Surgeon and the spleen

While I was in MDA in July 2016, before I had the enlarged spleen removed, the surgeon came to my room and spoke to me.  She said that because my albumin level was so low (nutritional), that I was at risk, as well as the fact that my splenetic artery could accidentally get cut and I would bleed to death on the table.  Nutritional level must be high in order to heal properly.  If you don't eat, your body won't heal like it should. Common fact. So basically, she wasn't going to do it.  I was devastated. I called my husband on the phone and told him what she'd said, and he in turn called Dr. V. (my husband has saved my life so many times by talking to my doctor for me, and that's just in ONE way).  Dr. V. went to the surgeon and took her by the arms and said, " YOU HAVE TO DO THIS FOR HER! YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE SPLEEN!"  (this is what was relayed to me, whether it was word for word....).  The surgeon returned to me the same day and said, "I'll send you home and schedule you for 3 weeks from now to remove the spleen, if you can bring your albumin level up.  You need to eat."

My husband called our eldest granddaughter to come to Houston, from Louisiana, to help cook and take care of me, and for moral support. (smile)  My mom had been staying with us since 2009 to help out, but when our granddaughter came, it was an added blessing.  I craved her homemade caesar salad dressing with croutons, so had her make that for me few times a day, and frozen pomegranate Ensure crushed to make a slush, and also craved beef barley soup!  My niece even ordered me a case of it off of Amazon!

During the time of returning from MDA to wait those three weeks, I had about five fans going on me all the time.  I was basically bedridden because I was in so much pain when I walked.  I didn't want phone calls, or watch TV, or have visitors.  All I wanted to do was think, and pray.  I was either going to live, or die on that operating table, and all three of our children were pregnant at the same time, and I truly wanted to see those babies.  I even told the surgeon, "I've got three babies waiting to be born, and I want to see them!"  She's like, "Nothing like pressure." (smile)

I had to go back to MDA for blood work, and other tests, before surgery.  Talk about difficult, when you're so ill, so weak, so much pain, and you're toted around in a wheel chair, and have to sit in all these waiting rooms prior to each test.  My dear husband.  What a trooper he's been. He would get stressed out when he was worried about me at times, but he was always there for me, driving me here and there for tests,...We'd spend all day when we'd go to MDA. 
There's a saying about MDA; that when you go, expect to spend the day, something like the initials stand for "Most of the day".  Anyways, there you are. 

After blood work, the results are generally ready about 1-1/2 hours later.  The PA or the doctor, depending on who you're scheduled to see that day, will then call you into the office and give you your results.  This day I was eager to get my albumin level results, because it determined whether or not I'd have the surgery to remove the spleen.  I was desperately ready to have that huge thing out of me!  The assigned doctor for me that day told me my results were still too low.  I'm thinking originally the levels were 2.5 and it needed to be 4.5 or above.  I could go back and be accurate, but this is about right.  We were not happy.  When we left the office, my husband wheeled me down to the cafeteria on the first floor. Needless to say, I was crying, so disappointed. So scared.  I wanted to live!  WELL!! My cell phone rings, and it was that same doctor!  He was apologizing all over the place: he'd read my report wrong!  My albumin level was high enough to have the surgery, which in itself was a miracle because all I'd been eating was frozen Ensure slushes, beef barley soup, and caesar salads! Now tell me; would that be enough to raise my nutritional level??  We praised God because we knew it was a miracle.  Absolutely!

As I've likely already said in a previous post, I was receiving so many cards in the mail with scriptures and encouragement and prayers.  So I took hold of the scriptures that meant the most to me and trusted God, that no matter what happened, I would be alright.  Go to heaven, or stay to see our new babies.

The surgeon also informed me that my recovery was going to be a marathon; going to take a long time to get over.  The surgery was estimated to take four hours, however, she showed up in the waiting room after only two, which my family thought meant bad news.  "No, she did great and the splenetic artery was right there in plain view on top, so there was no chance of accidentally severing it."  WOW!!!  Another answered prayer! 

My granddaughter, bless her heart, had the job of staying with me when I was in a room for next few days recovering.  I tell you what, it was some painful after the twenty-four hour pain shots wore off!  But when I awoke in the recovery room, of course, you want to continue to sleep but they have to wake you up from the anesthesia, safety first, I was surprised.  I was prepared to not live.  I really was.  I wanted to live, but I knew I was high risk. I was certainly thankful to be alive!!

Our granddaughter says I was hard on her when she stayed in the hospital with me; I didn't want to get up to walk twice a day, I was hurting all the time.  The pain meds barely worked, although they gave me what I needed.  She's able to laugh about it now, but anytime I'd be difficult, she'd get on the phone and call her mom or her Papaw and let them know.  Phew, glad that's over with.

Not having any meat on my bones caused extra pain, had to lie on pillows for months whenever we had to travel in a vehicle. I remember when I saw the nutritionist, she said, "I see you've lost even more weight after surgery, but you need to gain."  I told her, "They just removed an eight pound spleen, so yeah, I lost weight."  "Oh" as she begins to write on her little tablet. (smile)  I even had to SLEEP on pillows in the bed, or on the couch; didn't matter how I lay, it always hurt.  I'm still having back problems, but no longer have to lie on pillows. Still having back pain when I do too much, or sit too long, etc.  Need healing for that too, as do so many people I know.

Of COURSE I was scared at times. Often. I'd get my Bible out and search for scriptures that encouraged me, I'd pray. There was a great support system around me, family and friends that came to visit me before surgery, even from other states.  I was showered in love from all around. I've been so blessed.  But bottom line, I knew the only one that could help me during this time was the Lord.  It was me and Him.  This is what I've learned throughout my life, is that when it comes right down to it, I have to turn to Jesus and His Word for any answers, and the Holy Spirit comforts me and teaches me whatever I need to know at any given time, just like the Bible says. And I'm TELLLING you; it's TRUE.  He has ALWAYS been there for me, always.  I may not get a quick answer to some prayers, and some I've been waiting YEARS for...but I know without a shadow of a doubt He hears me. US.  He hears US. 

When you spend time with someone, you get to know them, right?  Same with the Lord.  When you love someone, you want to be with them, get to know them, stay with them, share with them.  Prayer is simply talking to the one you love, pouring out your heart. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16 KJV 

Learning to hear God, is the same as spending time with Him.  You learn to recognize His voice, guiding you,....But it will happen.  Whenever I'd pour out my heart and say, "please let me know you're hearing me" He always did, still does.  It was obvious, like something would happen to show me He heard me.  Would love to give an example, but not coming to me right now...But I'll let you know when I remember an example. (smile)

I have so much I want to share, to encourage you in your own walk in this life.  About so many things.  *sigh* One post at a time.

Oh, and we have three new grandchildren: two boys, and one girl!  Awesome!! These make us having eleven grandchildren now, and what blessings.