Earlier this week, I briefly touched on my health issues. A false colon cancer diagnosis brought an end to my mayoral campaign here in Albany, New York. To the left, you see me being interviewed at a local radio station in January, after announcing my candidacy in January. Photo is courtesy Dave Lucas at WAMC.
Technically, as of the time that this article was published, I’m still in the race as I have yet to file the proper paperwork with the state Department of Elections. But that’s just a formality. I could change my mind at any time and stay in, in theory. I have been asked by several people to move forward with a write-in campaign. I am seriously considering it.
But that’s not the point of this article.
The reason why I have decided to still, unless I decide to run via write-in, bow out before the real election cycle begins in June, right after the Democratic primary, is another health matter, one that is just as serious as colon cancer. Hell, sometimes it is mistakenly diagnosed as colon cancer, which is what happened to me. I am considering filing a lawsuit over that misdiagnosis.
That health matter? A severe, nasty bowel obstruction. A bowel obstruction can be so intense that it can actually kill. That’s what’s going on in my case. One might not think that something like that would be fatal, but one would be wrong, wouldn’t one? Also, referring to oneself as one might get your ass kicked. But that’s neither here nor there.
The Cleveland Clinic reports on its website that, “gangrene sets in as the tissue dies, putting you at risk of serious infection and even death.” Apparently, a bowel obstruction is considered a “medical emergency” and must be acted upon immediately and may even require surgery.
According to one report, the mortality rate is between 5% and 30% for those who do have surgery. I am choosing not to have the surgery for one reason and one reason only: the potential for a colostomy bag. That is something that I am not willing to abide. It’s a severe quality of life issue.
I am well-informed: I know that the consequences of refusing surgery, something that should have been done months ago, include death. Hey, I’m in my late forties. I’ve had a good run.
There’s a lot going on and the reason for the cancer confusion is probably because there is cancer that’s actually in my abdomen and not my colon. I’ve declined to make further appointments to explore that issue for certain, so I have no idea what’s going on.
What I do know is that it’s been confirmed that there’s an obstruction and I also know that I have been feeling the symptoms. Surgery is not always required when a bowel obstruction presents, but in my case, it’s required if I am to prevent even more damage from occurring.
For me, the risks far outweigh the benefits for surgery. My biggest fear is that damn colostomy bag. If something goes wrong, or more accurately, if unexpected serious problems arise, I could wind up wearing that bag for the rest of my life.
Again, a colostomy bag is not something that I am willing to consider for even a moment. I’m not even willing to entertain the notion of having such a thing on a temporary basis. Not even for an hour!
Medically speaking, I probably should have died months ago, or even years ago. Why has this been going on for so long?
Knowing now what I did not know then, I have been ignoring all the apparently classic symptoms. Yet, here I am, proving that maybe surgery isn’t needed after all, no matter what several specialists have said in recent months!
It should be noted that I’m still around and without medical intervention.
It’s just like that time in 2013 when my appendix burst and I refused to go the hospital for two weeks.
I finally went into the hospital when I collapsed at work and the choice was made for me, against my will. When I got to the hospital and they saw how bad it was, I was rushed into surgery immediately, despite my protests to the contrary and despite my explicit instructions that I did not consent. Well, now I have medical documents that force hospital personnel to comply with my wishes.
Given that intervention for a burst appendix is needed immediately and that death does occur when a burst appendix goes untreated, I should be dead right now. Based on some statistics that have been published, I probably should have been dead by day three.
Then, as is happening now, I knew something was wrong but I ignored the symptoms, chalking it up to something less serious. I had no desire to go to the hospital. No way was I willing to wait hours just to be triaged and even more hours to get in front of a doctor. So I didn’t.
Against my wishes, within minutes of been wheeled in after an unwanted ambulance ride, surgery was forced upon me. Honestly, I should have sued the hospital and doctors, nurses and anyone and everyone else I could find for disregarding my medical wishes.
As for the symptoms, they get pretty nasty. I will say that I have not had a bowel movement in three weeks. Just think of the money that I’ve been saving on TP…TP for my bunghole!
I did not want surgery then and I do not want it now. I should have advocated more aggressively for myself all those many years ago, but this time around, I will absolutely fight back against any effort to put me back in the hospital.
It’s important to note here that this is not about being suicidal, which I am not. Of course I want to live. After all, I have plenty of cruel and inhumane articles floating around in my evil mind. I do want to live, but not if something as life-altering as a colostomy bag is in any way involved.
The risk involved with having surgery is too great, at least for me. For those who may be reading this and may be facing the same choice, you need to make the choice that’s right for you in your specific situation. I can’t make that decision for you and I am not qualified to give any form of medical advice.
I am merely sharing what my decision is based on my situation.