T.

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I too have woken up during several ERCP's too. Once I bolted upright and

they were all laying on me. I went nuts. I have learned to tell them about my

waking up and they are very careful now. It's the narcotic use that causes it

per my MDs. We build up a tolerance, so different meds need to be used. I

haven't woken up in years now. Sometimes they use general anesthesia. I always

try and talk them out of it. My lungs hate that stuff. But you have to do what

you have to do sometimes.

I feel for what you are going through. It is SOOOO hard to make a decision

on what to do with this blasted disease sometimes. It seems like were damned if

we do and damned if we don't sometimes. My take on things, is to do the step

that is necessary to get some quality of life back. But sometimes the options

are not guaranteed to work and we are given percents. Thats whats so hard. I

usually go with what my heart tells me, once I have all the facts. I see your

options as the following:

1) Stay on pain meds and deal with health issues as they arise. Just learn to

live with it. This option has never been a favorite for me. But sometimes we

have to pick this one until we get to a point where we feel we have to do

something else. Or until we are forced to do something else because things get

so bad..

2) More stenting with hopes of longer term relief. I know you hate this one.

But the progressive stenting helps sometimes. It stretches the ducts to a point

where it stays open longer and allows adequate drainage. But all our cases are

so different.

3) The whipple, I remember you considering this one.

4) Or the TP? I know you said you can't have the ICT because of your fatty

liver. Are there meds to help fatty liver and make it less?? If so, maybe the

TP/ICT is still an option.

I know this is a very hard decision. And some day I may be facing this same

exact decision again. I have had to make many scary health decisions and I just

do what my heart is telling me and plunge forward. Just do what your heart is

telling you.

My thought and prayers are always with you. Please let us know how you are

doing. Hang in there. Never give up hope or the fight.

Love

w

Wisconsin

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