May 8th 2007 Liver Biopsy Day

8:30am checked in, short wait then sent back to Same Day Surgery

The normal Blood pressure, tempature etc... go over procedure with OR Nurse

10:40 taken to Radiology and no time to wait then in to a room

There were 3 Nurses, the sonogram Tech, One doctor and a doctor in training, and one nurse to keep me calm

I am very nervous at this point with all of these people in the room but for Stat procedures you have too in case of complications.

The Doctor told me when to breath, hold it and not move.  If one move it could slice the liver and I am not going there.

Ok now it's time, he uses the sonogram to locate the liver, then finds his spot (mind you in 1989 my first biopsy wasn't so easy and pain free I had one nurse and one doctor and no sono machine, just imagine, ewwww)

He says you will feel a bee sting and then yet another, in he went, then he says Laurie I am sorry but I need to go in again I didn't get enough, (Did not want to hear that) so in he went and it was over.

Went back to my room now lying only on my right side facing the next 6 hours in that position. (Bleeding from the biopsy can help clot the area so no internal bleeding later.

I got on shot of Morphine and I tried to sleep but it didn't help, 2 hours later my mom and Aunt came back and they were glad to see no complications then my best friend and her mom came back to pray and talk to me before heading back 2 hours away.

So after 3 hours another shot of morphine, you will feel a little sleepy, wow I feel it now ready to sleep for years.

So off to la la land I went I was discharged at 6:30pm

Now the next week would be the hardest, moving and waiting on results.

May 16th 2007 my doctors visit, Dr Rudman and another doctor were explaining bits and pieces to me but could only grab what I could understand.

My Liver is now stage 4 cirrhosis and I NOW have what's called Fatty Liver Disease (NASH). This now grows concern for my doctors because he explained to me that the two Hepatitis C and Fatty Liver Disease (NASH) is FATAL together.

So now a new Disease to fight against.

So now my doctors are saying we have to put the Hepatitis C to the side and get to the Fatty Liver right away. Because Crypto genic cirrhosis is a common cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now recognized as the most common cause of crypto genic cirrhosis. However, the diagnosis of cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD appears to be delayed compared with those with other chronic liver diseases and thus carries a higher mortality rate.

Until next time my next appointment is June 20th 2007

Please keep me in prayer!