Wednesday, March 7, 2012

SITREP: the GIST of it.

Well, that was interesting. Had a long chat with my new surgeon (who actually I had met before when I was going to the wound care clinic for my foot) and tells me I have a Gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST for short.
Bottom line: 1 in 5 chance of not surviving the surgery and convalescence. Will involve at least a partial gastrectomy with possible involvement in the pancreas, spleen and the main artery that serves the spleen. Minimum hospital stay two weeks. Maximum, two months, if I make it. The Doc led Rosey and me in a prayer at the end of the visit, which I appreciated greatly.
There is also a designer drug for GIST, Gleevec, which the Doc says I must have but is more expensive than my divorce. That will be required post op and for a while after discharge. Lord knows how we're going to pay for that, but then it is all in His hands anyway.
Things like this remind you of what you haven't gotten around to, and how much you need to. For example, Rosey and I still don't have a will, so we'll have to see to that in the next couple of days. Stupid, I know, especially when I never expected to live past the mid-Nineties. We've never had much of anything, especially since I had to quit work with the congestive heart failure, but we still need to do it, and quickly. Same for a power of attorney.
While I was writing this I just got a call from the surgeon's office telling me my cardio guy wants to put me through some kind of stress test to see if I'm okay to go under the knife, which sounds to me like they're trying to kill me off before I get to the OR. Anyway, if everything works right, I'll be admitted to the hospital on Monday and cut on Tuesday. So now you know what I know.
I want to thank all of you who have had me on your prayer list and humbly and gratefully ask you to continue to keep me and my family in them. I'll continue to post as I can.
LATER: So, cardiac stress test arranged for tomorrow and so it will likely be Tuesday when I'm carved on. And in answer to the comment below, yes, the PO Box still works for that. May God bless you all.

42 comments:

CA IIIper said...

We'll be praying for you & your family...is it okay to send donation checks to your PO box?

Anonymous said...

"If I'd a known I was gonna live this long, I'd a took better care of myself!" - songwriter Harlan Howard

Prayers said on your behalf, and will pass along request to my church, etc.

I know God has a place for you, but I pray that He will let us keep you a little longer, at leaast until this gunwalker thing is done. besides, you've got a book to write!

III N TN

1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Anonymous said...

For your meds, see if there is a sample pharmacy around. My wife gets debilitating migraines, and only a certain, very expensive pill works on them. Even with insurance, we can't afford those pills, but the sample pharmacy gives them to her on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Welshman said...

Mike, be assured of my continued and fervent prayers. I will also have my church put you on our prayer list. God bless you, my friend, and remember, nothing is too hard or impossible for our Lord.
Anthony

Selous Scout said...

3ohEight and I will pray for you.
God bless you Mike!

Anonymous said...

Hey buddy, look at the bright side. Dr. gave you 80% chance of positive outcome.

That's a heck of a lot better odds than I give Issa for indicting Holder before you're back.

Prayers for you & the Mrs.

Two months in the hospital, you'll have to finish the book to keep from pissing off the nurses & having them do you in!

drjim said...

You'll be in my prayers nightly, Mike.
Jim

N said...

Mike,

I have a friend who has a heart attack the day after a stress test. Incidentally, he knew he had heart problems, and consequently would not ever expend as much effort as required in the stress test. The test showed everything fine, and he had a heart attack the next day.

The chemical test are a little safer, IMO. Plus, the medical personnel administering the test can promptly administer a nitro inhalant to stop an attack.

Our prayers are with you. keep the faith.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like your surgeon knows who guides his hands, eyes and brain. Don't forget the healthcare power of attorney, also. While you are at it, do the same for Rosie. We're praying.

ParaPacem said...

Yeah, we don't want you having to channel the revised Absolved, a la Edgar Casey, through some earthly mouthpiece like Bill Maher or Eric Holder. they would screw it up entirely!

I have everyone that we know keeping you in prayer, and as for that expensive medication, well, won't Obamacare take care of that? I feel sure they will, as the White House just sent us a crate of condoms and a crate of diaphragms plus a thousand birth control pills, so I'm sure they will look out for you too ;o)

Anonymous said...

One is five is pretty good odds for that as they have to consider age,
and that this area of the body has very high bleedout potential if the
stitches pop. Sometimes the body will do insane things post op like
crank your BP up to 300 short term which can result in death from other points of failure.

I'm thinking the powers that be will most likely keep you around simply to torment those in the govt who are so richly deserving.

Long term, having a stomach the size of a small fist might be a drag if you like to eat big on holidays. But, you'll be able fill up on next to nothing.

eddymatthews said...

And may God continue to bless you and yours!

Anonymous said...

Can't begin to tell you how much all your work is appreciated. Sorry you have to go thru' this, Mike, but with God's help you'll emerge stronger and continue to fight the good fight. This country needs you! Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Chef said...

God Bless you and your wife. You all are in my prayers.
Don't worry. The odds are in your favor, and good things happen to good people. The Lord is not ready for you yet. You still have too much to do here on earth.

Anonymous said...

P.S.
Just an FYI, Gleevac has a patient assistance program.

MamaLiberty said...

Ease up on the medical advice, fellas... you're scaring ME to death. :( And I spent 30 years in nursing.

Don't pay any attention to anything but getting well, Mike. God bless and keep you.

Anonymous said...

Included in our prayers. Op will be easy, it's the recovery that's a pain. In the long term, even that fades to insignificance. I'm on the tail end of that myself, and the biggest pain of all is the "lifestyle changes" they want afterwards. See you after :)

CowboyDan said...

http://www.novartisoncology.us/reimbursement/patt/index.jsp

kenlowder said...

Sign p for prepaid legal. It's 25 bucks a month and you get a free will. Check their site for a local agent

Grog said...

Prayers sent up for you and yours, I'll ask a friend to put you on his list.

Grog
III

Unknown said...

My prayers are with you, too, bro. I'm optimistic that you'll pull through just fine.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Anonymous said...

My brother,

You are in our prayers, as you well know. Put something in the mail to help out.

YBIC,
WarriorClass
III

Oldfart said...

Don't you dare pop off before I do - I've got seniority y'know. I'll keep you in my prayers Mike.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to be late with this comment. My prayers are with you and your family. May God hold all of you close and give you strength.

He's got you here for a reason. And he's brought us all here for you!

Get well quick!

Spartan

Anonymous said...

Ask believing.....

Anonymous said...

20% chance of failure = 80% chance of success...go with it...

MauserMedic said...

Best wishes. Heal fast.

Anonymous said...

Mike, good luck and prayers!

On the will, just pull out a piece of paper and write it in long hand now and sign it. While it may be questioned (by who?) that is acceptable just about everywhere. This is one of those deals where something adequate and quick but maybe not perfect is way better than nothing.

Make sure to date it, too, so when they have to look at it, they'll say darn, this guy lived way longer than anyone he knew, who are these people he mentioned in the will?

djmoore said...

God bless you and keep you, sir.

Anonymous said...

Thoughts and prayers headed your way.

And a bit of a reminder.....please, please, please leave the spare keys of the blog with someone who can provide knowledgeable updates.

When you go in for a procedure and don't check in right quick, there will be much breast-beating, wailing, and moaning about your demise while you're actually luxuriating in the company of hot, buxom, sensitive and caring nurses. Then, when you eventually do show up, you'll wonder why everyone is burned out and can barely manage "O, Hai!"

Leave the keys with someone who can update every speedbump and every rally in your case.

Anonymous said...

God bless and protect you, and guide you surgeons hands.

Grumpyunk said...

Seems to be a lot of this type of surprises going on. Just had 1/2 of my colon removed last week for cancer.
Life turns on a dime my friend and each day is a gift.
We'll add you to the prayer list, Mike.

Anonymous said...

Operated on for GIST in March2011. Tumor was in stomach as opposed to being located in the intestines. Tumor was removed sucessfully and margins were clear. Been on Gleevec since last April Dr. says stay on Gleevec for 2 more years. Insurance is picking up most of the 50K/yr cost. Drs say prognosis is good for at least 5 yrs. Good luck! Prayers are

SamAdams1776 said...

Prayers will be said for you.

Matt Bracken said...

God bless you, Mike, you are a great American patriot.

1NCCCH said...

Be at peace Mike and Rosey!! Nothing comes to us that has not gone thru His hands first. Father DOES know best. Prayers on the way from eastern NC!

Jess Banda said...

Hang in there!

E said...

I'll be praying for you and your family, Mike. I've got everyone I know praying for you too. You have no idea how important your work is to us out here.

Also, make sure you give all passwords to everything on the computer to a loved one, like Rosie, and another set to your son or someone else who can be trusted. We know not what will happen.

God Bless you, Mike.

Anonymous said...

On other note, who thinks this might be the perfect time for some people that view Mike as a threat, due to his Fast and Furious findings, to dispose of him easily and make it look like it was of natural causes due to complications caused by the surgery? *Dons tin foil hat*

Bill O' Rites said...

I hope all goes well for you Mike & that there is a positive outcome.

Jensko said...

God bless you Mike. Prayers continue.

Not2late said...

Praying for you, Mike. God bless!