January 2-8, 2003
When I got to the ER, they took me back infront of everyone else. I must of looked pretty bad. They started an I.V. right away. I remember them having an extra hard time getting blood, and getting the I.V. started. They were saying that I was dehydrated and kind of "shocky", I guess from everything that was happening. After doing some blood work in the ER, they found out my liver enzymes were all very elevated. Next in the ER they did a cat scan of my abdomen and seen alot of inflammation around my liver. They admitted me to the hospital to find out what was going on.
The following day, I had an MRI of my pancreas, liver and upper abdomen done. This showed that the bile duct going to my liver was very swollen, and closed off. They really couldn't tell why it was closed off, or how it was closed off by just looking at the pictures from the tests. The only way to find out was to go inside and look right at it, inside my liver. So, I was scheduled for an ERCP the following day (Saturday), with the possibility of surgery during the procedure to correct any problems they may find.
During the ERCP they put dye into my bile duct to see where it was blocked off at. It was blocked off at the sphincter, where a group of muscles control the opening of the bile duct, and the flow of bile into the liver and pancreas. The opening was abnormal, and way too small. To correct it, the surgeons made several long incisions around the duct opening, cutting through all the muscles. After that, they put more dye into the bile duct to see if it was open again. Now, it was completely open, and there was nothing at all restricting the flow of bile, and nothing that would cause it to get backed up and swollen shut again.
The surgeons took a sample of the bile to look at under a microscope, to check for cancer and other infection. The only thing they found under the microscope was crystalized bile, which is also called "Bile Sludge". Bile Sludge also happens when you don't eat alot, but your body keeps making bile to digest food. But since you don't eat, the bile just builds up and sits there in your gal-bladder(I don't have one), pancrease duct, and liver ducts. That is what happened in my case, and the bile just sat there...and turned into sludge and got crystalized. Crystalization is the last thing that happens to bile before it turns into stones, which would cause ALOT of pain and problems.
After the ERCP and minor surgery, I had alot of abdominal pain. Which was to be expected. They made several big cuts inside my liver, it's going to hurt till it starts to heal!!! My doctors didn't want to risk me getting pancreatitis ontop of everything else, so they kept me NPO (nothing to eat or drink) for a few days after words.
I was allowed to have some clear liquids like jello and broth, but I really didn't want that much. The abdominal pain was enough to keep me from trying to eat food. All I did was sleep and sleep some more. Thank god for pain shots. They seemed to be the only thing that DID help. The pain was so so so horrible.
By Tuesday I was starting to feel some what better, and I talked to my one GI doctor about trying to eat some solid food the next day and possibly going home. He agreed, and it was wrote in my chart. A little bit later I called my nurse to get my pain shot. She came in my room around 2pm and gave it to me. After that, she went over to my pill drawer and started to get out my afternoon pills for me to take. I don't remember much after that. I remember some chinese doctor asking me who I was, and where I was at. I had a seizure!! To everyones suprise, especially mine. All my doctors were called right away. They stopped my I.V. pain medication. They thought at first that it had caused my seizure. After that I was placed on 24 hour watch, by a nurse. They had to stay with me just incase I had another seizure, and until the underlying problem was discovered to where my seizure came from. I was taken downstairs for a head MRI later that day, Tuesday evening.
The next day around 1pm, I had an EEG done. It wasn't until around 4pm that all my doctors showed up with my results, and when I could go home.My Head MRI was okay. My EEG showed I have an abnormality in the front left lobe of my brain that gives me the tendency to have seizures. They put me on Keppra for Epilepsy. They told me I'm not allowed to drive for 6 months after having a seizure, and that I should take it extra easy for the next 3 weeks, almost staying completely in bed and doing nothing at all that requires you to be alert and full attention. My Legs are still hurting alot from having the seizure. It is so difficult for me to stand, let alone walk. My muscles are so tense and don't want to relax. Since I have been home the rest of my body has started to ache in the same way. Now it's my Arms and shoulders as well.
This is me Thursday evening on January 2nd, 2003 at the Emergency room in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh PA. It's about 60 miles south from where I live, Grove City, PA.
Look at my I.V. Even as sick as I was..I still tried to find the humor in it...lol
Just...zoned out.....lol. This Is not a fashion show!!
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