Home Sweet Home

David and I made the long drive home from San Franciso Sunday afternoon. I had a lot of pain in my stomach; every bump or turn was painful. It was a trip I don't care to repeat any time soon. Actually, I won't be expected back there until the surgeon needs to see me, which won't be until after I've had some chemo, which, of course, won't be until after my biliruben count comes down. I'm pretty sore today at the stent sites. Moving is hard; I can't get into or out of bed by myself and it takes me a while even with help.

I found out Sunday that my biliruben count is still at a nine. I'm hoping that maybe the silver lining in the dark cloud of having that stent yanked out is that maybe they got it positioned better this time to get my bili count down. I still have the two stents in the same places on the outside, but they repositioned them on the inside. Now I just have to wait to see if this is any more effective. My oncologist wants me to have my count tested every Monday, but since I was tested on Sunday, there is no need to test again today. I'll find out more next week. Until then, there is no way I can have chemo because it would be too toxic to my body with the high biliruben. So I am resting this week, hoping it will help my count come down.

I know it would be wonderful, but I have come to terms with the fact that I am not a liver transplant candidate. I have been told that now by three doctors, including these specialists in San Francisco. I haven't included it here yet, but I found out that my primary cancer is bile duct cancer. The liver cancer is the secondary cancer. I don't know what my treatment options are if my count doesn't come down. I am just trying to rest and stay positive and focused and hopefully something wonderful will happen.