Hep C Discussion Forum

Linuxter · Guru

RE: The HCC Treatment Train

RAGDOLL · Senior Member

You are all so awesome. Thanks... Mike .....you are such an inspiration. Best of luck with your new leg. RC and I really appreciate your strength. Thanks for all your kind words and coaching, God has blessed all of us with you Mike.! Blessings to everyone for keeping us going. CC

wendyo · Guru

That is terrific news! RC will be dancing at the party now.

Sydhanrahan · Guru

So glad to hear that RCs op went well. A shoe on now. That's fantastic. Your news sounds great too, Mike.

Syd

wmlj1960 · Moderator

Thanks Tig. I hope this new 'pin-lock' type will work better. Time will tell. If not we'll initiate our plan. smile

Tig · Admin

Sounds like we've got good news to go around! RC and Mike both, woot!

So glad you've got your boot off finally and can start doing some therapy. That'll be good for body and soul! I'm sure you're ready to be mobile again. Take it nice and easy. Give that new toe some time to adjust. No marathons for at least a week, ha, ha! Good luck buddy...

Mike, I'm thrilled that you got this issue figured out and have that new socket on the way. My offer stands, if you need anything, let me know. Together we can do anything!

Linuxter · Guru

Baby steps RC ...

You're gettin' there my friend smile

Glad the surgery and recovery went well ... we're rootin' for ya!

Dave

Canuck · Guru

Hey toe man,

Getting around will be so much easier without one foot tied behind your back! Or, well ... maybe at least just a little "more" fair in the fight!

It won't be long now before you are back in the dance.

I know you having been forced into slogging it. Just keep doing it, to get there - one step at a time! Forward.

I think "promising" thoughts of you lots, C.

wmlj1960 · Moderator

That's great news! I'll be getting a new prosthetic socket next Wednesday so tell RC I'll be challenging him to a race. He'd better get busy busy with that physical therapy. biggrin

Loopy Lisa · Guru

OMG goodness, I am glad everyone is coping. I have to say it totally sucks all of it. These new meds hold a lot of hope for people. Lets hope they work and some of that damage reversed. There was me complaining about the weather today, I take that back.

A gentle hug

L

-- Edited by Loopy Lisa on Wednesday 1st of June 2016 05:58:37 PM

JimmyK · Guru

Thank you so much for the update! Carolyn and I keep y'all in our prayers. :)

JimmyK

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Oh, how brilliant!! Congrats to RC on a such a successful outcome, and many thanks Chris for letting us know. I`m very pleased to hear this good news!

Come on, RC, time to get into training... no more excuses!! Lol wink

Wonderful news for you both!! xx

RAGDOLL · Senior Member

UPDATE: Something went RIGHT! RC's foot healed perfectly. He is out of special boot and in regular shoes. Suppose to start walking. Physical therapy starts and getting ready for that "Marathon", Run Forest Run!!!

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

HI Chris, I feel very happy reading your update, this all sounds very positive for RC!

Sounds like he has a wonderful doctor, and what reassuring words from him, really, really fantastic. The next few weeks will bring a lot of improvement as the pain subsides and he gets back on both feet, you have much better times to look forward to and we all know that RC is a fighter!

Hope you enjoyed a relaxing round of golf in the fresh air, getting back to doing `normal` things again will be so beneficial and emotionally healing for you both!

Wishing you both all the very best of luck, as always... you`ll be in my thoughts. smile

wendyo · Guru

Great doc and I hope you have a relaxing day golfing, you deserve t! Gad to hear RC is on 2 feet again

wmlj1960 · Moderator

Excellent news. Thanks for the update Chris. I have no experience with recovering from HCC surgery but I know all about trying to function without a healthy foot and it can be frustrating. The good news is that he is recovering and will be able to train for that marathon soon. Good things are coming for you both so you two keep up the good work and keep us up to date on your progress. Enjoy your golf game and say 'Hi" to RC for us. smile

Tig · Admin

Thanks for the update Chris. I can only imagine how ready RC is to get back on two feet and get back in that beautiful man cave of a shop! It took me a couple weeks at least to feel less sore after my gall bladder was removed by scope. RC had quite a bit more done, so you can expect the recovery period to be extended. But once it reaches a certain point, the severity will diminish. They give you pain meds for that reason and it's proven that you heal better mentally and physically when you're not in severe pain.

The doctor sounds like a great person and you're both incredibly fortunate to have found someone so caring. That makes all the difference in the world. I believe this is going very well and will continue to keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Before you know it RC will be motoring around getting into everything. It may be a great opportunity to get him out on the golf course too! Of course that may be your get away after he gets back to normal, lol! One thing is sure, things will get back to normal....

JimmyK · Guru

That Doctor sounds very cool. Glad our Brother is in such good and caring hands.

Enjoy the day!

Jimmy

RAGDOLL · Senior Member

Hi everyone, hard to believe it was 1 week ago to the minute we were at the hospital starting this new journey. RC is still very sore when meds wear off but his entry wounds look like they are healing ok. He got to start putting weight on his entire foot after 12 weeks of walking on his heal. So he is very anxious to start walking. He even took medical boot off and put on a real shoe for first time in 3 months..... But not suppose to until next Tuesday we go get that X-rayed and hopefully it has healed properly. He is so looking forward to walking normal again... So I hope we get the green light Tuesday. I think his mental outlook will be so much better once he is able to function normal again. I hope next week his stomach will not be so sore too. The doctor came out of a transplant surgery before we left the hospital just to say goodbye and discussed the surgery and hugged us and said he is going to get us thru this. He was sooooooo nice. He told RC that his job now was to stay healthy as possible, get in shape ( Loose weight) work on keeping diabetes in check and get ready for a marathon ...were his exact words. So next round! Thanks again for all your support, prayers and coaching. I am off to golf this morning, something I have not done in awhile. Its a beautiful day. Luv you guys. CC

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Hello RC! Thanks so much for reporting back, it must be such a relief to have this operation over with, and it`s great to see you back online!

You`ve had some very major work done, even though it was through small incisions, so it`s bound to be very sore at first, but with each day that passes the pain will diminish as the healing process continues.

Thank goodness for such a highly skilled surgical team and for your amazing wife who is constantly by your side!

All very best wishes for a speedy recovery, both you and Chris are in my thoughts... smile

wmlj1960 · Moderator

It's great to hear from you RC with this good news of a successful ablation. Wishing you a speedy recovery and looking forward to your next step toward a healthy liver. Sending prayers for a clean MRI report next month and for a smoother road ahead for you and Chris both. smile

Sydhanrahan · Guru

Hey RC,

thanks so much for keeping us posted throughout your journey. We are all so glad you're surgery went well. ( I bet you're muttering at this stage, in this pain, if you're calling it "went well" I'm not on the same page!). Seriously I've had my fair share of abdominal surgery and while it's been of the lets slice this orange fron sice to side variety rather than the key hole type, I bet that after dragging your spleen out of a "key hole" you're not braggen yet.

Hipe you're feeling less sire every day.

Syd

Canuck · Guru

Yay, somebody's back wide awake now!!

Very nice of you and Ragdoll to provide us with all the blow by blows.

Re: the abdominal menu going on there. For dessert, what kind of analgesics were decided on for your pain control??

Yes, true, 6 holes "seems" less, than a wide open field, but you betcha it hurts! Amazing the techniques they use nowadays, and what they can do and accomplish via these methods. Almost seems impossible to realize everything they can do in there, and how a big GB can be sucked out of such a relatively small cut hole!! But believe me, a lot of work, movement, manipulation, instrumentation can go on via these access points. Yes, hurts! Assume you are packing a drain?

Wasn't your whole abdomen bloated/enlarged post-op? That I would have expected, Ragdoll mentioned one area, "lower right swelling" - assume it remained behaved?

Ah, so glad you got this over with! Here's to a speedy recovery from it. smile C.

Tig · Admin

Hey RC,

That was a very descriptive update! You mentioned skinless turkey breasts, peas and a bag of grapes. Remember you're talking about your liver, but it sounds like Thanksgiving! We are thankful to know you made it through this round successfully and will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers for continued improvement.

You may feel sore now, but had they done a full open procedure, you'd be more than sore! I'm glad they could do it this way. I think that once this initial pain subsides, you'll notice some relief without that sick gall bladder. I had a lot of improvement after they took mine out. Take it easy and listen to the doctors, no heavy lifting!!! I've got the drone fleet ready to go if we have to keep an eye on you, lol!

Hang in there Cowboy!

wendyo · Guru

One detour on the travel path has been accomplished. check

Now it is time for recuperation for the next leg of the journey.

As always, you and Chris are in my thoughts and prayers.

wendy

JimmyK · Guru

Hello RC.

You remain in my prayers. I am very glad you have gotten this step out of the way. One of many clearly, but one less to take going forward.

Sounds like your Doctor is a good one to be dealing with this and that is a good thing. Many folks are not as fortunate in that regard.

Get the rest you need, and prepare your self for a new kind of 4th of July. A different freedom indeed and for that I pray.

Warm regards brother.

JimmyK

-- Edited by JimmyK on Sunday 22nd of May 2016 01:59:01 PM

Linuxter · Guru

Hi RC,

Thanks for stopping in to let us know how you're doing.

Sounds like the surgery itself went well and that you've got some healing to do but are on the right path.

We are all holding you and Chris in our prayers and hoping for the very best outcome.

We'll be here and rootin' ya on with your continuing journey, I'm glad the surgeon was able to find and blast the heck out of the HCC ... now get some rest and take good care so you can heal.

Wishing you both the best,

Dave

robertsamx · Guru

Hi All,

Thanks for the kind words. Surgeons verbal report after surgery-- The HCC was behind the gallbladder,in the liver closer to a main vein than it appeared in the MRI . So he removed the gallbladder, which was full of stones, located the tumor with ultrasound wand inside of me, placed the microwave probe in the center of the tumor and ran his calculation, and fryed it for 10-15 minutes. Had the vein not been so close to the tumor , he could/would know that he got it all. The blood going through the vein act"s like a heat sink and pulls the heataway fron the tumor. He is fairly sure he got it all, and the MRI 1 month post HCC ablation will tell the story. My liver contour is in poor shape, he said it looks like a bag of grapes on its contours!! The exterior of the liver should look like a skinless turkey breast, not a big clump of grapes.THere are multiple lesions in my liver and I asked him if he had gotten Amy more than just that one in section 5, he said no because it was like looking for pea"s in a bag of grapes?? Visually my liver looks bad. However I'm compensating in spite of the damage . He's back to talking transplant down the road. 16 weeks on sof/RIBA slowed me down,then 12 weeks of peg/sof/riba chaired me, and now 5 weeks with a 5 pound weight restriction. So on July 4"th I should be healed from R/X and surgery so I have 6 entry points on my belly, and have pain in that overall area. In my case having it done this way -vs-major surgery was the way to Go!! This was not the way I saw things going!Anyway, first things first, get the HCC out of the way then treat the lumpy liver,hopefully not going un-compensated along the way. And by the way, lap surgery still hurts. RC

-- Edited by robertsamx on Sunday 22nd of May 2016 01:18:30 PM

Shadowfax · Guru

I am jumping on this wagon and wishing a speedy recovery as well.

It must be great to have it behind you now and set sights on better things to come.

Take care, both of you.

SF

Sydhanrahan · Guru

Hi Chris,

justvwanted to reiterate what everyone else has said. Hospitals are clinical hell on steroids. You must truly be feeling like a rag doll.

hoping RC makes a quick recovery and very glad he has someone savvy and caring to be his advocate.

Love,

Syd

Canuck · Guru

Happy this day is done. We were all rooting for ya. Thnaks for keeping us so close to you. Think of nothing but healing and recovery now you two. My strongest, best and warmest wishes of ease to you both. C.

wendyo · Guru

Hope you both got some rest last night and today is a day of recovery and that the swelling went down. Prayers and good vibes your way.

Matt Chris · Guru

Hey RC

My thoughts and prayers are with you and the positive outcome that we all are expecting.

One step at a time will get you on track for HCV treatment.

matt

wmlj1960 · Moderator

Thank you for the update Chris. I'm very happy that the surgery went well and I expect a quick recovery from RC because, as he has already proved, he will defeat HCC and HCV. Get some rest and tell RC to check in with us when he gets caught up with recovery. Job well done, both of you! smile

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

So glad to hear your update, Chris, and thank goodness the surgery is over and all went well!

What a long day for you, and how thoughtful of you to let us know what's going on when you must be exhausted, thank you! Make sure you get some much needed rest and sleep, you're both in my thoughts and I'm sending all my very best wishes... Jill xx

Linuxter · Guru

Hi Ragdoll,

Prayers for RC's speedy recovery and for you as well smile

Do take care of yourself, I'm sure you are relieved he's past the surgery and on the road to recovery ... our wishes are with you both.

We Do appreciate the update and have been thinking about ya both. Say Hi to RC for us ... wink

Thanks,

Dave

Tig · Admin

Thanks for the update Chris! I've been thinking about you all day. Give my best to RC when you get a chance. I'm happy to hear this is finished and he's back in his room. Don't let him start chasing the nurses too soon!

I hope you have taken a few minutes to get something to eat! Please keep us informed. I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers!

JimmyK · Guru

Great news! He and you are in mine and Carolyn s prayers.

Thanks for the update. Rest some now.

JimmyK

RAGDOLL · Senior Member

RC's Surgery was at 8:45 am and 3:30 pm finally got placed in a room. He did well in surgery and mission accomplished today. Has 6 holes in stomach one on lower right side has some swelling going on that they are watching closely. He was in recovery at 11:00 when they noticed swelling. They are saying that is normal sometimes and did some labs to make sure not bleeding internally. I am going to make sure they watch carefully. Been a long day as we have been here since 6:15 AM. He is kind of heavily medicated right now so if he posts later take that into consideration. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. CC

-- Edited by RAGDOLL on Thursday 19th of May 2016 07:10:53 PM

wmlj1960 · Moderator

RAGDOLL wrote:
.... I will keep you all informed as I will have time on my hands while RC in hospital. CC

Please do. Thanks Chris. Sending prayers for you both. smile

wendyo · Guru

RC and Ragdoll....sending prayers, thinking about you all...............

Canuck · Guru

Hey RC,

Well, that's weird, I was sure I posted to here yesterday, about the 19th - but low and behold I do not see my post here - prolly just me again. Maybe, somehow, I didn't get it sent correctly, or it sits somewhere else, who knows!

So basically, what I sent prior, was my wish for all to go well on the 19th. I instructed you to "give 'em hell"!, and that the lap will be a breeze and long forgotten (compared to your toe). I asked you to save stones to take home with you in a jar, if any turn up in your GB, as I want see nice glossy color pics of stones (or your GB if they would stuff in a jar for you), and I chided you for editing out your prior toe pics in all their wonderful gory glory.

aahhh, here's my other post!! - found it over in MY thread!!! Thought I was goin nuts! I AM nuts (we all know it) - but YOU - stay sane, my man! A good day is the 19th!! smile C. _________________________________________________________________________

Hey toe man,

Thnaks so much. Yup, you came through on your promise to me, but good! And I will too, in mine to you. Will be thinking of you on the 19th. Give 'em hell!

Polaris star dust you called it - you'll be sprinkled soon. Due time.

Hey, if you have any stones, get them to put them in a bottle to take home - I want glossy pics, lots of them.

I protested vehemently when you had second thoughts and decided to edit out your toe surgery pics in all it's lovely gory glory! Lap will be a breeze and soon forgotten (compared to toes!) C.

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Hi RC,

Just wanted to let you know I`ll be thinking about you on Thursday, we all will be. You`ll be in very good hands with an excellent surgical team and your loving wife by your side, and thank gooness the tumour was picked up early enough so that you can have this far less invasive procedure.

Hang on in there, this will soon be over and you`ll be off this train and on the road to recovery in no time.

Many thanks, Ragdoll, for keeping us up to date, we appreciate it, and you`ll be in our thoughts too. Together you`re a fighting team, and you`ll get past this and have better and much happier times to look forward to!

Sending all very best wishes!! smile

RAGDOLL · Senior Member

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support for RC... Yes it's a detour all right but should be a SHORT trip.... Just more patience and faith on this ride. We have been blessed with an awesome medical team so no worries there. The good news RC is that by in 6 weeks your recovery from ablation, gallbladder and rehab on foot surgery will be all done at the same time. You should be off to doing everything you enjoyed before July 1st...Getting back in shape physically and mentally for 2017 HCV treatment. WE CAN DO THIS!! I will keep you all informed as I will have time on my hands while RC in hospital. CC

wendyo · Guru

You have just switched trains for now and after a detour will be rerouted back. Sounds like your doc is moving swiftly and you and the surgical team will be in my prayers this week RC.

Sydhanrahan · Guru

Hi RC,

probaby just repeating myself, but just in case I'm not! my oldest friend and I went to school together, he claims to remember me when we were four and his dad brought him to my place.

Anyway we caught Hep C without each other's help and he got on treatment last year. At the end of treatment, he was found to have a small HCC which was microwaved also. Nearly a year later he is well and his liver readings continue to improve.

i hope this turns into your story too.

Cheers,

Syd

wmlj1960 · Moderator

robertsamx wrote:
Any thoughts? RC

Yep, I think it's going to be a thrill to see you get this lesion put behind you and see you get back to your final ass whippin' of that dragon. It's been a long fight for you RC, but that dragon will go down and you are just the man to put it there. I wish you well on your procedure on the 19th and on a speedy recovery. Keep us posted on your progress. smile

Linuxter · Guru

Hi RC,

Glad your on the HCC Train for now ... and we all appreciate your posting how things are moving along. How great that the docs are getting right on this and that the surgery will be minimally invasive(laparoscopic), good not only so you heal WAY quicker but much less chance of infection as well (all good news).

Thanks for keeping us posted and as as Jimmy mentioned, this will bring others hope too.

It may not seem like it to you but this is all happening quickly ... you'll be back on the Trials Train before ya know it. smile

Dave

JimmyK · Guru

One thought that occurs to me is you will get very close attention on your next Dragon whooping adventure. You case is one of those that Doctors really sharpen their pencils over.

Sorry about the detour but be thankful to God that you live at a time when these things are commonly dealt with.

Keep us posted brother, there are others to follow that will be very grateful for the information you will be providing, and then to see you succeed as you will, will bring them hope.

Warm Regards to a Brother

JimmyK

Tig · Admin

Hi RC,

That microwave ablation could be a way to have fun with the surgeon. You could swallow a few popcorn kernels before you go in and see what happens! Okay, just kidding, but I made you smile!

This time next week, you'll be back on track and planning for your next HCV Tx. I'm glad they can do this by scope and know you'll have a much easier recovery. It sounds like they discovered this in it's early stages, thanks to your trial tests. I always say, good things happen for a reason and rarely by coincidence. This was meant to be! We're all with you buddy and look forward to a great outcome...

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