KELLY RECEIVES YET ANOTHER MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS THIS MORNING

ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT LITTLE CRITTERS MAY SHOW UP IN OUR FRONT YARD JUNGLE

It was shortly after 9 a.m. on a puffy white cloud laden scenic sunny morning when Kelly & I rolled out of our driveway heading east for Stratford’s  General Hospital.  This was the day we were hoping to get some directional answers on Kelly’s long & troublesome medical condition.  We were at the hospital early & luckily Dr. Haffner, Kelly’s specialist took us in early.  First let me tell you that Valley Fever has been ruled out.  Tests came back negative.  Doctor did say he had quite a time tracking her results down & finally found them still sitting at the Public Health Department in London Ontario.

 

Kelly has been re-diagnosed with probable PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS & that has to do with the liver.  It is a non curable rare disorder Auto-Immune problem that can be controlled with a specific drug.  Ursodiol (Actigall) is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis. Ursodiol assists the liver in moving bile through the ducts to the gallbladder and small intestine. Studies have shown that Ursodiol prescribed early in the disease improves liver function, slowing the time it takes to progress to liver failure and the need for a liver transplant.  Primary Biliary Cirrhosis is not to be confused with the more commonly known Cirrhosis of the Liver commonly associated with the over use of alcohol.

It was also determined Kelly’s severe fatigue a month or so ago was caused by MONONUCLEOSIS.  It is something she had as a 12 year old child & it has lain dormant in her ever since.  There are a few other related conditions going on as well but everything seems to be related.  It was nearly 10 months ago now when Kelly first began running into problems.  Several of the conditions at that time are still persisting today.

Recent tests showed some remaining fluid around her heart so she is in for another Electrocardiogram (EKG) in Goderich.  Doctor also wrote her out a long term Ursodiol prescription which will begin dealing with the liver problem but we immediately ran into a problem later at the Pharmacy when she was told that medication is not available in Canada.  Faxes went back & forth between the Pharmacy & her Doctor with the Pharmacist phoning late this afternoon saying he is having the drug shipped in from the States & Kelly should have it by noon Friday.  Dr. Haffner’s office is also arranging for Kelly to have a liver biopsy done at the Stratford Hospital shortly & he wants to see her again in early September. 

SPOTTED MYSELF A LITTLE GREEN BACKED HERON IN A WILLOW TREE THIS AFTERNOON

Kelly is also lined up for another series of blood tests & an appointment is being made by Dr. Haffner for Kelly to see a liver specialist in London Ontario.   Kelly’s Doctor figured the earliest Kelly could get in to see the liver specialist was October.  That pretty much scuttles our mid September travel plans for heading to Colorado.  But, we have to do what we have to do to get Kelly feeling better & that is all there is to it.  We may have to put next week’s Bruce Peninsula travel plans on hold as well until we know about some of these new upcoming medical appointments.   To date Kelly has lost a total of 18 pounds but is looking at that weight loss positively.  You know how it is ladies……………………..

 

A BIG LAKE FREIGHTER MAKES IT’S WAY OUT OF GODERICH HARBOR A FEW DAYS AGO

GROANER’S CORNER:((   A young executive was leaving the office at 6 p.m. when he found the company President standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand. "Listen," said the Prez, "this is important, and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing work?"  "Certainly," said the young executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button. "Excellent, excellent!" said the President as his paper disappeared inside the machine. "I just need one copy."

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