Twice Lucky
I just dodged a bullet, two in as many years. What I am telling you now, will come as a surprise. It came to us in our family too also, as a huge surprise!! Bear with me since the note is a detailed one, but I hope you find it informative. Perhaps you may even relate it to your own experience or a family member or a friend.
It’s primarily about my health wherein changes have occurred in the last 2 months, most of them minor but they ultimately add up.
I remember telling a few of my friends and relatives that my cardiologist had said that the heart medications could in a few patients cause constipation. Constipation could be a side effect of the blood thinners and statins. In my case, this problem did not start immediately after the placement of the stent in February 2025 (this was the first bullet I dodged). It started around six or seven months later. I used to take SoftOvac (Isabgol) and that would give me some relief.
However, it got worse about a month back and straining myself everyday was beginning to become a rule rather than an exception and a painful exercise. In the meantime, my back pain and left knee pain (sciatica issues + osteoarthritis) had got worse and the timely intervention by my brother-in-law who dragged me to meet a Spine Surgeon at Corporate Hospital was extremely helpful. This doctor after a physical examination and a couple of exercises suggested TENS treatment by a physiotherapist. He did mention that the Physiotherapist would suggest a few basic stretch and muscle strengthening exercises and that I must follow the instructions daily.
The physiotherapist did the TENS (transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) + ultrasound pain treatment for 7 days. The person told me that if I want to become normal, I must carry out certain stretches and muscle strengthening exercises at least 6 days/week. The exercises were taught from the 3rd day of TENS. It was recorded on my phone so that the sequence would be adhered to. There has been an improvement and my back and knee pain are at a minimum. I have not stopped my daily exercises. But there is a small pain in the upper back of the spine and this could be from the stretch exercises. Hopefully, this will eventually reduce – this is my understanding!
An altogether new problem suddenly surfaced 7 or 8 days back. Pain in the lower left side of abdomen. The pain in my abdomen became unbearable and I decided to meet a General Physician at a Corporate Hospital. My wife spoke with my cardiologist who suggested a General Physician in a different Corporate Hospital on Saturday, 14th March 2026. However, this doctor wasn’t available for consultation till 23rd March.
My younger son then called the Hospital to check if a doctor was available right away. As luck would have it, we found a General Physician at the 12:30 PM slot on 14th March 2026 at a Corporate Hospital, closer home.
After a fairly detailed consult and physical examination, the doctor concluded that the pain appeared to be in the region of the large intestine (colon). All other organs seemed okay. But to be sure the doctor suggested that we get an ultrasound scan done and show the scanned image and report the same day.
We got the Ultrasound scan done at Corporate Hospital itself. Report stated that at the descending end of the Colon, the wall has thickened causing the pain in the lower left side of abdomen. I am guessing that the passage had got narrow as a result of thickening, resulting in pain and difficulty during evacuation.
We then headed back to meet the General Physician again with the scan report. While the Ultrasound Technician said it was not urgent to do a CT scan, the General Physician on the contrary thought otherwise. The Doctor insisted on getting a contrast CT scan to be done as soon as possible to understand whether it's a simple infection or something more ominous.
But, to do a contrast CT scan, the blood creatinine count has to be within limits. We got the blood tested at Corporate Hospital and found the figure to be 0.87, which is within the range of 0.72 to 1.18. It was a green signal to proceed with Contrast CT scan.
For getting the Contrast CT scan done, we checked and found a Diagnostic & Research Lab closer home to be more reasonable in their charges. And thankfully they were open on Sunday, 15th March 2026. We went at 7:30 AM and started the process of getting the Contrast CT done.
Contrast CT scan of the abdomen and pelvic region isn't a simple test... Got to know about it first hand on Sunday.
When I was called to lie on the cold CT scan sliding table, it looked pretty simple. The assistant just said relax, don't shuffle and hold your breath when told over the speaker. The whole thing was over in less than 5 minutes.
I was very happy that it turned out to be such a simple procedure.
The assistant gave a knowing smile and said that it was the first part of scan on an empty stomach and colon. Now let's prepare you for the second step. He gave an oral contrast mixed with 300 ml water and orange juice concentrate. I was asked to drink and come back for a 2nd helping, 20 minutes later.
After the 2nd repeat oral contrast of 300 ml, I was asked to walk around and help the liquid to descend to the colon. The assistant said it could take up to 1.5 hours for the contrast to spread itself inside.
Twenty minutes later, he asked me to take the 3rd dose of 300 ml contrast with water and orange juice concentrate. Thankfully, he said he will stop with the 3rd dose.
30 minutes later, I saw him waiting for me... I was happy that this would be the 2nd and final scan, since both the tummy and intestines were brimming full with contrast solution.
But, when I saw him prepare yet another 300 ml of oral solution, my heart skipped a beat. He assured me he would not ask me to drink that right away. But he made me lie on the CT scan table for another 20 minutes. My mind kept guessing what he would propose next. He also must have thought what would be my reaction to what he would propose next!
All questions went away when he asked me to be prepared for the next scan. This time the scan was done with fluids and contrast in the system.
Post this, the assistant smilingly said, "Sir, we will not leave you without troubling you a bit". That perked up my ears, not knowing what to anticipate. He poked a canola needle to inject dye into the bloodstream on my right arm. Once done, he said turn over so that I can inject 200 ml fluid of contrast from the backside...and this came as a shocker. Having no alternative but to obey his orders makes matters a bit easy...since one needs to surrender to the demands of the situation. Surprisingly, it wasn't painful as I was wondering...but this wasn't the end. He asked me to sit up and drink another 200 ml of oral contrast with water and orange juice concentrate. By now, I had resigned from thinking...I did as told and then he conducted the scan not once, but three times more.
When I thought it was all over, he returned and said we need to do one last time and it's called "Delayed CT Scan".
Once done, it was a big relief to be allowed to go to the restroom. The liquid in my system was bobbing much like the fuel tankers on the roads.
Ten minutes later, he finally gave me the green signal to change to my clothes, removed the canola and said, "you may proceed home, now".
Thanks to my folks for patiently waiting, it out from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM and being there for me for the entire duration that lasted 4 hours. Care givers get more stressed when compared to patients, I guess. It's like sitting in a cage of the waiting room, not knowing when the door will open. To my family and friends: thank you for being my strength.
I tried asking the assistant for clues about the outcome of the scan...however, he was emphatic when he said he didn't know anything about the scan and dismissed all my questions sternly. A wrong word could cause immense damage to the patient, is how he closed our discussion on this topic. Only a doctor has the authority to interpret and tell the patient about what is written in the report. He just said, “collect the report anytime post 6 PM after calling the front desk”.
The report was given at 5:30 PM on Sunday itself. All the organs are reported to be of right shape and size. Only Liver (fatty liver leaning towards fibrosis) is reported as enlarged. Prostate is also enlarged but it is common for men above 65. We could only understand the last statement which said, “Advice Colonoscopy / Biopsy for further investigation”.
Today, 17th March 2026 was the day of reckoning when we had to meet the General Physician at the Corporate Hospital. Luckily both my sons joined my wife and me to meet the General Physician. The doctor had insisted that the entire family be present to listen.
The doctor took the last statement mentioned in the Contrast CT Scan Report and emphatically suggested Colonoscopy with Biopsy to rule out any issues. The doctor went to extent of stating that a biopsy of the hardened tissue must be sent for biopsy and subsequently a PET Scan may have to be done to check the spread of cancer, if detected. While this sounded quite a scary, my reaction was to understand what was the next step to be taken instead of allowing our minds to conjure thoughts of a doomsday. According to me the doctor was thinking too much into the future. But having started the tests, it was better to go through the entire process and get a conclusive report.
Options were few. I had no choice but get the Colonoscopy done. I was then referred to meet a Gastroenterologist at same Corporate Hospital. Good for us that he was available and gave us his time to explain what needs to be done. He had read the Contrast CT scan report and said he would do two things, Colonoscopy and Endoscopy. Colonoscopy to check for the hardening of the colon walls and Endoscopy to check the reason for fatty liver. He seemed knowledgeable and said he would scrape some tissue from the hardened section only if he was certain that it required a biopsy. Scarring the tissue is not a good idea he said. He took the next step of booking us for the first slot on 20th March and asked us to meet his team to get further instructions on the process of preparing for the test.
The process is simple and should take 15 minutes to complete is what the doctor said. But preparation time needs to be factored. Also, tablet Clopilet (blood thinner) needs to be stopped for 3 days from tonight till the Colonoscopy is completed. My cardiologist had given the green signal for getting this done.
We reached the Corporate Hospital at 8:40 AM as requested. Previous night, the Coloprep medication was very effective. I must have gone to the restroom at least a dozen times from 10:45 PM onwards to 1:45 AM. Thankfully, I was not dehydrated as the liquid meds and water (3:5 litres), was consumed within a span of 4 hours.
On the 20th March 2026, I was wheeled into the OT at 9:20 or 9:25. I was able to see a large clock in the OT. The assistant to the Gastroenterologist came in at 9:45 and immediately commenced the two procedures. First was Endoscopy. Thankfully, by the time they inserted the probe through the mouth, the anaesthesia had kicked in and I did not realize what was happening. They also did the colonoscopy after completing the endoscopy.
When I got my senses back, I was being wheeled back to the holding room from the OT at 10:25 AM.
It was a huge relief to know that the colon wall hardening is not malignant. In fact, the doctors decided not to extract any tissue for biopsy. It was like being given a new chance to carry on! And no wonder like my college batchmate had said, "I dodged a bullet"! A 2nd one, in as many years!
Back at the holding room the Gastroenterologist came to update all of us. He ruled out cancer and prescribed simple medication for the next fortnight. However, he said my Liver needs a fresh look through an ultrasound scan and he proposed that I get it done on 23rd March 2026 (Monday) at 10 AM. This is to decide on the medications required to get the liver back into shape and its operations.
There were many anxious moments in this short journey and I must thank my entire family, especially my wife to have been my strength for the entire duration. I must also thank my sons, their wives and grandson, besides my siblings and their respective families for their support and wishes.
Yesterday, 23rd March 2026 I was asked to undergo one final FibroScan of my Liver. In the Contrast CT Scan Report it stated that my liver was enlarged and a possibility of Fibrosis. Basically to check what is the fatty layer or, how thick it is.
I went through this under a 2-minute procedure and the results were out of the machine/unit less than 10 minutes. However as per the hospital protocol, it took an additional 40 minutes for the report to be handed over to me personally.
We went to the gastroenterologist to understand his interpretation/verdict. After a cursory glance at the results, he dismissed it as ‘nothing’ and asked me to lead normally and eat lots of vegetables and fruits. However, I could not contain my curiosity and checked on the internet what the two numbers in fibro scan report convey.
The first is CAP (Controlled Attenuation Parameter). This is done to estimate the amount of fat in the liver (Steatosis) and is measured in decibels/meter. It determines how much the ultrasound beam is attenuated or weakened as it passes through the liver. Steatosis is graded S0 to S3.
S0 is normal at less than 238 dB/m
S1 is mild 238 to 260 dB/m (11 to 33% of liver is affected)
S2 is moderate 260 to 290 dB/m (34 to 66% of liver is affected)
S4 is severe higher than 290 dB/m (more than 64% of the liver is affected)
My score is 252 – mild and this condition can be reversed with dietary modification, exercise and weight reduction (BMI)
The second was kPa (fibrosis) score.
A kilopascal score (kPa) score in Fibroscan measures liver stiffness which correlates to amount of scarring (fibrosis) in the liver. The scale is F0 to F4.
F0 to F1 score of 2.0 to 7.0 kPa means normal to minimal scarring
F2 score of 7.0 to 9.5 means moderate scarring
F3 score of 9.5 to 12.5 means severe scarring
F4 score of greater than 12.5 means Cirrhosis (permanent advanced scarring)
My score is 5.2 kPa which is in the first bracket of F0 to F1. Hence, no worries.
The gastroenterologist has put me on medication for colon infection. After all the numerous tests were done, the result was mild infection of the gut. One tablet is to treat irritable bowel syndrome and related abdominal pain, cramping, bloating and diarrhoea or constipation. The second table is a non-specific broad spectrum antibiotic primarily used to reduce recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy by inhibiting bacterial RNA synthesis within the intestine.
Thankfully, I found closure.
And, as they say, "All's well that ends well"!
