deserves one as much as you do!  

[HectorSF]

I am regular again! Something we all take for granted. Without is we die very quickly.

My bowels are working again thanks to...
Damanpreet Singh Bedi, M.D.
Clinical Instructor of Surgery
Department of Surgery
Division of Transplantation
UCSF  University of California, San Francisco

Dr. Bedi performed performed 'surgery' on me using only his fingers and hands inside my belly button and took my strangled intestines out of my umbilical hernia. Even the other docs that had been saying immediate surgery is the only way to save my life were amazed!
The complication from that surgery had a good chance of being fatal in my condition. Dr. Bedi wanted to try another way first.
I LOVE Dr. Bedi. He helped save me from a poor outcome or death.

√v^√v^√♥
Hector

[PaulaAnn]

I'm agreeing totally witn tjaz.... you deserve that transplant!  You're unselfish and give of yourself so much.

Regular again...oh what a relief it is!!

Thank you Dr Bedi!  I think we all LOVE Dr Bedi now.  What an intelligemt, caring and innovative doctor.  To not riskimmediate surgery with someone in your condition and to care enough not to go with the flow.  We all should have doctors like Dr Bedi.  That would be wonderful.  

I know we are all saying thanks...Paula

[campqueen]

yippee ki yay!  Glad you are back in the saddle again Hector...you're one tough hombre  :)

[HCVinPDX]

I'm glad you are home and feeling better.  I hope you get that transplant soon and will add you to my prayer list.  
Take care,
Rebecca

[rpooo]

Hector I am really glad to hear you are back to normal after such a life threatening circumstance. It really is amazing what your doctor was able to do for you! I am so glad you have found such a great team of doctors to help you through this disease. It is for reasons such as this we always recommend in this group to seek treatment from a transplant center, as you stated the outcome could have been fatal. So many complications of cirrhosis are life threatening so the best treatment available is required.

I'm sorry to hear of the tumor they found and I hope the treatment will take care of it right away.

I know you have been through a lot and I hope if I am ever in your position that I can find the strength to be as upstanding and kind hearted as you have been. Always know it is noticed when you are away and you are truly missed. I'm glad you’re okay and I hope your transplant will come soon.

Take care my friend, as always I wish you all the best!

Randy

[ceanothus]

I'd been wondering why you'd been so quiet on the forums! I've been through a bowel obstruction, back in 2009, and I clearly remember how painful and frightening it was. Mine was very much internal and did require emergency surgery, but my cirrhosis was (and is) still compensated. The surgery de-stabilized things temporarily but all returned to my normal level after a week or ten days. I do hate to think of what that kind of surgery would do to a decompensated liver however, and I'm very glad that this dangerous and very painful condition was resolved in such a cool way for you, and that they didn't have to further risk your life with emergency surgery. Kudos to that surgeon, I hope you will tell him how many new fans he has.

I wish you didn't have to deal with chemo once again, but I hope this will boost your meld score enough to get you a new liver very, very soon. You are the most well-loved and most cherished member of this whole community!

[HectorSF]

Thank you Rebecca!

Cheers!
Hector

[HectorSF]

Thanks Randy.

You have always been very supportive and I appreciate it.

Believe me I was very very lucky and had little to do with the outcome. It was the first time in all these years I have ever lost my sense that I was going to make it through. It all happened so fast I really didn't have much time to think about it. I was just swept up trying to do what I could to try to hang on as long as I could. But I felt it life slipping away from me.

It was only with the help of others (doctors, nurses, my friends) that I made it through. I couldn't have done it on my own. That illusion of my will power disappeared and there I was alone with nothing between me and the darkest.

Once the immediate crises had been resolved I called my ex-girl who came to the hospital at 2 am that night and really helped me make it through my recovery. Without her being there with me, I wouldn't want to imagine what would have happened.

I am very grateful to have had the wonderful care and help I so desperately needed. They deserve all the credit and I have thanked everyone as much as I can.

Take care.
Hector

[HectorSF]

Hi

I wrote Dr. Bedi a thank you card today. It was tough figuring out what to say. How can you thank someone for saving you from a high risk surgery where there was a good chance I would develop complications and die? I choose to say it simply and directly as possible and ended with.

'Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Forever grateful.
With much love and appreciation.'


As far as TACE, I am not worried. I welcome the chance to treat the tumor and lower my AFP which is in the 100s before transplant. I have been through it twice before so I know what to expect.

Maybe this time I can get some pics of the procedure? It is actually a quite amazing treatment. Maybe I can get the Interventional Radiology team to take some pics? As my arms are in side slots for anesthesia IVs.

Take care.
Hector

[frijole]

Holy cow, that is amazing.  Dr. Bedi gets a grateful thanks from me too.  He had amazing skill and was extremely thoughtful, not wanting to subject you to life-threatening surgery.  Hector, what can be done to prevent the colon from getting stuck in the umbilical hernia again?  I guess you can't have surgery to repair the hernia right now either.  the whole ordeal sounds awful and I am so glad you have pulled through with humor in tact.

My best for the up coming procedure to treat the tumor.  

take good care
bean

[gerard11]

I love this story!!!! In the medicine world today that is the coolest story I have heard in a long time! Kudo's to Dr. Bedi and Hector...
Hector, when you get your new liver "the  gift of life" and are Hep C free, I hope you will write a book!!!!  IMHO I am sure it will be a huge best seller. All you have been through and the great attitude you have matained are simply amazing, and would make a great read!!!!!
Praying you get the Transplant ASAP!!!

[Dee1956]

I am so glad that you are OK, my husband had a bowel obstruction last year.  It was awful.  I am amazed that you had such a great doctor that he could help you without surgery.
I know it must have been awful however I hope it was a blessing in disguise in that they found the tumor in your liver.
I don't know how you do it.  You are like one of those rock em sockem games, they get knocked down and get back up again.
I really admire you for your courage, tenacity, kindness.  You are always here for everyone else and it is admirable.
Thank you for letting everyone know how you are doing.  You were missed
My best
Dee

[HectorSF]

bean, I had planned on having my hernia repaired after transplant. Nothing I can do now but hope it doesn't happen again and avoid any strain on my abdomen. So I am aware of how I sit up.

gerard11 - Thanks for the kind words.

Thanks Dee!
Onward to the TACE treatment.

Hector

[ChrisDDD]

I'm sorry to hear of these problems when you've already been through so much.  I don't know how you do it.  I really don't.  You're an inspiration.