What's up with Wombat Redux

That really sucks, @Wombat-metal. Hope the surgery will be successful, and that the shots will allow you to manage until then.

5 Likes

Damn that’s a bummer @Wombat-metal . Hope at least one of the treatments work!

5 Likes

It’s worse when you’re on a high dose. You can’t just stop. You have to reduce the dose gradually or risk getting really f’ing sick.

I developed Crohn’s Disease in the Army. I dragged myself to the Army Hospital emergency room in Berlin on New Year’s Eve '71/'72. It took them several weeks to figure out what my problem was. Once they did, the doctor asked me if I had career expectations or wanted to go home. No surprise that I chose the later. He told me that he could call it regional enteritis or terminal ileitis. One would get me a medical discharge and the other wouldn’t. They transferred me to Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, where they took 6 weeks to do the paperwork. While checking out, they told me that I’d picked up another stripe the day before. Didn’t do me any good in the Army, but I got a lot higher unemployment insurance payment.

After 2 years in and out of the VA Hospital in Madison, WI, my lower intestine ruptured. Fortunately, I was in the hospital when it happened. Even more fortunate, I was talking to an intern at that moment. That’s the only reason I’m alive. The next day, I had a new type of surgery. They used the surgery theater because there were so many observers. I lost 45 cm of ileum and 3 cm of colon. I lost 36 lbs in 3 days.

They started me on 12 of those little Prednisone pills once daily for a week. The next week, 11. The week after, 10. An so on. By the time I got off of it, my entire back was blistered with acne.

The good news is that I have been in remission since late summer '74 when things sort of got back to normal. It sucked bad that it happened, but I feel really fortunate that it never got worse and that I never needed hospitalization again. Plus, I get over $500/month disability pension. Comes in handy!

I haven’t thought about Prednisone in decades. Thanks for the memories. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

9 Likes

Hey Wombat-metal I hope your surgery goes well when you have it and the best recovery possible.

6 Likes

:scream: :cold_face:

4 Likes

Well best of luck for a good recovery, and an end to your pain :crossed_fingers::crossed_fingers:

5 Likes

Wishing you well and a quick surgery/recovery! Do you know what cause it?

4 Likes

I do. One of the ladies at work asked me to swap the water bottle on the cooler, which is like 5 gallons/40 pounds, so not much. When I flipped the bottle to set it in the cradle, my wrist snapped. Old age in other words.

3 Likes

:open_mouth:

3 Likes

Keeping my fingers crossed @Wombat-metal

Actually, ask the sugeon if they can put a couple of extra fingers in while you’re there - good for those Entwhistle licks :wink:

4 Likes

Man that story is thoroughly awful but so glad you’re on the other side of it now and can look back and laugh even a little. Jesus.

And yea, I bet that level of oral Prednisone messes you up. My mom was on it for years and ended up looking like a completely different person due to the disfiguring aspects and the effects on skin and fat balance.

3 Likes

Well, now that you mention it, I am going to ask about surgery on my right hand. I have a trigger finger condition on it and my right middle finger is completely useless for plucking. If I am going to spend time not playing the bass at all as I recover, I may as well see if I can get that ligament fixed too.

10 Likes

I find it to be the most important finger for communicating in traffic! Get it fixed, my friend :slight_smile:

3 Likes

I remember reading a Scientific American as a kid, and it had a photo of a Soviet Mig 21, with the Russian flipping off the camera. The picture was caption “International Pilot’s Greeting”

4 Likes

6 Likes

So sorry to hear this @Wombat-metal. I know first hand (no pun) about wrist pain and I wish it on no one, esp when it interferes with a hobby you love. Don’t give up. Keep the fight and do the PT. YOU MAY END UP BETTER THAN YOU THINK!

4 Likes

Best of doctors and most effective of healing wishes and prayers for you @Wombat-metal

5 Likes

When I had my surgery 15-ish months ago for colon cancer, they took out 29 cm of my colon.

4 Likes

All the best @Wombat-metal . Hope everything goes super smoothly and better than you even hope for.

3 Likes

When I woke up after the surgery, my first question was whether or not I had a colostomy. I didn’t. No need to tell me/us whether you do or not. But…I remember seeing a story and photo many years ago of a cute young 20-something woman who had Crohn’s surgery and did have one. The photo of her was at the beach wearing a bikini, colostomy bag is full view. Man, did I have a lot of respect for her.

6 Likes