Surgery over -- Prognosis is good, but still some uncertainty ahead

Surgery was over at about 2:20 p.m. CT, and I spoke to the doc shortly after.

Kev is recovering so well that he did not have to go to ICU following surgery, as we all expected. I am writing from his room, trying to get this out before I am lulled to sleep by his soft snoring and the hum of the IV machine. He is experiencing minimal pain; it's being managed very well by a non-opiate drug -- he'll get his strength back sooner without opiates.


Out With the Spleen
It took five hours to get through the significant adhesions before they could even begin to remove the spleen.

Doc said it was enormous, making him sick. Depending on how long it’s been that big (remember, CT scans lie), it might have had something to do with how hard the chemo was on him.

Once the spleen was out, the platelet count went back up. Yay!


No Other Tumor Removed
Despite the encouraging report I received during the surgery, in the end the mesentery tumor was not removed. Too many adhesions, plus problems with blood supply it attached itself to would have resulted too much bleeding and too much small intestine coming out with it if removed. The loss of small intestine would have resulted in greatly diminished quality of life.

Though we would have preferred it out, Dr. L said after taking a thorough look at it, he does not think that the mesentery tumor poses a threat (read bowel obstructions) in the foreseeable future, if ever. Sigh of relief. We'll know more in the coming days.


Follow Up Chemo?
We will get results of pathology report next week, probably Wed. In the mean time, Dr. L. expects that we’ll see the tumor markers drop significantly in the next couple of days as he thinks it likely that the spleen activity was the sole cause of the rising markers.

Based on what he saw, Dr. L. thinks that the tumor was not only on the outside of the spleen, but also invaded it. If it turns out that there was disease inside the organ, I’m guessing that may mean more chemo to insure against systemic spread, but haven’t had that conversation with doctor yet. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. What Dr. L. did say was that if Kevin does have chemo in the future, he thinks that having that diseased spleen out will help Kevin tolerate it much better.


Oh No, You Need a Spleen…
Once when Kevin was telling someone about all the innards he had removed during his Feb. 2004 surgery they replied that they didn’t realize one didn’t need those things, to which Kevin replied, “Oh no, you need them, you can just live without them.”

The spleen serves to ward off big, nasty viruses (like swine flu); without a spleen one is more susceptible to those bugs and things like pancreatitis. Kevin will be getting some major antibiotic doses and will always have to keep up with vaccines and flu shots.


Getting Sprung and Coming Home
Dr. Loggie says he wants to shoot for getting Kevin discharged from the hospital on Friday! Woo hoo! We’d then check into a local hotel until he’s had some more post op follow up and is healthy enough to fly. If all goes well, we should be home in less than two weeks. I’m not sure about total recovery time. Another bridge we can wait to cross.


Thanks!!
For the emails and facebook messages. Words of encouragement are not just a gesture, they really are encouraging. Thanks for taking time out of your day to send them. I'm sorry I haven't been able to respond to most, but I've appreciated every one and saved all for Kevin to read when he's up to it.

And a special thanks to my new PMP Awareness friend, Rosemary S. who was in Omaha tending to her nephew who had recent surgery with Dr. Loggie for PMP. Before driving home to Chicago today, she ran around to local stores to find a robe for Kevin, bought me cereal and water, and brought me an air mattress! The visit and the hug were very welcome, too. Please pray for Tom, her nephew (in late 20s) who was only diagnosed in June and who, like Kevin, will be living with inoperable tumor. He has a lot to process as he recovers. And, pray that the disease stays in remission.


Okay. You’re now about as informed as I am. Time for a nap!!!

Love and gratitude for you,

Roni