Cameron's Journal

Next step in surgery preparation is underway. I arrived in NYC this weekend to allow for some tourism and food. We had to make some changes to our accommodations after being placed in a very dirty hotel room.

Today the surgeons office called and based on the complexity of several previous hospitalizations and conditions they are asking to see me in clinic tomorrow to decide on a final plan and earlier admission date.

They need for me to get a telehealth scheduled with my GI and have him submit a release before next week. I have GERD, dysphagia and achalasia. I had a Nissan fundoplication following my gall bladder removal in 2016. During the recovery from that procedure I developed blood clots 3 times and had to undergo interventional radiology venogram with versed to clear clots. I have a condition called May Turner syndrome and have a stent in my iliac vein.

I am very pleased that the team here has reviewed all the nagging issues that I have and are considering them all. My admission has been moved up to 2/18/21 to allow for them to do full CT scans of my head, abdomen, carotid and legs. They now have me scheduled for inpatient consults with anesthesiologist, vascular and neurologist. Sometime since 2017 they discovered last fall I had a silent stroke. I was having ocular migraines and to be cautious the neurologist did a brain MRI which revealed the event.

I am very thankful that this team is being thorough and helping to relieve my anxiety to ensure all these previous surprises are accounted for during OHS.

Just like Cheryl I am having lots of anxiety about my surgery and recovery. I often use music for my relaxation. So often I fell like it is one of the many ways that God sends comfort. This song by Andrew Ripp feels like the message I need to help me let go of my fears and trust more.

I was stacking up the years I spent trading punches with the enemy
Built myself a double thick stone
Tower of lies, higher than the eye could see
Trapped in my flesh and bone
Crying out to You Lord, I'm desperate
Love, come rattle this cage and set me free
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down
Oh Lord, my prison turns to ruin
When Your love moves in
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down, come down
Truth was crashing through the pride and the blame
Cutting straight into the heart of me
Long before I ever called your name
You were fighting for my victory
Carved in Your flesh and bone
Are wounds that have said my souls forgiven
Oh now, I can feel the darkness trembling
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down
Oh Lord, my prison turns to ruin
When Your love moves in
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down, come down
Rebuild me from the ground up
All I wanna see is You
Terrify the lies with truth
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down
Oh Lord, my prison turns to ruin
When Your love moves in
All of my fears like Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down, come down
All of my fears gotta come down
Jericho walls
Gotta come down, come down, come down

I have some serious anxiety about my surgery because of several previous surgeries that have not gone very well. After appendicitis and hip labrum repair I was unable to get my bladder to start back working. Did anyone have this side effect from surgery or know something that might help?

My hotel reservation is done to arrive in NYC on 5/7 for surgery on 5/21. I hope COVID restrictions at The Mount Sinai hospital for visiting changes before May!