Pet Forum / Birds / Birds / February 2004

Sorry to disappoint some of you, but I survived in spite of the doctors'
prognosis! heh heh
I thank Laurie for her updates here and I thank all of you for your
thoughts and prayers!!! OM, you get an extra thank you for my package of
goodies (I'm enjoying a cuppa right now!), and Alex and Laurie for the
cards and cute pictures.

After my release from the hosp. Jan. 22 I stayed at my mom's (the Docs
wanted me in a nursing home but I flatly refused) until day before
yesterday when I decided to come home. I missed my babies SO much and
hadn't even been able to see them but a couple of times, with my mom's
help, since the day before my emergency hosp. admission on 1/6.
The first time was really difficult... my little BFA, Jambo, died while I
was comatose in the ICU. I spent 16 days in the hosp. and no one told me
until a couple of days before I was released.
My ex had moved Jambo's cage to the shed so I wouldn't have to see it, but
it was still hard to walk into the room and see the space where Jam's cage
had been. The vet had been treating him for a bacterial infection. I had
just finished up his 10 day course of Baytril right before I was
hospitalized. I never expected him to get sick again - but he did - and,
sadly, it went unnoticed. He was dead and buried by the time I was told
about it. It really put a damper on coming home.

Still not allowed to do anything for a couple more weeks at least. They
want me to have mostly bed rest. (Yeah, right!)
My mom comes over every day and helps me down the steps so I can visit with
my babies and give them treats. The ex-huz still comes out every morning
and feeds all the birds/dogs/cats. His help has been invaluable, as has my
mom's.

I know Laurie's told you they took out part of my duodenum and over half of
my stomach to get rid of the ulcer. They had to leave part of it as it had
perforated into my pancreas, and they used a section of my colon to repair
something or other. IOW, they kinda rearranged my innards. I still don't
understand what all they did.... just that it was a very serious operation
and I'll be in pain for quite a while longer. I hope to learn more about
the procedure on the 'net.

They also found a small aneurism that has to be monitored carefully. It's
too small to do surgery on right now, but the surgeon told me if it bursts,
I'm dead. No ifs, ands or buts about it. I'll bleed to death internally. If
it gets big enough they can operate and fix it. Kinda scary.

I spent yesterday and today trying to read through some 2500 posts! I'm
glad to be back amongst my treasured friends!!! Once again I thank those of
you who cared and sent healing thoughts my way.

I'm really tired so I hope what I've written makes sense!

To end this on a happy note: The biopsy on the ulcer was NEGATIVE!!!!!