Hope there’s better news soon, faithfool. I’m keeping you and hubby in my thoughts and prayers.
Right now the specialist is saying that they were wrong and it’s his spleen that’s holding blood because it’s basically circumventing the damaged liver (at least that’s the way I understood it). That his liver is becoming useless and he’ll end up needing a transplant.
Okay, now I’m officially scared to death.
I’m just hoping we are trapped in an episode of house and they’re just continually getting it wrong. I pray that it’ll be nothing after all. I thank each of you for being with me during this. I couldn’t make it without this board.
My thoughts are with you and your husband.
Sending good thoughts your way, faithfool. Hang in there.
Lord have mercy. Hang in there, faithfool. I don’t know what else to say.
Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Don’t be shy to ask all the questions you need to understand and ask for a second opinion if you need to.
{hugs}
Do you by any chance have the same blood type as your husband? Some people are able to donate a piece of their own liver to a loved one and then their own grows back to its original size in time. (It’s slightly risky for the living donor, though.) That avoids the need to wait until the patient is really ill before they move to the top of the transplant list.
Unfortunately, we aren’t the same blood type. I don’t know what else to do and I feel like crying. God I hate this.
Important point.
If you’re not sure you understand what they’re telling you or if you think you need a second opinion, make sure you speak up.
There’s nothing wrong with crying. It might make you feel better to release some of the sadness and tension and stress you’re going through right now.
Take a walk. You can talk to yourself while walking (I don’t know why, but that always made me feel better), or sing a song. Swing your arms to get your heart rate up a little. You might find this helps you release some stress, too. I’m not sure if you’re at the hospital, but if you are and you’re the praying sort, find the chapel. You can pray or meditate or just sit quietly for a little while.
Go to the maternity ward and look at the newborns (if your hospital is set up that way). Just give yourself mental breaks when you can–emotional naps as it were.
Thirded. I have found it very important to get doctors and nurses to explain things in plain English until I understand them. You are going to have to make informed choices, but the key to that is good information.
Ask questions until you understand it. Get to know all the why and hows and possible avenues. Ask them to explain what they see on the MRI, etc.
Get a second opinion. Docs are not infallible and not all of them agree on things.
It took a little getting used to before I felt comfortable challenging a doctor’s line of reasoning and asking for second opinions, but my daughter is healthier today because I learned things and have been her advocate.
If your doc gets offended at your asking questions, ask for a new doctor. We ended up switching surgeons because my daughter’s first surgeon was a jerk. We just dumped him and asked the other surgeon to take over.
Fortunately, parts of livers can be donated by living donors, so there tends to be a better supply of these than of some organs.
My brother-in-law pretty much killed his liver through drinking, and wasn’t a candidate for a transplant because he was an active alcoholic. His liver ended up working again, after a long hospital stay. It was a tough road for him, but he was fortunate.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
I’ll be thinking of you both and hoping for a good outcome.
Hopefully, I can do all that. I just feel so overwhelmed. And I am at the hospital right now. I’ve scarcely left. I think I will take your advice and go look for the chapel. Some prayer alone time (and maybe some tears) sounds useful. I need to be doing something useful.
One thing to look for at or near the chapel is anything about family support/advocates/etc. There’s probably someone at the hospital who does something along those lines. The chapel is an ideal area to post that kind of information.
As many others have said, you need to remember to keep taking care of yourself. And think as positively as you can, it helps you and your hubby, and there is no reason not to.
faithfool, I can’t provide any advice beyond what’s already been offered, but my wife and I both will be thinking of you both and wishing for the best results possible.
I still have your address from the Valentine’s exchange. Would you mind if I send you a card?
Nothing I can say will make it better - but you are in my thoughts.
Sending out more healing thoughts.
Xoferew, that would be so sweet. And I feel a bit better now, thanks to you all and praying. I will continue to be strong for Jaceson. Thank y’all.
I’ve been off board for a few days, and just saw this. Just wanted to drop my good thoughts into the bucket for **faithfool **and her husband.
My tip for dealing with doctors and nurses - keep a pad and pen handy. Take notes. Ask for spelling. Then you can look things up later if you forget details. Post questions here if you’re embarrassed to ask something that seems too “obvious.”
Don’t forget to post the good news when he’s all better. 
-D/a