It is happening!
I got the appointment for the ERCP on my ‘Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction’ (SOD) a few weeks ago and confirmed the date for tomorrow, the 21st July in UHL.
I rang this morning to confirm everything was going ahead and I was told that because of a few emergencies that have to happen first, I may not be called at all so I was left waiting until after 4pm today to see if I would in fact be called for the procedure!
I was irked to say the least as I have been admitted to hospital twice since December for the pain and have been in constant pain since last being left home in April. The pain has also increased in the last couple of weeks and has gotten pretty bad the closer I got to this appointment. I think the pain meds I am on are losing their strength and the pain in the last few days especially has been bad enough for us to consider going to A&E, but I held off from going in knowing this appointment was coming.
It turned out that at about 3:30pm, I got a call back from the hospital and was told I was on the list for the afternoon and I have been called in so… yeah! It’s happening!
Until I speak with the surgical team tomorrow I am unsure if I will be staying in or not, but apparently this is only the first of a few ERCP’s on the SOD I need to have done. I was told that to weaken the muscle they would need to repeat the procedure a few times, but I know nothing else about what may happen or how often they need to do it, dates, recovery time, illness in between, anything! Which is currently preventing me from making plans to get back to London for further treatment. Until the pain is eased enough for me to travel (and I have been too unwell to travel since last December) and the procedures need to be out of the way but as soon as I see a clear path I will be making plans once again.
So in I go at midday, will hang around for a couple of hours I am sure, then will have the op, I will be knocked out for the procedure and it should be straight forward enough… have I ever been straight forward though?! They should monitor me for about an hour after to make sure all is OK and will then either admit me or send me home, no idea!
Either way, I will fill you in after the event!! 😉
Irish Dysautonomia Awareness 