Day 59: T+59

 Deja vu! Another 10pm red blood cell scan. Another hunting to see if they could catch the active bleeding. Good news is the third time is the charm and they found the place it's bleeding. It looks to be in the same place as where the GI doctor saw it, in the duodenum. 

How to solve this bleeding now becomes the problem. 

All the doctors met and put all their heads together and came up with a game plan. After talking they decided on 3 possible solutions. 

This afternoon we met with them and the three options are:

1. Angiogram 

They can go in through his veins to the place they think is bleeding (because it's believed to be at the end of a vein) and stop it there. 

Downside: it can be ineffective if they don't get close enough to the place it's bleeding (it's a lot more complicated than I'm explaining it). The veins are more complex than we think. Just suffice it to say that it's hard work to find the correct place. 

2. Surgery

The surgeon met with us a explained how she would do the surgery. A lot of it is game time decisions (being able to do the surgery laparoscopically, if there was any scar tissue in the way from past surgeries)

Downsides: There are SoOo many unknowns. Will they be able to do it laparoscopically? Will they encounter scar tissue? Will the surgeon find the correct place it's bleeding? Is his new immune system to a point where it can handle a surgery? Possible infections and being able to prevent or stop one that comes.  Having to intubate him and the risks there because of his existing lung concerns. The healing after the surgery. You get the idea.....

3. Endoscopy

This would've been the first choice if it wasn't for the stricture he has. They were able to dialate (which pretty much means tear- but gently done) the esophagus last time. But it's been only 6 days since the endoscopy, and not enough time for it to heal and dialate again. 

Downside: Having to dialate the esophogus again and perforating the esophogus. Perforation of the esophogus is life threatening to a healthy individual. Therefore for Eric it's even more of a risk. 

Obviously all of this can be prevented if his bleeding stops on it's own. They have Eric on a 24 hour platelet infusion (to keep his platelets above 100) and protonics that will hopefully help to stop the bleeding hopefully. He hasn't had any blood in his stool since around noon. 

Maybe the miracle we are on the lookout for will be that his bleeding will stop all on it's own. The GI doctor has said that if Eric can not bleed for 72 hours he is probably safe from any bleeding. Pray that the bleeding may stop on it own. 

If the bleeding begins again the first and best option, the angiogram, will be done. And if that's what happens we need it to work because surgery is just not a good option. 

Until then we sit, wait and pray!

We love you, Eric, and are going to help you through this! ❤️❤️❤️

Jamie