[Dialogue] Abe Ulangca's hospitalization

[carolcrow]

Thank you, Jan, for sharing this message with us.  You're right - it is 
like family, and we are holding you both in loving thoughts and care as 
you continue this Life journey.  It's amazing what the body can 
tolerate with interventions of many kinds, and it also "talks back" 
when the stress gets too heavy.  Know you are loved by many and we 
stand by ready to support as needed.

Stan & Carol


On Aug 15, 2004, at 12:00 PM, Janice & Abe Ulangca wrote:

> Dear colleagues,
>
> Many of you are very much like our extended family, so we wanted you 
> to know.  Forgive the medical detail; this is copied from an e-mail to 
> Abe's far-flung family, which includes several nurses.
>
> Abe is in intensive care in Binghamton General Hospital.  Tuesday he 
> experienced very severe abdominal pain, getting worse constantly.  It 
> was good to get to the hospital & get pain relief -- but it took 24 
> hours & several tests to chase down the pain cause, a large gall stone 
> blocking things.  Thursday he had an ERCP procedure; this is a 
> flexible tube about diameter of a pencil with a tiny camera attached  
> that is inserted down the throat and down into the digestive system.  
> The camera takes pictures, and the doctor can also do a number of 
> procedures through the tube.  Thursday's procedure showed three 
> bleeding ulcers in the colon, one of which had broken through the 
> colon and overlapped with the sphincter muscle which the doctor needed 
> to enlarge in order to bring the gall stone out. So the doctor had to 
> install tiny tubes to drain the bleeding, and schedule another ERCP 
> for Friday, the next day.  During Friday's ERCP the doctor was able to 
> remove the gall stone (and remove the tubes inserted Thursday), and 
> the ulcers are being medicated.  However, Friday night Abe had what 
> the cardiologist calls a "substantial" heart attack - his third - 
> probably caused by stress related to the procedures.  There was no 
> choice about doing the ERCP procedures -- and Abe and I are both very 
> happy with the care he is getting and very, very thankful for the 
> skills (and even good humor) of the doctors and nurses.  The ERCP 
> process is amazing, and the young doctor who did it is terrific.
>
> We have 2 goals:  to get him stabilized long enough to move from 
> intensive care to the cardiac floor at General, and then if possible 
> to be able to care for him at home, perhaps with help of Hospice.  
> He's comfortable, dozing a lot, with his usual spark when he is awake. 
>  How great that is!  He's not up to visiting much; we hope he will be 
> later.
>
> Janice
>
>
> **************************
> Abe & Janice Ulangca
> 3413 Stratford Drive
> Vestal, NY  13850
> 607-797-4595
> aulangca at stny.rr.com
> ***************************
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