Update on Liver Biopsy
May 15, 2012 10:27:11 GMT
Post by john on May 15, 2012 10:27:11 GMT
hi all,
well yesterday was the day i had my trans-jugular liver biopsy.
it all went well, not an experience i ever want to have again, although i suspect that will not be the case!
i walked into the operating theatre unaided, it was like a set from starwars with the most amazing setup of x-ray machines, computers and monitors i have ever seen, and bear in mind i was once employed as an electronics engineer for the medical research council!
all brand spanking new, and a team of very friendly people who did their best to make me feel comfortable, an impossible task i have to say!
there was NO SEDATION! just some novocaine in my neck to make cannulation painless, then all sorts of wires and stuff was threaded into my right jugular vein and pushed down into my liver. very very strange sensations of things moving about in my liver and my heart, and figures being called out about the pressure of the blood flow in different regions.
then came the actual biopsy, much heavier gauge stuff being pushed hard into the vein and two chonks as it took the liver samples. this actually hurt, and i said so!!
they said that the 1 hour procedure had gone well. i apparently have very co-operative veins, but i will have to wait to see if the stent/shunt needs to be inserted, which will mean the same procedure all over again!
i now need two days rest to let everything heal up, and then on friday we are going to cornwall for a week by the sea, which should erase some of the horrible memories of yesterday!!
amazing technology though, as an engineer i could not fail to be impressed!!!
all love and thanks to sue for being there for me all day, 11.00 till 8.00 when we were finally allowed to go home, and the lovely staff at the royal london for looking after me as usual.
take care, apologies for the long post - john
well yesterday was the day i had my trans-jugular liver biopsy.
it all went well, not an experience i ever want to have again, although i suspect that will not be the case!
i walked into the operating theatre unaided, it was like a set from starwars with the most amazing setup of x-ray machines, computers and monitors i have ever seen, and bear in mind i was once employed as an electronics engineer for the medical research council!
all brand spanking new, and a team of very friendly people who did their best to make me feel comfortable, an impossible task i have to say!
there was NO SEDATION! just some novocaine in my neck to make cannulation painless, then all sorts of wires and stuff was threaded into my right jugular vein and pushed down into my liver. very very strange sensations of things moving about in my liver and my heart, and figures being called out about the pressure of the blood flow in different regions.
then came the actual biopsy, much heavier gauge stuff being pushed hard into the vein and two chonks as it took the liver samples. this actually hurt, and i said so!!
they said that the 1 hour procedure had gone well. i apparently have very co-operative veins, but i will have to wait to see if the stent/shunt needs to be inserted, which will mean the same procedure all over again!
i now need two days rest to let everything heal up, and then on friday we are going to cornwall for a week by the sea, which should erase some of the horrible memories of yesterday!!
amazing technology though, as an engineer i could not fail to be impressed!!!
all love and thanks to sue for being there for me all day, 11.00 till 8.00 when we were finally allowed to go home, and the lovely staff at the royal london for looking after me as usual.
take care, apologies for the long post - john
