I didn’t even know it was connected. Yet when Felicia, the nurse practitioner, stepped to the left, there it was, silently pumping away. Slowly and steadily, a one and a half liter bag, filling up with Gutz (aka Ascites), who btw didn’t seem quite so ominous now, squishing around in the reddish ooze.

Blood work this morning and hours on the hard plastic chairs in the “waiting-and-waiting area” had paid off … look where we are now. My first paracentesis! (They say you never forget your first time)

We kept chatting as the Radiology Technician, Ronyda, changed to a second bag. She figured we’d drain between 3-4 liters out today. “What’s the most you ever got from any one patient at a time?” I asked cause who wouldn’t want to know that. Twenty six! The two professionals laughed at the memory.

As we watched the third bag fill up, Felicia and I discussed her experiences with abdominal tap repeaters. yes, that’s a thing.

First of all, let me reiterate what I’ve heard in answer to literally every question I’ve asked along my rather unpleasant trek with colon cancer.

It all depends on the individual patient.

So as you might expect, the need for me to get further taps is not predictable, A tap may a “one and done” but more often, the Ascites fills back in and additional taps are required. Doctors can order a standing order so patients can come when they need to without all the red tape. In my case, we wait and see.

The severity of my peritoneal disease does not give me confidence and I am going to have to prepare to think about getting ready to contemplate my path soon. But not today. For now, my stomach is less distended, my pain is moderate and I’ve got 3 lively orange kittens eager for some attention.