New challenges

   Dear Family and Friends,

   My ascites procedure was done by an excellent surgical oncologist, who came to the office.  Unfortunately, after several excursions into the peritoneal cavity, only a cup or two of fluid drained.  So the next day he returned with plans to do the same procedure with the sonagram, so he could see where the fluid was.  He saw that I have so many adhesions that there are small pockets.  The next procedure is to make a small incision and go into that area with a scope and open some pathways in the adhesions, then insert a drain.  So I'm still swollen and my feet need to be up.

   Thursday I will have a dental evaluation to see if I am hiding pockets of bacteria, especially under my 2 root canals.  Usually they pull all root canals, because the frequency of infections are great there.  Will report in after I get the results.

   My friend Kathy was here to keep me company, and now son Mike is coming Friday for the weekend.  Kathy was a great companion, and even stood in the room with the first drainage procedure, so that she could be the extra pair of ears that you need when a doctor tells you stuff.  Brave woman!

   We are still working on getting my blood levels up, and so I still have very little energy.  Or at least that is my excuse.

   I'm remaining in Tijuana, getting poked every day, and being a "good girl".  My lungs feel like they are continuing to heal.  We'll be able to see more once the CT Scan arrives from Kaiser and we do a new CT Scan to compare to it.

   Thank you so much for your thoughts and support.  I long to be healthy again.

   Love,  Carol