Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Stomach Surgery


5/4/14
Nausea, catheter pain underneath revision scars starting at 4:36am.  Clogging in catheter at 6:56am with nausea and pain in lower abdomen underneath revision scars at 6:58am.  No appetite. Burping too much with pain in middle of stomach at 7am. Pain in middle of stomach on catheter at 8:45am, 9:15am, 9:49am. Nausea all morning and burning underneath revision scars on stomach. Pain in stomach and abdomen multiple times during the day especially burning underneath revision scars in mid afternoon around 3pm.  Upset stomach, nausea, pain and cold fluid underneath revision scars.  Felt stomach catheter clogging during the day. 

5/5/14 – Pain underneath revision scars starting at 3am. Upset stomach, nausea and fluid leaking into lower abdomen.  Bad taste in mouth and no appetite during early morning hours of 7:23am. Pains in abdomen underneath revision scars and sharp pains in upper part of stomach all day long. First day ever having continuous pain in stomach and abdomen.

Doesn't sound like it's working to me. I had explained to my doctor my suspicions of the shunt not draining properly based on what I've read online.   Since it was in the wrong way for four year, it could have extra cerebral spinal fluid that wasn't reabsorbed properly.  It's just my opinion and I surprised no one else has thought of this yet. Technology just isn't there as far as I'm concerned.  I had told him numerous times before I had the revision/brain injuries in March I needed a full shunt revision which means changing out the entire system. He didn't listen to me. I took a huge risk learning how to walk again with the catheter broken in my stomach for an extra two months. I had complained about having stomach and abdominal pains for months before it was fixed. 

We need to have shunts that at least have the following:

1. Shunts that have expiration dates so you and your doctor know how much time you have left before it expires.

2. Shunts which give off an indication whether it's a light on your arm, head or something telling you it's about to malfunction.  

3. Technology advanced like it is was in Star Trek where once you're scanned with the laser gun you have a reading on the computer of what's broken and needs to be fixed. 

All these things would make life so much easier for both doctor's and patients.  There would be no guess work involved. Because as far as I'm concerned what they're using now ( MRI, CT, shunt tap, shunt series, brain probe, etc.) aren't really looking at the problem. Those things are only able to look at one area. What would happen in the patient couldn't speak and express how they were feeling? Now I'm curious to know who makes the decisions on technology and assessments used to treat this condition.


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