Posted on 12/18/2025 7:27:07 PM PST by Myrddin
Today marks 27 years since I joined FreeRepublic. I saw the site referenced in an article published on the Drudge Report. A few minutes reading and I decided to create an account.
2024 was a challenging year for me. A diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the Ampulla of Vater lead to a Whipple procedure to remove the offending parts. A nicked renal artery during the procedure lead to a gut full of blood and emergency ICU action to patch the bleeder and top me up with 10 units of blood. Weeks of drains and infections followed. MRSA pneumonia as well. I finally returned back to work in November 2024.
This year has been just a little better. I retired from my job after 33 1/2 years. Good social security and IRA benefits have made the financial transition easy. It was going well until September when my stomach began to block. Nothing would stay down. That got worse and by November 30, 2025 I was at the ER and down 20 lbs from my stable 152 lbs after the Whipple. Huntsman Cancer Institute determined that I had an "acquired deformity" in my stomach leading to a severe stenosis above the pyloric valve. The opening was only 3 to 4 millimeters. I was severely dehydrated at 131.7 lbs. Huntsman fixed up my electrolytes, added a nasal-jejunal feeding tube and prepped me for a short term fix. The fix is a 10mm x 15mm stent in the stenosis. Thus far, it is working well. I need to return in 3 months to have it replaced.
Happy Freeperversary!
Dang, I hope your health problems get the proper attention they deserve.
It sucks getting old, I'm 74 and the old body ain't what it once was.
May God Bless You FRiend!
Wow, Myrddin, that’s awesome! Congratulations!
My wife is six years out from a Whipple.
I feel your pain. But it gets better. Once they “fine tune it.”
“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24p
I dunno where that “p” came from. Fat fingers I guess!
i came in around the same time-blue dress..I lurked for awhile when clinton was not impeached, and forgot my password so signed up again...
Congrats! Praying for you.
The patching is doing a good job of making it all work, sir.
May you be able to keep it going for a long time to come. You have good doctors.
YAY! 27 years! And, prayers your health continues to improve.
Welcome Newbie! Hope you stick around for a while. 🤗😜
Great site, isn’t it?
Gee Whizzz
Good your enjoying retirement !
.
Sounds like My Story Too.
Congrats and stay healthy.
Good luck.
Any issues that require an enzyme? My wife hit six years and all of a sudden she needs Creon to eat her food without chronic digestive issues.
Up to that point her biggest issue was some seepage where they sewed her stomach to her esphogous. A couple of “zaps” and it was all set.
I guess it beats the alternative.
Did you have to do chemo?
Happy 27th!
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