On 1/10/2008
Solutions wrote:
Hi Jamie,
I know very well about infections my wife had a lot of them. It happens when the bile does not flow from the liver through the hepatic ducts down the common bile duct and backups into the liver. I sounds like the stents are glogged. When that happens the fevers will surface and even worse body chills will start.
It's good your mom is in the hospital, they will give her IV antibiotics and that will control the infection and bring the body temp back to normal. The plan to insert a tube is very good. My wife has two tubes and they a a life savor. The reason for the catheter drain is to allow the bile to flow out of the body. You should check your mom's stool color...tell the doctor if her stools are a ash color...that not good. That means the bile is not get down into the bowels. Also her urine color is important, it sounds like it may be dark yellow...tell the doctor if that the fact.
With regard to permanent or temporary...my wife's tubes will be permanent. This is not bad...in my wifes case the tubes are not just to drain bile out of the body. She has the tubes changed every 2 months. I'll explain more later. My wife had surgery in July of 2003...a very rough recovery, but now with the 2 tubes...no fevers and everything is going well. I realize the are doing surgery on your mom, this maybe because of the staging issue. Has the doctor mentioned why no surgery...you may not want to hear why.
Really go for the second opinion...I understand Dr Canady has done this surgery many times. When my wife was told about the Klatskin Tumor by the doctors at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, CA they also told her they would not operate. We needed to go to UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco and only 2 surgeons out of 20 would consider surgery...it's a very serious issue. At the time prior to surgery, they gave her 6 weeks that was in July 2003.
Please keep me updated...I have a lot of information for you. I guess the mai thing you should ask the doctor is...why no surgery. Make sure it's not because he or the other doctors just don't want to attempt such a risky surgery.
Take care...it going to get harder before it gets better.
Leonard - Alamo - California
Thank you again for your response. I am sorry to hear of your wife's situation but am hopeful to hear that she has surpassed the expectations! That is a blessing! I will keep posting as the time passes - Thank you!