I’ve also been tested for acid reflux (some horrible nightmarish medical memories there) and came back negative. So… not linked to hunger pains. Still no real clue what they’re caused by, and why what my osteopath does helps.

In the mean time, I’m not sure when or where you’ll eat, but I hope it goes smoothly. Seriously, like Suzi says, double-triple check what the dinner lady brings when it’s time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been restricted from x/y/z and they wheel it on in at feeding time.

When I had my pseudomembraneous colitis deal after surgery, I didn’t eat in the hospital for 8 days. I still remember the first cup of beef bullion broth. mmmmm

I’m sorry you’re in the midst of what looks to be a long process, but I am heartened to hear you have support and detectives looking for the best care.

You’re in my prayers – believe that.

jeneane

Doc, you are awesome. Thanks for acknowledging the elephant in the room. My mother died at age 80 of pancreatic cancer in 1984, diagnosed way too late for any hope of a cure. So of course, it was the first thing I thought of in your case. I’m hoping medical research has figured out this body part by now.

Although you don’t know me, checking your blog daily is a much valued part of our day for both myself and my hubby. We are pulling for you to get well.

We’re thinking of you and your pancreas down here in NC…

My wife has been my advocate, and our son has been off with friends at the beach, making that easier. She has lots of contacts with excellent medical folks on the outside, getting second, third, fourth and fifth opinions. These have been very helpful.

Remember that I was put in this condition by a diagnostic procedure that sought to find the nature of three cysts on my pancreas. It was inconclusive. So there is still much work to be done, and there is a very real possibility that one of these cysts will turn into (or already is) pancreatic cancer. Nobody likes to say that, but there it is. I hope we find that they’re just old-person body junk (which I believe is the better chance), but we need to know.

And we will learn from this experience. There is no doubt that my path after this will go through the same health care system, but with a better hospital and some different doctors.

My sister and daughter both stand by to come in should my wife and kid head out to our home on the West Coast. This is good to know too. So we do have a team of sorts in place.

Insert appropriate metasyntactic variables FTW.

Looking forward to seeing you at OSCON, but there’s no pressure. Worst comes to worse I’ll come visit you in Boston.

I’m watching and waiting and cheering and hoping that are doing better each day, Doc.

Do you have someone at the hospital nearly all the time with you? Because that’s the way it has to be. For all the reasons Suzi mentions above. It’s hard for the spouse to serve the advocate role solo — especially if there is a child or children to care for at home. It takes an advocate to organize the outside-the-hospital help and the inside-the-hospital doctor/nurse/quality-of-care watch.

It also takes that person to be in contact with an expert OUTSIDE of the facility you’re in, because then and almost ONLY then — when your doctors are faxing and phoning the outside doc you have consulting on the case because they have to — do you have a sufficient level of accountability. Or “transparency” as the web would like to call it.

I am SO glad to see you posting and asking questions, Doc. The Sessums have been sending all our extra juice your way. You’re headed in the right direction.

Now I’m going to ask right here, right now: Besides visitors and well wishers, do you guys have anyone there coordinating, watching, and getting outside opinions 18 hours a day? If not, I say Jan should head your way.

Pretty pushy of me to say so. But I care. A lot.

Please keep us posted.

And so am I. We always knew you were different, Doc. That’s what makes you irreplaceable.

So get well, already.