Post by RicFoxx on Mar 30, 2017 17:15:48 GMT -6
Hello all,
I know I haven't been active for a while but wanted to give an update about what has been going on since many of you have bought some equipment from me to fund all of the medical stuff and surgery. I know their are many out there that may be going through the same thing so I feel as if it is my duty to share and maybe help someone that maybe going thru the same thing. Im excited about the future even though I will never have my voice back due to damage in my throat and voice box but that won't stop me from making music...Ric
I thought I would post an update to my surgery and chronicle my recovery (for me and for anyone that has digestive problems considering surgery.)
My issues started when I was in my mid 20's. I would have pain in my gut sometimes when I ate certain food. Fast forward to almost 3 years ago. Out of the blue one day I felt this intense pain that was more severe than I have ever felt. After an ER visit it was determined that I had Diverticulitis. That started the year long antibiotic run that, by the end of the year, took the life out of me. I went from 208 pounds to a low of 169 pounds. I started getting serious about finding out about what was making me so sick. During the first year I had seven Diverticulitis attacks. I went on a strict diet that included juicing, fruits and vegetables, lean meats and probiotics. I felt great and my blood work showed how I was feeling (great.) But I still had this constant pressure and flare ups.
Fast forward to 3 weeks ago...I had the most intense Diverticulitis flare I had encountered in the last 3 years. On top of that I felt really bad...secretly I was worried that it was something more this time as I literally felt like I had a constant flu. I scheduled an appt. with a local surgeon and he sent me for a CT Scan and the results showed I had indeed had a diverticulitis flare. He said I would get the surgery (colon resection) on my terms or on really bad terms (perforation and infection that would be life threatening at the worst and wearing a colostomy bag at best. So I decided surgery it was but upon the advice from my oldest sister Renee Yarbrough I decided to get a second opinion and that I did. After researching local surgeons and speaking to a few different ones I decided upon Dr Sharma. I went in and he spent a lot of time with me. He was prepared as he already went over all of my medical records in the last couple of years and he agreed with the first surgeon that I would get the surgery one way or the other. I liked his approach a little better and the fact that he had done hundreds of these types of surgeries. Since our main business was off for spring break we scheduled the surgery. Again because I had been eating healthy my blood work was perfect and I did all the pre-op testing. The day of the surgery I was a little nervous but the night before I had a prayer with someone whom I hold at high esteem and it gave me a complete peace that I was doing the right thing.
The surgery was supposed to be a 2-3 hour surgery as my CT showed no complications. That ended up not being the case. The surgery ended up going into the late afternoon and I awoke in misery. Im actually embarrassed but upon taking me to my room from recovery I was raising cane. I was yelling Ive got to take a F*****K P*SS at the top of my lungs (sorry to all my nurse friends...yeah I was that guy!)
As soon as I was in my room I was calmed by the fact that I had pain medicine administered through my IV and instantly became calm and cool and painless (thank you Dilaudid.) The Dr came in and he did not look happy. He said I was lucky...my colon had been Perorated at some point and had abcessed and also fused to my bladder, Kidney and abdominal wall. It was also a solid mass that was almost completely obstructed. I had explained to the first surgeon I went to that I thought this is exactly what I was going through but he assured me that it was not the case (always trust your strong instinct.) It was a complete Godsend that I had found Dr Sharma. He worked the first few hours just detaching my colon from my organs. and then removed a large section that was completely dysfunctional. I have pics but they are not pleasant!!! He also explained that most would have just put in a colostomy bag (both surgeons said this was a possibility if it became complicated.) He even said to me that he hadn't did a resection in a while but felt led to do it for me after a conversation I had with him. The PA told me later that he went into laser focus mode after he understood what he was dealing with and meticulously and methodically forged forward with the surgery. He told me I would have not lasted another two weeks and it was his mission to make me better. I am thankful.
Day 1-3 is a blur.
I was lucky to have friends and family with me passing the time and the first night I had a really great nurse taking care of me (not so the other nights.) I felt no pain thanks to the Dilaudid...I am not a pill/medicine person but (I did not know it at the time) it is a really strong pain med. Hence the "1-3 day was a blur thing." I was up walking the first night and everyone said I was super funny and cool on the pain med and I didn't seem "on pills."
Day 4-5
I went home on day 3 (Friday.) I would be on bed rest with periodical walking and breathing in a contraption every hour to help prevent pneumonia...check. I did this all day long and really felt almost no pain. My neighbors (new neighbors whom we barely know) brought my family dinner that night and told us about their best friend who had the same thing done a little over a month ago and was amazed that I was out walking and doing so well.
Day 6-7
On day six my pain medicine ran out and, as planned, I went off of pain meds. Man, within about an hour I started feeling sore and could tell where things were operated on. Now at this point I had not ate anything solid in about 9 days. I was so hungry and losing a mass amount of weight (my wife said I looked like I had been on naked and afraid...a tv show on discovery where participants go into extreme conditions and survive naked and afraid and loose a lot of weight.) I started eating pudding and jello and different low residue foods and felt good with no pain with that in my system. I even had a perfect passing of food if you know what I mean. Day 7 started great and mid day Decided that I would try a grilled cheese and tomato soup. Shortly after that I started feeling a little nauseas and didn't have a good evening and decided to slow down and stay still. By the end of the night I was sick in the stomach and had spasms in my system and it was a long night. I did get comfortable and fell asleep and started having these really good dreams about eating all different kinds of foods. I was awoken by my wife taking one of the pillows I had perched behind me (I had all of them placed perfectly to get comfortable.) I felt bad because I gave her a hard time and she has been really good taking care of me the first 6 days...sorry Tara Foxworth!
Day 8
I started to feel a little down after waking up feeling bad with the spasms still happening and after a prayer and the thought of what my friend Dwayne Crafton just endured and watching how he recovered and was a warrior, I decided that I was not going to start feeling sorry for myself and got up and juiced about 20 ounces of fresh veggies and fruits. I shaved and showered for the first time in 9 days (I was taking bird baths
I instantly started feeling better.
Im excited about the future going forward and the idea of eating a steak
I feel blessed and understand that things could be a lot worse. The Dr believes that this was genetic and perpetuated by a lifetime of abuse on my system. If anyone is having problems (I know a lot of people going through similar things) please feel free to reach out to me as I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge.
I know I haven't been active for a while but wanted to give an update about what has been going on since many of you have bought some equipment from me to fund all of the medical stuff and surgery. I know their are many out there that may be going through the same thing so I feel as if it is my duty to share and maybe help someone that maybe going thru the same thing. Im excited about the future even though I will never have my voice back due to damage in my throat and voice box but that won't stop me from making music...Ric
I thought I would post an update to my surgery and chronicle my recovery (for me and for anyone that has digestive problems considering surgery.)
My issues started when I was in my mid 20's. I would have pain in my gut sometimes when I ate certain food. Fast forward to almost 3 years ago. Out of the blue one day I felt this intense pain that was more severe than I have ever felt. After an ER visit it was determined that I had Diverticulitis. That started the year long antibiotic run that, by the end of the year, took the life out of me. I went from 208 pounds to a low of 169 pounds. I started getting serious about finding out about what was making me so sick. During the first year I had seven Diverticulitis attacks. I went on a strict diet that included juicing, fruits and vegetables, lean meats and probiotics. I felt great and my blood work showed how I was feeling (great.) But I still had this constant pressure and flare ups.
Fast forward to 3 weeks ago...I had the most intense Diverticulitis flare I had encountered in the last 3 years. On top of that I felt really bad...secretly I was worried that it was something more this time as I literally felt like I had a constant flu. I scheduled an appt. with a local surgeon and he sent me for a CT Scan and the results showed I had indeed had a diverticulitis flare. He said I would get the surgery (colon resection) on my terms or on really bad terms (perforation and infection that would be life threatening at the worst and wearing a colostomy bag at best. So I decided surgery it was but upon the advice from my oldest sister Renee Yarbrough I decided to get a second opinion and that I did. After researching local surgeons and speaking to a few different ones I decided upon Dr Sharma. I went in and he spent a lot of time with me. He was prepared as he already went over all of my medical records in the last couple of years and he agreed with the first surgeon that I would get the surgery one way or the other. I liked his approach a little better and the fact that he had done hundreds of these types of surgeries. Since our main business was off for spring break we scheduled the surgery. Again because I had been eating healthy my blood work was perfect and I did all the pre-op testing. The day of the surgery I was a little nervous but the night before I had a prayer with someone whom I hold at high esteem and it gave me a complete peace that I was doing the right thing.
The surgery was supposed to be a 2-3 hour surgery as my CT showed no complications. That ended up not being the case. The surgery ended up going into the late afternoon and I awoke in misery. Im actually embarrassed but upon taking me to my room from recovery I was raising cane. I was yelling Ive got to take a F*****K P*SS at the top of my lungs (sorry to all my nurse friends...yeah I was that guy!)
As soon as I was in my room I was calmed by the fact that I had pain medicine administered through my IV and instantly became calm and cool and painless (thank you Dilaudid.) The Dr came in and he did not look happy. He said I was lucky...my colon had been Perorated at some point and had abcessed and also fused to my bladder, Kidney and abdominal wall. It was also a solid mass that was almost completely obstructed. I had explained to the first surgeon I went to that I thought this is exactly what I was going through but he assured me that it was not the case (always trust your strong instinct.) It was a complete Godsend that I had found Dr Sharma. He worked the first few hours just detaching my colon from my organs. and then removed a large section that was completely dysfunctional. I have pics but they are not pleasant!!! He also explained that most would have just put in a colostomy bag (both surgeons said this was a possibility if it became complicated.) He even said to me that he hadn't did a resection in a while but felt led to do it for me after a conversation I had with him. The PA told me later that he went into laser focus mode after he understood what he was dealing with and meticulously and methodically forged forward with the surgery. He told me I would have not lasted another two weeks and it was his mission to make me better. I am thankful.
Day 1-3 is a blur.
I was lucky to have friends and family with me passing the time and the first night I had a really great nurse taking care of me (not so the other nights.) I felt no pain thanks to the Dilaudid...I am not a pill/medicine person but (I did not know it at the time) it is a really strong pain med. Hence the "1-3 day was a blur thing." I was up walking the first night and everyone said I was super funny and cool on the pain med and I didn't seem "on pills."
Day 4-5
I went home on day 3 (Friday.) I would be on bed rest with periodical walking and breathing in a contraption every hour to help prevent pneumonia...check. I did this all day long and really felt almost no pain. My neighbors (new neighbors whom we barely know) brought my family dinner that night and told us about their best friend who had the same thing done a little over a month ago and was amazed that I was out walking and doing so well.
Day 6-7
On day six my pain medicine ran out and, as planned, I went off of pain meds. Man, within about an hour I started feeling sore and could tell where things were operated on. Now at this point I had not ate anything solid in about 9 days. I was so hungry and losing a mass amount of weight (my wife said I looked like I had been on naked and afraid...a tv show on discovery where participants go into extreme conditions and survive naked and afraid and loose a lot of weight.) I started eating pudding and jello and different low residue foods and felt good with no pain with that in my system. I even had a perfect passing of food if you know what I mean. Day 7 started great and mid day Decided that I would try a grilled cheese and tomato soup. Shortly after that I started feeling a little nauseas and didn't have a good evening and decided to slow down and stay still. By the end of the night I was sick in the stomach and had spasms in my system and it was a long night. I did get comfortable and fell asleep and started having these really good dreams about eating all different kinds of foods. I was awoken by my wife taking one of the pillows I had perched behind me (I had all of them placed perfectly to get comfortable.) I felt bad because I gave her a hard time and she has been really good taking care of me the first 6 days...sorry Tara Foxworth!
Day 8
I started to feel a little down after waking up feeling bad with the spasms still happening and after a prayer and the thought of what my friend Dwayne Crafton just endured and watching how he recovered and was a warrior, I decided that I was not going to start feeling sorry for myself and got up and juiced about 20 ounces of fresh veggies and fruits. I shaved and showered for the first time in 9 days (I was taking bird baths
I instantly started feeling better.Im excited about the future going forward and the idea of eating a steak
I feel blessed and understand that things could be a lot worse. The Dr believes that this was genetic and perpetuated by a lifetime of abuse on my system. If anyone is having problems (I know a lot of people going through similar things) please feel free to reach out to me as I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge.
