9/8/24: Previously On...

One of my favorite shows of all time was the Kiefer Southerland show-24.  It was a spy drama that took place in real time so that the events in one hour of the show took place over one hour until the entire 24 day was covered.  But that's not important here.

I think it was one one the first shows that started every episode with the phrase "Previously on 24" followed by a recap of the events in the series so far.

I think now that I am making my experiences more public it might be nice to recap my life over the past few months or so.

Back in April or May I was starting to feel very fatigued all the time.  I was still able to function at work and at home but I was struggling to get the energy to exercise.  I was also having a lot of issues with itchy skin.

I went to the doctor and they ran some tests.  Nothing was conclusive but I could tell the doctors were concerned.  I then started showing a yellowing of my skin.  Jaundice was a big enough symptom to get me to go to the ER and eventually the hospital.

There I underwent a series of procedures over the next few months that included sending cameras and probes down my throat (called an ERCP) and poking and prodding in my abdomen to both try to restore bile flow to take care o the jaundice and to make a diagnosis on what is wrong with me.

I could tell the doctors pretty much knew what was wrong but they needed to take some tissue samples to be sure.  Finally they did get a good sample and officially I was a cancer patient. Cholangiocarcinoma-cancer of the bile duct. 

To make a long story short I have had a number of procedures that have left me with a stint in my bile duct and a couple of drains to help the bile flow.  Chemo is done via a 4 hour infusion 2 out of every 3 weeks.  Time will tell how successful any of this will be.

I had a feeling going back to at least late last year that something wasn't right with me.  I did talk to my doctor but I was pretty healthy I thought and I never really had any medial issues so I just did my best to live with it thinking it would pass.  It didn't.  If I had pressed the issue and asked the right questions maybe I could have caught this sooner and the prognosis would be better.

Its weird but those thoughts were recently echoed by someone I recently read about.  I never watched the show, but the host of Tex Mex Motors on Netflix, Rob Pitts, just died of stomach cancer.  He was only 45.  In his video announcing his cancer he explained he was just thinking he had acid reflux.  By the time it was determined he had cancer it was too late.  He also said to ask questions, get answers and figure it out.

Take that advise out there.  Be your own best advocate for your health.  You know if something isn't right.  You just need to figure out what it is before its too late.