This was the view at dawn from one corner of our room in the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel. The room provides, as realtors might coyly say, “a partial bay view.”
That is a portion of San Francisco Bay out there. And it is visible from a part of the room. A chair has been strategically placed in that precise spot to emphasize the view. This morning, I enjoyed seeing it.
For those waiting with bated breath, my initial procedure yesterday at the University of California San Francisco medical center at Mission Bay was a success.
Its limited goals were to get a scope and some tools down my throat into my gut to examine the area around a small obstruction in my plumbing, which involved trying to get the tiny camera and tools into the lower end of a bile duct; relieve the immediate symptoms of jaundice the blockage has created; and get material for a biopsy for testing.
Two prior attempts at Straub hospital in Honolulu failed when the entry point to the lower end of the duct couldn’t be accessed.
The same thing happened yesterday. However, here at UCSF, there were multiple contingency plans. Plan B, which was to lower a miniature ultrasound tool down there as well to find an alternative path, did the trick. Plans C and D were unnecessary, but involved a radiology team standing by in case we needed to trigger those options.
What it means is that the immediate symptoms of jaundice, including my “Yellow Man” appearance, should fade over the next couple of days. That is a biggie.
And we have been cleared to return to Honolulu in a few days.
This isn’t over, since that biopsy could deliver bad news. But in the moment, it is a big relief.
I’m very fortunate to be covered by Meda’s insurance plan, a huge benefit she earned over 50 years of employment by the University of Hawaii system. Today, I’m appreciating that good luck in a very meaningful way.
We plan to be home by Saturday night.
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Thank you for letting us know how you are. You are a treasure ……
Glad you have good insurance and also that coming back to Hawaii is in sight
Aloha
Carol
So far so great!
Sending positive vibes to you both, Ian. I’ll be following future updates. All the best!
Get well, soon! Hawaii needs you.
Hulo! Hulo! E ho?i hou i Kahala me ka palekana. Yes, return home to Kahala safely!
Wonderful news. Getting old is not for the faint of heart!
So happy to hear that at least this battle was won. Aloha.
Glad to hear the good news, so far. Hope for a good result from the biopsy too. Best wishes for a safe return and more good news!
all this and an ocean view! been so worried about you. great news so far. you can do this, ian. we all need you (2- and 4-footed ones)!
Onwards and upwards. So far so good.
Best wishes and a safe return to your four legged family and hopefully sunny Honolulu.
Aloha to you and Meda.
Great news. Thanks for letting us know.
Glad to learn of your progress. Like you I married a defined benefit pension plan with spousal health coverage.
Good News! More good news coming i hope.
We always stay at the Vagabond at the SFO..and get a waterfront view. Love to watch the planes land..and yes they do land two at a time on separate runways. It is Hold Your Breath time..but we’ve never seen an incident. Yours was pretty hairy, especially in these times of shortage of personnel and uncertain training procedures for Air Traffic Controllers.
So glad the procedure was successful, Ian. Keep us informed about the biopsy. Safe travels to you and Meda.