Okay - a quick update!
I finally got my biopsy results yesterday.
I do have a form of hepatitis, but they don't know what kind. My blood tests pointed to autoimmune hepatitis. The biopsy shows hepatitis, but was not clear which one. In my GI's perplexed words, "So far we don't think it is cancer...." Real comforting words there. Not. There is an obvious issue that my liver has more than one thing wrong with it.
Next Tuesday I am scheduled to see a liver specialist.
Doc forwarded all my information; I had to call the Dr's office to make the appointment.
They answered the phone, "Transplant Center".
I hung up.
I thought about it for a few minutes and called back.
They do treatments as well as do transplants for livers and kidneys. It does help to know all your facts before panicking. Now to wait for Tues and see what the expert has to say.

That Hurt!
And it left a mark!

Excuse any ramblings - Doc says My real brain won't come back until tomorrow afternoon.

Had my liver biopsy today.
I was assured I would only feel muscle pain following and would not need to be completely sedated. If if I was not completely sedated, I could watch on a screen.
The Dr. doing the biopsy went into to great detail about how there are no nerves in the liver. The only real pain would be the assault on the muscles. Wow! You can learn something new every day!
The liver at any given time is holding two thirds of the body's blood. So bleeding out is a very serious risk for the first 24 hours or so. My orders for the next day or so are to sit on my butt and watch TV.
They shoot the area full of lidocaine and go pretty deep to help the soon-to-be-assaulted site. Lidocaine burns like all get out! The "area" being a real tender spot - your ribs, right side. That is one nasty spot for an injection.
The biopsy consist of inserting a LARGE (OMG - you wouldn't believe it if I told you!) hollow needle between the ribs, then inserting another needle within that to take the biopsy slivers. We got to see the biopsy bits. Not near as colorful as I expected.
It was originally wrote they would do a ultrasound guided biopsy, but the Dr. chose to do a CT guided instead. I would get to watch everything on the CT scan on a monitor right near my head. There would be Happy Drugs, but I would stay conscience.
When the doctor took that first biopsy, I levitated off the table.
I was in way too much pain and they didn't know why.
All they could do at that point is finish as quickly as possible. The nurse kept pushing drugs in my IV, but my liver was feeling this! They were even able to determine it wasn't the needle going in I was feeling, but when they cut the sections.
Forget watching - I was trying to breathe! It literally took my breath away.
I came back to recovery sobbing. That was a horrible, painful experience.
And I really hate when the pain wins. I have spent 15 years trying to stay in control of chronic intense pain. I really hate when I get a surprise attack and get knocked down.
Doc even had tears in his eyes. This isn't how it was supposed to go and he does this several times a day.
Afterwards you have to lay on your right side. That way the liver is using itself to apply pressure and reduce bleeding. My blood pressure was pretty low for awhile. They guessed from the amount of drugs I had in me.
I have a small square bandage with very dark bruising peeking out.
It hurts to breathe. It's a rib thing.
It will be early next week before we get results.

This isn't the first time such an experience has happened to me. I had a broncoscopy years ago to take lung biopsies. The nurse in charge forgot to give me some of my IV drugs. Too drugged to do anything, but felt every snip inside my lungs, the rough tube shoved down my throat and into my lungs. They kept wondering why I still had a gagging reflex.

This time the nurse did everything she could and then some.
I blame my strangely put together body. I think God was a bit tipsy the day I was formed.
Everything is just a little bit "off" or not quite right.
The adhesions have turned my insides into a real fun house mirror view.

If I were to label this it would go under "Sucks to be me".

All the blood tests, ultrasounds and catscans lead to this week.
On Thursday, I have a liver biopsy. My GI says there is definitely an immune disorder.
Possibly hepatitis - brought by a faltering immune system.
Or Lupus. The faltering immune system queen. They have been trying to pin that label on me for years.
Or cancer. IMHP the least likely, but still a possibility.

All that isn't even the worse part of my week.

Sunday, I had to stop taking my pain pills. They could cause a bleeding risk during the procedure.
I'm not feeling too good is a serious understatement.
Rand and I traded vehicles for the week. I don't think driving a stick is doable currently. Or getting my legs in the Jeep to start with.

Welcome to Animal House!
Saturday, my last day on my good meds, I knew I had to get some stuff done and sleep well that night.
I awoke with a migraine with lots of vomiting to make it interesting.
A bit later in the morning, I was awakened by the noise new upstairs neighbors moving in. The moving noise I could have lived with. The yelling, cursing, and hacking up and spitting from the deck above my patio - pushed me too far.
I stepped out the front door and informed two young ladies the screaming and cursing had to stop. They said they weren't the ones moving in, the boys were. "Oh goody." I replied, and went inside. A bit later I then got heralded by lots of of yelling conversation about the f***ing b***h downstairs.
The puking was slowing down I got dressed and drove to the office to complain. One of them followed me there. Trying to intimidate me? I got out looked him straight in the eye and went on in. Nobody was in the office. But they don't know that.
I went home and noticed one of their vehicles in a handicap spot. You KNOW I called it in. Lucky me, it was the loudest mouth that got the ticket. Sweet!
The conversation wafting down then included threats toward me, the FB. I was shaking I was so mad. I step out on my patio and yelled for them to Shut UP! It was the Mama Bear in me then. That actually worked.
One of the young men came down, introduced himself and apologized. Really seems to be a nice neighbor, with not the best choice in friends.
The party that night lasted until 4:30am.
At one point they were in the street screaming at the top of their lungs. This quiet little neighborhood has never seen anything like this. Somebody else called the cops this time. They all came running back inside. We could still hear threats hurled in my direction. At one point they discussed my Jeep. At 1:30am Rand put it in the garage.
Cigarettes, garbage, beer, and other garbage were thrown off the deck all night long. Most of what we could not help but hear, was crass, disgusting and way too much information.
One of the partying young ladies was seriously hurt in a drunk driving accident on the way home.
Camper won't go outside anymore.
The ants suddenly covering my patio are inebriated.
I started my week of pain with no sleep and way too much stress for my faltering health already.
I made it six hours at work today. I came home, sipped on a hot green tea, and slept that many more hours.
I now exist in a painful fog.

Girls Day Out!
We did have a Lilly and Sandra visit a week ago. Highlights included a Girls day out at a salon. Everybody got trimmed.
I also got retouched. I officially resign as my own hair stylist. It hurts too much.
Sandra got 7" cut off and looks fabulous!
Lilly got her very first trim and was a natural at this girl stuff.

Lilly helping with Gramma's hair.

Shampoo time

A real pro

Yeah...that's the spot......

Trim time

Got to love the cape!

Not two stylist - just Gramma helping

Lilly like what she's sees

The final touch

No real length was harmed. We just took off the baby straggles.