Hebrews 12:1-2a

"Let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with Endurance
the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith."
Hebrews 12:1-2a

Monday, October 12, 2015

Questions - Day 153

We have more questions than answers re:  Jim's health care after three hospital stays and two surgeries.

Jim was released from UIHC at 4:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, after a five-day stay for internal bleeding / bleeding ulcer.

In my readings,  I have found an ulcer is a hole generally in the stomach or small intestine, but can be anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract.  Jim's ulcer formed at the juncture of the esophagus (1-2 inches) and stomach, where he had his esohagectomy May 12.

His thoracic surgeon, Dr. Parekh, says the tissue is still new and fresh and not healed,  leaving it more susceptible to problems. His primary care physician, Dr. Butler, whom Jim saw Oct. 8,  says it's been 5 months ... it should be healed!

In our visit with Dr. Butler, he made these comments:
**Coumadin does not cause dizziness
**Coumadin does not cause bleeding. It can cause you to bleed more, but not to start
**You can have reflux from stomach back up even if you do not have heartburn, therefore, you should be on pantoprazole.
**An acid blocker could heal the ulcer
**Some other medicine Jim is on causes the dizziness, such as Flomax or Benedryl.

Our unanswered questions:
**Why did Jimmy have dizziness when on Coumadin (June - September), but since being off of it (Oct. 1), there is none?
**Why is dizziness listed as a side effect of taking coumadin if that is not so?
**Why has it been said coumadin can cause low blood pressure which can result in dizziness?
**Why hasn't the tissue area healed where the esophagus and stomach were sutured?
**Why is he on Pepcid, an acid blocker?
**Why is there no clear cut direction from more than one doctor re: pantoprazole?
**How do you know the ulcer is a result of acid ... is it not possible it is because of bacteria?
**What would an endoscopial ultrasound show? He had one in March before the cancer surgery.  He has had two endoscopies since Oct. 1. He is supposed to have an CATscan - is it not possible this would show ulcers or healing process?
**How do you determine normal readings for hemoglobin?  We've been told 10 is normal for Jim, yet before the May 12 surgery it was 13.5. After 2 pints of blood were given between Oct. 1-5, it remained stable at 8.8. The lowest reading was 6.8. Dr. Butler says 8.8 is still low, 10 is low.

On Oct. 8 visit with Butler, Jim's BP was 90/42, which is normal for him. Weight with clothes on was 133 pounds. No scale is the same.

The next appointment coming up is Oct. 23 when Jim sees a cardiologist for a second opinion at UIHC.


My writings:

Questions
So many
agreement
between
doctors
missing
Answers
not found
We listen
We read
Nothing consistent
What one says
is fact
another says
is not
Who are we
to believe?

Our minds
in a
quandry
confusion
and frustration
take hold
We are obsessed
with knowing
what is
true and correct

I remember
The Lord
said
He would be with us
He would bring us through it
He would guide us
not just part of the way
but every step
That means
even through
the complications
and in retrospect,
not just through Jim's cancer
and the various side effects
but even my own
health issues

No more
We have too much
Take it away
Take it away Lord
Yet God says
in His word
He will not give us more than we can handle
What does He know
What does He see

He is wirh us
He guides us
If we are close
closer to Him
We will hear
in the stillness
His Holy Spirit

The answers
we seek
we find
in the solace
of our Lord Jesus

He hears our prayers
He knows our concerns
He answers
but are we listening
did we hear His response
or are we unsure

Doctors do not agree
have not agreed
say this and that
and another

Jim has been off
the coumadin
12 days
There is no dizziness

Is this God's answer?