In case you hadn’t heard, I’m home! I was discharged on Thursday evening and have since spent 3 glorious nights in my own bed. Unfortunately, discharge does not mean that my issues were resolved. Rather, the severe acute issue has passed (temperature stabilized and my severe distension decreased) and now we’re just dealing with a chronic decompensation of my previous baseline. I had to beg and plead to get released, but my GI motility specialist was on my side so the internist gave in. Unfortunately, my GI motility specialist also came with bad news: I needed to stop taking in food by mouth. I’m getting full nutrition via IV so all that needs to be and should be taken enterally is medication and fluids. Otherwise, I’m looking at hospitalizations at least once every 2-4 weeks for the same issue.
I think I’m still in a bit of denial about how bad things are, but I’d rather be in denial and happy than depressed over reality. And maybe it’s not denial; maybe it’s just optimism.