This is Mary Jo with and Update

It's been good to see so many recent posts. Keep them coming! Paul and I thank you for the words of concern, and now that I know something more, I'll brief you all on What's happened, what is happening, and what will happen! I never wanted to know this much about medical procedures.....

Feb 2 Paul ends up in the hospital to be treated for anemia (hemoglobin was less that 7, normal counts should be 12-14) He didn't even feel that bad, kind of breathless and faint. Got 4 units of blood and when he left hospital on Sat, his cound was 9.9. To find out if he was leaking somewhere, he was given a colonoscopy and an upper GI scope. The only thing they found was a suspicious looking area near the appendix that had been bleeding, but wasn't at the time of the colonoscopy. The Dr. couldn't biopsy it because it was too far up, but got a picture, which Paul described as "not very impressive." Surgeon said he was 90% sure it was malignant, but very early stage and curable, but should be out ASAP. However, his routine work-up at the hospital included an EKG and they thought it perhaps showed "an old heart attack", and it needed to be checked out before they would do surgery.

By the time we got a CT scan of the abdomen and the Stress Test done, it was the next Friday, and no results until Monday. CT scan showed nothing other than the area they had identified with the colonoscopy (GOOD NEWS) Stress test showed NO HEART ATTACK but possible blockage in one area...So, we see cardiologist, who says he needs an echocardiogram and a Heart Cathaterization. Next day, gets HC done. All arteries but one are clear. One has 75% blockage. Would recommend a stent, but can't have a stent before abdominal surgery, because he would have to be on blood thinners after the stent was put in. Cardiologist OK's him for surgery with the partial blockage. Now surgeon is on vacation!!!! Hopefully, will get in next Thursday, for sure Monday(27th). Then, he can decide about the stent after he heals up from the surgery. (They can't do it laproscopically, so it will be abdominal incision.)

By the way, I have not had the colonoscopy, either. Paul had a sigmoidoscopy years ago, that was NO PICNIC, but he said this was no problem. For one thing, he was completely under and doesn't remember a thing (although apparently it is a light anesthetic) The worst is being on clear liquids the day before and having to take the powerful laxative before hand. Now he has to do all that again before the surgery.

We're grateful to have caught this thing while it's apparently curable, even though it was all kind of by accident. Ditto the heart blockage.

Thanks for all of your concerns. Love to all...