80% is only a B- - Nov 6, 2012

During the night, the nurse brings me the CT scan contrast dye mixed with apple juice and water. It's like two really big glasses full. I've got half an hour to drink them and my CT scan will be in two hours. They are difficult to get down, but I manage. My stomach is sloshy and my abdomen sore as I walk over to the transport stretcher. 

The CT scan is done and I am back in bed by 3 a.m., just in time for the blood draw at 4 a.m.

The night shift resident comes at 7 a.m. and confirms the results from the CT scan: there's an arterial blood clot. They will continue with the planned treatment. I want to know how we'll know when it's gone. "There'll be no more pain," he tells me. Fair enough, and I'm too tired to ask any more questions right now.

Another resident comes by at noon and reiterates what the first resident said. Rejection has been ruled out. We're just going to wait for the blood thinners to do their job and I'll probably go home tomorrow. I like the direction we're going at this point.

My surgeon, Dr Piper, does rounds in the early afternoon. I am glad to see a face and hear a voice I know, but he gives me less-than-pleasant news. He tells me he is now concerned about rejection stemming from the clot. He talks to me about treatment for rejection. Again, I am confused.  "I thought I was admitted for a blood clot."

Dr Piper tells me the blood clot is now a secondary concern, and it can be routinely treated with blood thinners that are already in place. With the changes in my most recent lab work, pancreas rejection is his primary concern. 

I need to receive an IV steroid, Solu-Medrol, as an immunosuppressive treatment to keep the rejection at bay. It will start immediately (doctor time, not real people time). Dr Piper tells me there's an 80 percent success rate with this treatment. We have to keep checking lab work to look for positive or negative changes. Which means more blood draws and MORE WAITING. 

So I wait. Eventually, the nurse hooks me up to the steroid. I feel concern, but no pain. I am torn. I was grateful when all I had was a treatable blood clot. I want to remain this positive. 

I was not prepared for the clot to lead to pancreas rejection, though. 80 percent success rate? That leaves more wiggle room than I'd like. And more hospital time. And more uncertainty. And more powerless waiting.