Skip to main content

Jan 6, 2024 update.

 Originally posted on social media Jan 6, 2024.

"Long over due updated. On the 7th week anniversary of the Whipple Surgery I finally got to walk out the door of Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. I can't say enough about the wonderful amazing AHS staff that took care of me. The health care workers are the best people we have, they take care of us when we need them the most. Thank a health care worker you know or see for me❤️❤️❤️

I am still dealing with a stubborn infection of the Incision, and have a another drain that needs care. Home care is taking over my care now. Today I felt OK, so figured I could go to the store to get my prescription filled. It took everything I had just to walk across the store. By the time I got to the pharmacy I was done. I had to take some extra strength advil off the shelf as I waited. I realized I hadn't taken any pain meds for well over 9 hrs. Thankfully a good friend, Kevin, was there to help me. I know I have to lean on family and friends more now than ever. Thank you for all the positive vibes and help my good friends, there are so many of you in my life I love you all

Lessons are still being learned, just because I am out of the hospital doesn't mean the recovery is over, it's really just starting I think."
 
Jan 05, 2024.

 
Jan 05, 2024.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ferritin and Iron levels.

 UPDATED July 2026, 2026 Happy to report that what I have done over the past 12 months has helped my Ferritin and Iron levels stay stable. Part of the on going follow up after my Whipple Surgery is having blood work done at 3 and 6 month intervals. Blood work done in Nov 2024, a year post Whipple, showed my iron levels to be in the normal range, but the Ferritin levels had started to drop. Both my primary Doctor and dietitian recommend me increasing my daily iron intake to see if that would help raise my Ferritin level . The duodenum is removed during the Whipple, and it plays a crucial role in iron absorption , so removing of this section of the small bowel reduces the body's ability to absorb iron. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body's cells and It's found in many cells, especially in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow . A low ferritin level after the Whipple is common and is often due to impaired iron absorption caused by the removal of the duodenum; ...

What's it like Volunteering on a trail day.

 I decided to try and retire this year, not sure financially this was a good decision, but mental and physical I know I have to try and I know it will help keep me healthy. If I stay healhty and active I will stay out of the hospital I hope. A trail day is helping repair and maintain a multi use ( horse back, hiking, running and mountain biking) network of trails. I live in a beautiful part of the world, the foot hills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. There are several networks of trails and trail associations here, we are very lucky. I think my favorite trails to work on are the old classic trails in Kananaskis Country . Most of these trails haven't seen any attention in many years, so they are over grown and eroded. The trails are often in a remote wilderness area, so getting to them can often be an adventure, we hike, bike and use e bikes to get to locations. You have to be prepared to be there for several hours, with enough food, water and extra layers in case the weather chan...

The importance of advocating for your self.

 I went into the Whipple Surgery , Nov 17, 2023, with the belief that I would be home in 7 days and recovered in 3 months. The surgery it’s self went okay they tell me, but 4 days later I developed a pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) leak , followed by hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) leak and there were delays in acting on these complications. It got so bad 2 of my close friends had to come in and talk to the medical team to find out why a CT scan ordered on Nov 24, 2023 still wasn’t done 2 days after it was ordered. By the time the CT scan was done things had gotten much worst and it was the start of a very long recovery . This when I started to notice it was very important for me to pay attention, advocate for my self and my health care. Nobody knows your body and how you feel better than you.  Unfortunately I didn’t start making notes or taking pictures until I was discharged, Jan 5, 2024, after 50 days in the hospital. I was sent home with 2 drains and a very active leak that was com...