Penny & Irv - June 2010

Well, Irv does NOT have autoimmune pancreatitis. His IgG4 was normal. That is the definitive test. His liver enzymes also are returning to normal though they are still slightly elevated.

Now, no one knows why he got to sick or why his liver bile ducts closed up. Modern medicine, right? Insert swear words here: ________________________ It is so frustrating. He was so sick. Where do we go from here?

Some famous doctor/professor is coming to town for a lecture series. Dr. Koteen, the gastroenterologist, knows this man and plans to discuss Irv's case with him for any additional insight. Unless he learns anything new Irv is just to continue with the plans to remove the bile stents in late July. Then he will have another CT to compare to the prior one. And we will hope this mysterious ailment will not return.

Boy, do we feel good. NOT! Irv does feel almost normal right now. He occasionally suffers from the itching, but it isn't debilitating, just irritating. His stamina is almost back to normal. His appetite is good and he has stopped losing weight, even is gaining a little.

Tomorrow he sees the general doctor/PA about his diabetes. The glucose medicine he is on appears to be working well. He still his some high levels, but only once had a really low one. We are assuming the dosage will be changed or a different drug will be trialed. Since his liver tests are back to normal there is another type of drug that he can now take - the ones that work on the liver to reduce the glucose.

This lack of a diagnosis is almost more scary. We are waiting for another crisis to appear - again without any diagnosis. Then what?

I guess we can just be thankful he is better. He really needed the stents to resolve the jaundice. But will the jaundice return when they are removed? ARGGHHH!

Anyway, perhaps our constant emails of medical problems will be really reduced! I bet you are all ready for that. I'm ready for normal life to return.

Thanks again to you all for the constant support!

Penny