Moving into Autumn - My First Anniversary
October 15, 2009 2:05am
It is Autumn, normally one of my favorite times of year but his Autumn has started as Summer ended, cold and wet. October sees me celebrating 10 …
craigchome
4:14am, October 16, 2009
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About Me
craigchome
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About Me
My MELD has gone from a horrible 19 in December 08 down to a wonderful 6 in September 09. There is hope for all of us. i'm a 53 year old British guy who is happily married to a great girl from Long Island and we live north of Atlanta. I'm in my 10th year of living in the US. I was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis at the end of October 2008. I had no warning of it and needless to say it was a huge 'wake up' call. Ascites followed quickly and at xmas I really thought I was dying and in many ways I'm afraid I wished to. I suffered from terrible pain, vomiting, diarrhea (I had to wear diapers if I went out!!!) But gradually the nasty symptoms passed and by mid january I was left with fatigue, poor sleeping and ascites. After having been drained several times, some as an out patient, other times requiring a hospital stay, I was put on Lasix (diuretic) which was a miracle for me, this was then followed up with Tramadol (for pain) and Prozac (to make me happy!!) Today, I am as well as can be expected, The last month or so has been like night and day compared to how (awful) I felt before. I read a lot of posts on this site and have learnt how lucky I am just now compared to some who contribute here. That said, I still live from day to day but can never be sure what tomorrow will bring as a result of this awful disease. I am further blessed with being married to the most amazing girl who helps and supports me in any way she can. We are each others best buddies!!! In my former life I was an IT consultant who specialized in IT security and advanced network forensics. I have 2 daughters (18 and 20) who live with their Mum in England. I try to bring them over here as much as possible, but just now we have to rely on SKYPE for communicating.
My MELD has gone from a horrible 19 in December 08 down to a wonderful 6 in September 09. There is hope for all of us. i'm a 53 year old British guy who is happily married to a great girl from Long Island and we live north of Atlanta. I'm in my 10th year of living in the US. I was diagnosed with end stage cirrhosis at the end of October 2008. I had no warning of it and needless to say it was a huge 'wake up' call. Ascites followed quickly and at xmas I really thought I was dying and in many ways
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Website
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Interests
Reading, music (all sorts), messing with computers (I have 4 windows boxes but Linda and myself both use MACs as they are just the best!!) :-) I designed, built and now maintain a number of web sites for friends who have small businesses. I used to be a glider pilot (solo) and have sailed/raced extensively. Until recently I used to race go-karts and I love our cars (Mustang and a Miata). I love traveling and have been lucky to see much of the world and most of the US. I used to rate drinking as pretty high on my list of interests, but unfortunately that particular pleasure disappeared the day it was suspected I had liver problems.
Reading, music (all sorts), messing with computers (I have 4 windows boxes but Linda and myself both
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Recent Activity
Recently:
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6 hugs given, 6 hugs received, 5 journal comments
Today
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craigchome gave jahes a hug 1:59am
Welcome to the group Jahes. You've come to a good place. This is a safe place to ask questions, to rant…
Yesterday
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craigchome commented on Ohanaloves4ever’s journal entry Tragedy Will Never Win! 4:03pm
Judie, Great to see you back here! give me a call when you can. Craig…
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craigchome commented on ChelseyAnn’s journal entry Same old stuff 7:29am
You feel tired - you rest!!!!!!! Good on ya! There are no prizes for toughing it out!…
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craigchome gave keepwell a funny face 7:08am
All over the UK! I was in Newbury before coming to the US, but home is SW Scotland and I've lived in…
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craigchome gave holycrap a hug 7:04am
Heya HC, my body is on vampire hours right now which sucks! I can sleep all day but just cannot sleep…
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Journal
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Articles on my web site
October 2, 2009 2:22am
- The Following Articles are now Available in the Discussion Forum …
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It's all over now.
September 25, 2009 9:13pm
I went to see my GI today.
He remarked on my weight - back to normal now at 155 pounds.
We discussed my latest blood work - completely …
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A little Thursday Update
July 24, 2009 9:11am
I wrote a post about a month ago I mentioned that I was changing my diet based on a medical paper I had found about Cirrhosis not being a disease.At …
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One door closes, another one opens.
July 18, 2009 2:00am
Oh well, today is big move day. We leave our house which we've been in for nearly eight years and head back to apartment living.
We are …
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Hugbook
Hug
Hey Craig
Have been thinking about Mark here and there and was wondering if you had heard anything?
Hope you are well,
Billy-
High Five
Thanks for the link to your site Craig - looks good with some interesting stuff. Have a good day fella
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Ray of Sunshine
Good mornin Craig....I'm up early this mornin..funny, my only friends online are my Georgia friends. What's wrong with us? SHouldn't we be sleeping right now? hee hee...just wanted to say good mornin and Happy Friday! Hope you have a great day!
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Moment of Peace
Down in sunny Cornwall mate ! (sometimes sunny, anyway !) been here since 1992 but before that was born and bred in the 'The Big Smoke' - London, and did a lot of my early drinking around there - where are you from Craig ?
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Miss You
I thank u tremendously for the support u gave me. Im sorry for the absence but I ruined my phone that had ur digits in it. So please forward them again I would love to talk to u guys again. I PRAY things r well as can be for u and ur pain is absent these days. Well hopefully we touch base soon! Chow Craig! All my love, Judie Ann@~} Hughes~Castro
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Photos
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Support Groups
Close Cirrhosis
End stage cirrhosis, diagnosed in Nov 2008. It took me about 5 months of hell before finally I was given drugs which actually work for me. Cirrhosis is the most awful disease and has so many dimensions. Without a transplant it is a death sentence but nobody can tell you how long you have got.
Treatments
- Lasix Working / Worked
- Lasix is one of my saviours! I have to monitor my weight carefully though as I can lose a lot very quickly. So I vary the dose to try and maintain an acceptable weight.
- Prozac Working / Worked
- Prozac keeps me happy! It lifts my mood without putting me in a mental fog. I take one in the morning and one just before bed and I think that one helps me sleep.
- Tramadol Working / Worked
- Wonderful. Tramadol got rid of the constant pains I was having.
- Aldactone Working / Worked
- Good goes hand in hand with Lasix and helps to reduce loss of Vitamin K.Not brilliant as a diuretic for me I take it for the Vit. K benefits
Close Alcoholism
Alcohol has been a part of my life since my early teens. I had a tremendous tolerance/capacity for the stuff. Never considering myself as a drunk, cos I rarely if ever got drunk. Although I had traveled extensively, I suppose it was coming to work in America that was my downfall. I met Linda, we got on like you wouldn't believe and we started on a nine year party. She survived it thank God, I'm the one whose body eventually said enough is enough. So here I am.
Treatments
- 12 Step Program Somewhat Helpful
- I think AA is a wonderful thing for those who take benefit from it. I could never really get into it. My Higher Power was my brain and 'religion' of any sort has never really featured in my life.
- Campral Working / Worked
- Campral was ok when I first quit 4 years ago.
- Cold Turkey Working / Worked
- stopped drinking on diagnosis of cirrhosis, haven't touched a drop since.
- Detox Working / Worked
- Locked up for 5 days with a bunch of other people! Hmmm, it was ok, met some great people and we could have a laugh. We could walk inside the 'compound', got well fed, stuffed with drugs to ward off withdrawal etc.
- Outpatient Treatment Program Somewhat Helpful
- On 'day release' for about a month. So I could go home at night, but had to attend lectures, group therapy during the day. Required to do AA meetings several times a week. Met some awesome people with all sorts of addictions.
- Willpower Working / Worked
- I was smart enough to realize that alcohol had damaged me almost beyond repair. Unless I get lucky, it will be the death of me. I didn't need much willpower to stop drinking this time.
Open Insomnia
craigchome hasn’t entered any details for this support group.
