On 3/2/2008
Bayla wrote:
Thank g-d my sister was released from the hospital today. She is on oral meds and we're hoping for good things. Her catheters were reversed and she now has internal stents. She is much happier with them and really hated those bags. I'm hoping that they won't clog, infect... I know it's so impossible to know what will happen but I'd love to hear from people who had unoperable klatskins as to what the course of the disease was. In any case, we're hoping that she'll have a stretch of quiet now. She was in the hospital 4+ weeks and that was without the real surgery being done.
My best to you and hoping to hear good things.
Bayla,
Hi..this is Leonard, sorry for the delay in getting back with you. Happy to hear your sister has been released from the hospital, that alone is very good news...hospital's tend to get you sicker.
The oral medication meaning Chemo, Antibiotic's or Pain Medication?
I can understand your sister being happier with the internal stents...out of sight out of mind. But as you know from my many previous massages I am in favor of the external catheter stents. They are much more manageable than the internal stents. Keep a watchful eye on fevers, and body chilles...the internal stents will get clogged and that clogging will cause fevers and body chilles and a ASAP visit to ER. The external catheters can be flushed daily and keep the upper stents unclogged.
Also keep in mind, an unoperable Klatskin Tumor is a very serious situation.
I don't know if you mean the course of the disease or you meant the source or the disease. The course of the disease as you know is not good. As far as the source of the disease this is still unknown...some say it's from East Asia...if you search out some web sites...they will identify other causes...what ever the case, you sister has it and it's very serious.
I really wish the best for you, your family and naturally your sister.
Leonard