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CoCo's Journey - The Liver Biopsy

Today was the day I was dreading. My doctor had been threatening it since the first time I saw him. When I got the awful news that my issues had progressed to actual cirrhosis, he said - you need a liver biopsy. Today was the day. 

Waiting to go back for my biopsy

They called me yesterday and told me to be there at 9:00 a.m. Nothing to eat after midnight. I could drink clear liquid until 7:00 a.m. and then no more.  Or just a sip to take a medication.  And I needed a driver.  

We got there in time, got registered and they came and got me.  The process itself was really quick.  Once they took me into the ultrasound room, they did a quick ultrasound, the Nurse Anesthetist gave me some drugs that kind of knocked me out a bit.  He said he would give it to me and then five minutes later give me more.  And would do it every five minutes until the procedure was over. It was over so quickly, he only had to do two doses. The only thing I felt during that time was the lidocaine going into my skin, where they would put the needle to penetrate into my skin and my liver.  I was also advised that once they got the sample for testing, they would inject me with some type of medication that would assist in the clotting, to try and avoid hemorrhaging.  

Next thing I knew, I was back in my little recovery room.  They told me they had to watch me for about five hours after it was done.  In case of bleeding.  So I was prepared for that.  KayeLynn had to leave around 11:30 to go to her own doctor appointment.  So, after she left, I ate the little box lunch they brought me (I ate pretty much everything, except a couple of bites of the sandwich), which consisted of a little turkey sandwich, a bag of chips, a fruit cup and some little spice or carrot cake cake pops.  It was actually pretty tasty.  And watched TV.  

I was surprised when they let me go home a little after 2:30. Once KayeLynn got back, they had me get dressed and go home.  

Tonight, I am feeling quite a bit of pain in my side. I think once the anesthesia wore off, that is when I started feeling it.  It feels like I have been running and have a constant bad stitch in my side - or even that someone punched me.  I have no bleeding.  That is good!!  I have to keep the bandage on for 24 hours, so we'll see what it looks like and feels like tomorrow.  

Next week I see my liver doctor.  He should have the results by then.  Hopefully, I can get a better understanding of my prognosis and a plan then.  The unknown is what sucks.  

I went back to work this week.  I only had to do two days.  I go back on Saturday, hopefully my side is better!!!  I work four days and then my vacation starts.  So I'm not picked on.

Here are the things I hate so far about liver disease:

  • apparently liver disease makes dental issues progress more quickly.  I have a root canal that I am looking at and then I have to have my bridge removed, another root canal under it and bridge replaced.  Yeah. SUCKS and costs a lot of money!!!
  • the itches.  With liver disease, your skin can itch.  Now I don't have it too bad, but I do notice my skin itching quite a bit. Especially when I get up at night to go to the bathroom, because of the next bullet
  • night sweats.  I don't know if this is an actual symptom or what, but I am soaking wet every night.  I get up to go to the bathroom, the cold air hits me and I'm freezing.  
  • restless legs.  As soon as I get tired, my legs start moving all over the place.  Here, there and everywhere.  It makes it very difficult to settle down when I'm in bed, because my legs want to move everywhere.  I found out I'm a little low on magnesium, so that could be the cause of it.  They added a little more magnesium to IVY, so hopefully that helps.
  • insomnia.  I go to sleep, I wake up, I go to sleep, I wake up, I go to sleep, I wake up.  I take an over-the-counter sleep aid. I actually take two, which is against the rules, but it's the only way I'm getting some sleep.  I need that fixed before I get back on the morning shift here in a couple of weeks.
  • And finally!!!  THE UNKNOWN!!!!
    Back to work!!
Hopefully, next week, Dr. Fed has some good news or positive news.  I still don't know what the future holds or what the actual plan is.  So - hopefully I can get a little more understanding next week.

Thanks for following along.  



IVY and I at the dentist.  Wearing
my cool hippy pants.  I got so many
compliments!!  I think they are so
cool!!!


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