For the odd one or two who are following this (you know who you are
), I had a check up today and all was well and my blood test results were excellent. Bilirubin levels aren't properly down yet but won't be until the tube is out.
The doc explained what should have been happening inside me over the last 4 weeks ready for the removal of the dreaded T tube on 18th June. The tubing is rubber, specially chosen because it irritates the parts of me that it's in contact with and is, apparently, the cause of the bits of pain I've been having. This irritation is causing fibrous growth to develop around the tube to form a protective barrier between the tube and my internal organs. It's hoped that this fibrous stuff will, by the time the tube is removed, have coated it all the way up to my abdomen wall where the tube exits my body. The tube will be withdrawn from the bile duct and then pulled up through this new 'chimney', as it's referred to, and out. The opening of the chimney will be on the surface of my abdomen and will seal itself in a short time. I'm still not convinced about how he'll get something that is T-shaped through something that is l-shaped but he's done it before so I have to trust him.
Now, the dodgy part comes after the op. I have to stay in hospital for another couple of hours to check whether there are any leaks in the bile duct or the chimney. If bile leaks inside me I will have severe stomach pains and he will have to operate on me again to go in and seal the leaks himself plus drain the bile out, otherwise peritonitis will develop which is really bad news. Thankfully, he's knocking me out while he removes the tubing as it's very painful but I can imagine lying there afterwards waiting in trepidation for any signs of stomach pain, even if it is just wind.
Boy, will I be glad when all this is over.