Thanks. Last week's hernia surgery went smoothly and recovery is going well. I have an appointment next week with a spine specialist to go over everything and discuss the possibility of back surgery.

Excellent! I hope they can help you get back to a better life.

Checking in Smashy; still keeping you in my thoughts, good news about the hernia surgery, one little thing done, a box checked on the road to wellness.

Keep putting one foot in front of the other and never give up!

We care, we hear you.

I was just thinking of you this morning, Smashy. I hope your recovery is going well and you're making progress on other appointments. Is your ceiling fixed?

Best wishes!

Good to see you’re still trucking

Thanks, guys. No, the ceiling isn't fixed yet. One thing at a time I guess. lol

But I've had other good developments. Some good things happened yesterday. I found through a test that I have moderate pancreatic insufficiency. For those not familiar, one function of the pancreas is to produce the enzymes that help digest food. I did this test years ago but it was normal then, so it's gone downhill over the years since. Normally you wouldn't want to hear that there's anything wrong with you. But in my case, with the severity of my symptoms, my GI specialist said this is a good thing, for two reasons. One, it's easily treated. All I have to do is take enzyme supplements. And two, this might mean that the supplements would help reduce the severity of my symptoms and enable me to eat more food than I can now.

The biggest problem is that there's literally nothing I can eat that my body can handle. So as my symptoms have gotten a lot worse over the past year I've been reduced to eating just one or two things (mostly fish) that are the least bad of all the things (basically everything) that make me sick if I eat them, and eating only once a day in an effort to mitigate the problem. That's why I've lost so much weight and strength (I also stopped working out because I got so weak; ironic but sort of a compounding problem). This new development might help change that, at least make the problem less severe than it has been. I just got these pills yesterday, so it will take some time to try them and see how much they help. Fingers crossed. I still have the ulcerative colitis that has to be dealt with, and that's looking like surgery. But this could help make my quality of life better than it has been, which has been lower than rock bottom for a while now.

The other good thing is my back, which is causing all the problems with my legs and feet. I don't remember if I posted this before, so here's brief update: I had an appointment with the neurosurgeon at the Portland VA to discuss my back issues and possible surgery. I waited three months for that appointment. Three weeks ago, with less than a week to go until the appointment, they called me to cancel. They said the doctor wouldn't be available that day. They pushed me back another three months to the end of January. More waiting, with my problems getting worse all the time. But with the help of my GI specialist, who was trying to help me out since I didn't have a primary doctor, I got an appointment with a spinal surgery specialist in Eugene who has a really good reputation, and the VA would cover it. And I only had to wait two weeks for this appointment. It was yesterday.

He's the best in the area from what I hear. He really seemed to be on the ball and knew exactly what I need, a type of laminectomy. He said what I have is a common problem and he does surgery on patients for this issue four times every week. Which I thought was great, as I want someone who is very experienced at it.  We agreed on a plan and my surgery is going to happen a month from now.

The only thing that concerns me is the VA. I haven't had a chance to talk with them about this yet. I'm hoping they don't give me the runaround and make me wait forever for approval to cover the cost of this. I don't think it will be a problem, since I got approval from them to see this specialist in the first place. But they have a long track record of making things difficult, so we'll see what happens.

But yesterday was a good day overall. With my birthday coming up next week, it felt like an early birthday present. So I'm grateful for these developments. I'll work on both the new pills and the proposed surgery and see how everything goes.

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date Smash, I hate to hear you're still suffering, but I'm also stoked to hear things are actually looking up for you.

Keep on fighting homie!

And let us know if you need anything.

Hey Smashy....these all sound like positive developments. Keep plugging away man. We are still out here pulling for you.

Great developments Smashy!  Glad to hear it!

Awesome

Good News!

More small steps forward.

More good news, the surgery is approved!

YAS!!!!!!



So glad to hear all the positive things happening for you!!!

What he said.

Great stuff, Smashy.

Great updates! Really glad to hear.

God forgives yes.  But according to most Christians, not for suicide.

Glad to hear these good and positive updates!  Keep on trucking, man.  Sounds like you're rounding a corner to at least be a lot more comfortable than you have been.

Hey Smashy that's great news! Thanks for the positive news!

Great update! I really hope the pills help with the food thing.

The VA absolutely WILL give you the runaround on approving the surgery. This is going to be your job: call every day, email repeatedly, get confirmation of who can authorize this outside surgery, nail that person down to get an answer. Meanwhile, DO contact your US Congressperson's constituent services. Have you done that yet? Let the constituent services person know what's going on, what the history is, how long it's taken to get anywhere, that getting approval for an outside surgeon to perform the surgery is essential (after all, VA blew you off, so that proves they can't do it). A letter from a Congressman's office can prompt action and resolution where the VA on its own would just let the request rot. Constituent services for vets is something most Congressional offices will move on, because it doesn't cost them anything and they can actually contribute on these issues. Unless your congressperson is a complete 'tard, but then you also have two Senators. From my limited experience, dealing with the VA is its own pain and suffering.

Keep it up! Just like you said, one thing at a time, one day at a time. Keep going!

Progress my man.  That’s wonderful news.

Been a while since I looked at this thread. Very happy to see a big streak of wins.

Hope your weekend is going well

Sounds like things are working in your favor finally Smashy!!!  Couldn't be happier for you.  Keep your chin up.  You got this.  If you only knew how much strength you give us normall arfcom members!!!  To fight like this is truly an amazing accomplishment!!  Good work!!!

Smashy, do the lumbar surgery. You won't regret it. I had a lumbar discectomy on L4/L5, and L5/S1. I had all the nerve pain, down my legs, and couldn't really stand up straight. I walked like a hunched over 80 yr old man. I was 33. The surgery made me almost as good as new. That was in 2003. I still get a little sore if I work too hard, or lift something the wrong way, but overall, I am at about 97% normal.
 I'm glad to hear you got the hernia fixed. Many prayers to you for a quick recovery.
 As far as the UC/enema issue, is this only from solid foods? Or certain foods that make the issue worse? Last year, I lost 20 lbs with no explanation. My doctors poked and prodded, I had the endo and colonoscopies, and nothing was found. I consulted with a dietician, and she recommended smoothies. I bought a Ninja, and started drinking a smoothie 4-5 days a week. I have since gained back that 20lbs plus 10. I know I don't have UC, but I'm just throwing ideas out there.
  Like so many of us, I'm pulling for you, man. We will most likely never meet, but I hate seeing people in a bad way. I wish you all the best. Hopefully the worst is in the past, and you start making more positive moves forward. Good luck.

Fucking awesome, man! And Happy Birthday!!

Yeah, back surgery coming up on 12/6. Second time under the knife in two months.

Hang in there.  Surgery will help!

Hope you are doing ok.

Hang in there man.

Appreciate the updates and positive news further up the page. Hope things continue to go well!

Doing okay, thanks.

awesome to hear Smashy, you are still in our thoughts and prayers man

Just found out I have hypothyroidism (more specifically, Hashimoto's disease). That would explain several symptoms I've been noticing for a while.

Hope you feel better

Man, you’re like a nesting doll of ailments bro.  I am glad you are finding these things out and fixing them.  But damn, that’s more punishment and problems a good man should have to deal with. You don’t deserve all of this pain by a longshot.

Hey Smashy,

I'm so happy to see some positive progress for you. You are truly an inspiration.

We love you, man. (No homo, lol)

Yeah. Today I found out my mercury level is twice the upper limit of normal. Probably from the ancient metal fillings in my teeth I got as a kid in the '70s. Another thing to figure out. But it also explains a lot.

I'm going in for back surgery tomorrow morning.

I hope there is but I’m not counting on it. Just going to have to believe in his son and keep going until I can’t go no more.

Back surgery tomorrow! Wishing you the best.

same.

We're thinking of you, Smashy.

Prayers the surgery goes well.

Ask about kelation to get rid of the mercury

Just out of surgery, groggy as hell. It was a longer surgery, they did work on three spots between L2-5. Surgeon just told me it went fine, everything's good. Just hurts like hell now,  I'm told that will ease up after two days.

Attached File

that's great to hear Smashy, hope the recovery goes well

Yes thank you God for sending people i care about incurable diseases and letting biden for example live so long.

Good luck smashy I'm thinking about you  donated.

Get well soon!

I'm glad to see you getting the care you need and making progress. Keep it up.

Glad it went well!