Some Good News for John

[john]

hi all,
i saw my immo last week and she had the liver biopsy results on her screen.
she told me they showed the structure of my liver has improved since the 2006 biopsy, it's not so fatty anymore and the fibrosis is better too.
although she is not a hepatologist, she was very pleased with me, and if she is pleased with me then i am delighted!
i will see the hep consultant soon i hope for a more detailed report, but it looks like not using alcohol has helped and so i guess will become a permament feature in my life.
the portal hypertension and the bleeding risk are not explained, hopefully that will be resolved soon.
i did my volunteering this week, and the consensus among my fellow patients was that i was looking much better.
oh happy me!!!!
take care - john

[gilliem]

I'm truly delighted with your news, John. Congratulations. You and Sue must be so relieved. It gives hope to all of us that not all deterioration is irreversible!
I'm having a happy time with Tommy for however long it lasts. He was prescribed a course of 6 injections of Vitamin B12 to be administered over a fortnight. He's had 4 so far and they've made such a difference. He's altogether brighter and more energetic. Lovely to see.
Love to you both,
Gillie.
PS. Sorry about the wine!

[john]

hi gillie,
that's good news for tommy too. long may it continue!!
strangely enough there was a letter in this morning's post asking me to see the hepatologist tomorrow at 3.30, so my questions may be answered sooner than i'd thought!!
fingers crossed all round - sue is coming with me with a list of her own questions, hope the poor man can cope!!
the wine.....not missing that all. there are plenty of nice things to drink out there that don't need liver processing!!
hope you can get out to enjoy your garden, such a strange year and such a washout june!
take care and love from john

[bamber]

Brilliant news John and you too Gillie,

John can you give me the secret to wine alternatives! My consumption of alcohol has been cut down (mainly for my mental health to be honest-my liver not too bad), but apart from being a tea belly - love my tea - don't know what else to drink.

You don't have to really answer only semi serious. But it shows how much we are affected by these different things.

(I am serious though about being told to cut down for my mental health)

[mali42]

Great news John, I'm really pleased for you, who needs wine anyway, iv only got 62 bottles left and I will pack up drinking after that :-)

Gillie, thats brilliant news and I'm with John long may it continue.

We had some good news, Pats older brother was diagnosed with picks desease but his physio said I'm not a doctor but have him rechecked because he is displaying the symtoms of parkinsons and not picks and he was right and now he can be treated and have a better quality of life when they get his treatment right.

Malcolm.

[gilliem]

I like this thread! Such encouraging, upbeat stuff for a change. I'm pleased for you and your family Malcolm.
Best wishes,
Gillie.

[john]

hi malcolm,
really happy to hear about your bro-in-law. how true it is that once you gat the RIGHT diagnosis, then things can only get a bit better.
hi gillie, yeah, let's spread some GOOD news a bit more!
hi bamber,
you know i can't advertise here, so you'll need to put your thinking cap on! that high street supplement and vitamin shop, h and b, sell some excellent strong alc-free ginger wines. recommended by a lovely young barmaid in a totnes pub!!! also if like me you like campari, then there are quite a few italian soft drinks which look just like campari and soda, and taste the same! for beers there are some really tasty ones in the supermarkets, mixed with diet lemonade they are just like regular shandy, and for wines there is a very good white, spanish de-alcoholised one in the more up-market supermarkets, and quite a good red, best served chilled or jumped up to look like sangria!!!
the secret is to serve them all in the relevant glasses, and then only you need know!
tell me how you're getting on with these and i'll tell you of anything new i find!
it's such a laugh to not drink alcohol and watch your friends getting louder and more vulgar as they drink, it's almost worth it just for that!!!!
take care - john

[john]

hi all,
we saw the liver team today and the good news is that they are very happy and positive for me. my liver is normal and working as it should.
apparently portal hypertension is known to occur in people like me with goods syndrome, and the plan is to periodically look into my stomach with endoscopy and re-glue any leaking blood varices.
as endoscopy is not a procedure that i am wary of, ie it doesn't hurt at all, i am happy with this outcome.
next hep appointment is in december, with the endoscopy coming soon - that will be the fourth this year!!
i'm going to try to forget the trauma of the past few months now and enjoy life for what it's for - LIVING!
take care - john

[slf]

Hi John
That's a huge dose of good news and a relief to us all,welcome back to decentish health
Steve

[liz2mac]

Hi John,
What great news, I'm so happy that everything is going so well for you. Mali, good news on the correct diagnosis,Gillie great news. Re the drinking, I'm not able to drink at the mo as more than one glass gives me a migraine. I agree with John though, its funny to watch other people whe we are stone cold sober! Mali, if it weren't for my migraines I's offer to help you clear the excess bottles that you've got to struggle through, poor you! lol

[barbfrombc]

Its wonderful to read a post with so much good news in it. Makes my day

Barb

[john]

hi all,
guess the quiet board is down to summer holidays, and....oh yes those olympic games!!!
thrilling opening ceremony we thought, and even for a non-sporty guy like me, quite an interesting bit of tv viewing ever since!
well, as an update i thought i'd report in after my first "surveillance" endoscopy today.
it seems that all is well and i didn't need any more gluing, but they thought i would need my beta-blocker dose to be increased to try to bring down the portal hypertension. the dose i have now makes me feel VERY laid back, any increase will have me horizontal!
so, a good day today. tomorrow i get my magic juice and meet up with stan and irene, my infusion buddies, and thursday i will be there again in my volunteer role. i should be looking for a flat in whitechapel methinks!
i hope everyone who reads this is well, enjoy the games and the sunshine when it happens,
take care - john

[gilliem]

Delighted with your news, John. I had my juice yesterday. Just as well, as up a lot of the night with a sickness bug! I'm fine this morning, I think.
Love to you and Sue.
Gillie.

[liz2mac]

Great news John, so happy things are looking so good. hmm the thought of a flat in thereWhitechapel's interesting, I could certainly make use of one there from time to time!

[john]

thanks for the good vibes ladies!!
they have installed a new tv in the GHU daycare room, specially for the games. it's amazing how this has lifted the spirits of the patients!! long may the feel-good factor last!!
take care - john

[alittlebean]

Brilliant news

[mali42]

Hi John
More good news, keep it coming.

I agree it was a good opening ceremony especially when her majesty jumped out the helicopter :-)

Malcolm

[bubblemum]

The house is all quiet at the moment with everyone still in bed, so I am enjoying catching up on the forum. I have really enjoyed reading these up- beat posts. With so much to contend with and so many battles to fight it is so lovely to read good news and sentiments of relief. Well done everyone and long may all your good news continue. Now I'm just off for a glass of wine ;0) - only kidding!

[john]

hi rachel,
you enjoy that glass of wine, you've earned it!!
i really believe in the power of positive thinking, and just at this moment i'm feeling ultra-positive!! so........c'mon team-gb!!!
take care and enjoy the weekend - john