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Laid Up

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Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 12 30, 2019 •  [Post 1]

Well crap, fellas. I had one big hunt left for the season, down in S TX for an Asian antelope called Nilgai. I was supposed to be leaving Wednesday morning, for a 5 day trip. Instead... I got to visit a liver doctor this afternoon.

Wife and I got sick two weeks ago and I just didn't get better. In fact, I got worse! I turned all yellow, and exhausted, and have some other unorthodox body behaviors. Anyways, the doc says I won't die, but we have to run a bunch of bloodwork and scans to figure out the right way to treat this junk. Anyways, I do apologize for not starting the 2020 meatpole off with a bang. My wife and the doctor both said no #!@$&^ way in hail am I allowed to gut it out until we've got me patched up. Here's hoping your New Year starts better than mine, and that my 2020 makes up for the lousy start!
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Re: Laid Up

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 12 30, 2019 •  [Post 2]

Well crap. Hope the docs figure this thing out quick and get you fixed up!
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Lefty » 12 30, 2019 •  [Post 3]

Yikes That sounds really bad
Get better
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Swede » 12 30, 2019 •  [Post 4]

I hope you are not in too bad of shape to continuing to post here. Get well. I am sure the south Texas critters looking forward to seeing you soon.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Indian Summer » 12 31, 2019 •  [Post 5]

You could have told them that since you moved away from elk country you have no desire to go on living so you’re going anyway. :lol:
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Re: Laid Up

Postby >>>---WW----> » 12 31, 2019 •  [Post 6]

WOW! Sounds serious. I pray for you and your wife. (Is she ill as well?)
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Deanmac » 12 31, 2019 •  [Post 7]

Prayers on your fast recovery
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 12 31, 2019 •  [Post 8]

>>>---WW----> wrote:WOW! Sounds serious. I pray for you and your wife. (Is she ill as well?)

My wife is thankfully totally recovered. We don't know if we had the same illness, or just a coincidence. Prayers are appreciated though!
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Swede » 01 03, 2020 •  [Post 9]

Just checking on how you are doing Malachi? I hope you are on the mend. Prayers have been sent. Have the doctors determined what you have?
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Re: Laid Up

Postby saddlesore » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 10]

Take care and get that stuff gone.It's nothing to fool with.How are us old farts going to get entertained if you are too sick to post. :lol:
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 11]

Thanks for checking on me fellas! Just heard back from the doctor today actually. We have it narrowed down to a couple possible causes, and thankfully the initial treatment for both is the same. So I got to start on some heavy duty stuff this afternoon that should start me towards feeling better in short order. I still have to get a few more tests run this week to get a definitive cause of the problem so we can build a longer term treatment plan.

Overall, it's looking up. Prayers have been appreciated!
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Swede » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 12]

Keep us posted. It is good to see that things are looking positive.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 01 04, 2020 •  [Post 13]

Hang in there Malachi, it sounds like the docs are on the trail of figuring this out and getting you on a treatment plan. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers mister. RJ
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Elkduds » 01 05, 2020 •  [Post 14]

Good news that there is a clear path toward treatment and hopefully recovery for you. The sooner the better! Everyone I know has missed a hunt or 3 for health reasons, their own or family. It adds to the enjoyment you get on future hunts. Of which you will have many to look forward to. We are rooting for you :!:
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 01 08, 2020 •  [Post 15]

Well guys, looks like I'm in it for the long haul. Got diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease of the liver. Right now, it seems like it's pretty low intensity, and I'm not in imminent danger. IN the short term I should be healing up pretty decently even. But long term there's no drug treatment options, and it'll eventually probably require a liver transplant. This could be in 5 years, could be in 30. Doc doesn't have all the answers yet, but we've got all the tests done, and just need the data back to finish interpreting where I'm at in terms of the staging of the disease, and developing a long term management plan.

What this means for future days of hunting the mountains, I just don't know. Thanking God that He has revealed to me his goodness, even in this.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Swede » 01 08, 2020 •  [Post 16]

WOW! I had no idea the problem would be so severe. The Lord may not keep you from suffering with the disease, but He will be with you through it all, even to the very end. So is this the same thing your wife got a lesser case of? I will continue to pray. We do not know just how He will be with you. WOW!
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 01 08, 2020 •  [Post 17]

Swede wrote: So is this the same thing your wife got a lesser case of? I will continue to pray. We do not know just how He will be with you. WOW!


Thank goodness, no she doesn't have this disease. It's not communicable in any fashion. That sickness just seemed to trigger my liver inflammation which led to all this being discovered.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Swede » 01 08, 2020 •  [Post 18]

Well get well buddy. There are a lot of critters wanting to prove you are not such a threat to them and are looking forward to the chase. I heard one say the other day, "Malachi is fat and ugly. He will never get me." :D Now you just need to get out and prove him wrong.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby >>>---WW----> » 01 09, 2020 •  [Post 19]

Yep! For sure, my prayers are still with you. Hopefully, in time, they will find a cure for your problem. In the mean time, keep plugging away. I'm sure there are many hunts waiting for you.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby 7mmfan » 01 09, 2020 •  [Post 20]

As others have said, thats a tough pill to swallow, but you have the right mindset I think to persevere. Chronic illness is a brutal beast but in my experience people with the right mindset do well, while those who get depressed and drown in self pitty suffer. It sounds like there is a course of action, albeit a tough one, so you have that going for you. Chin up, keep hammering and know the WT crowd has you in their thoughts and prayers.
I hunt therefore I am. I fish therefore I lie.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 01 09, 2020 •  [Post 21]

Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers guys! Like I said before, there's lots of open questions about the future. But I intend to kick this stupid thing in the teeth, if God is willing. And if He's not, I'll live content with all the goodness He brings me anyways. Make no mistake, it'll be good either way.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 01 14, 2020 •  [Post 22]

Alright, final update! Got the liver biopsy back, and it's as good as we could have possibly hoped. Basically we caught the disease super early, and I'm pretty much asymptomatic of the worst one (doc actually told me I have three autoimmune disorders, lol)! The acute sickness was entirely caused by autoimmune hepatitis, which is treatable short and long term.

What this means? I have a good shot at lots of years before my liver becomes any kind of problem! I might just have to kill an elk to celebrate.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 01 14, 2020 •  [Post 23]

Great news Malachi! Follow the docs orders, take the meds prescribed, and hoping your back in the saddle very soon :D
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Swede » 01 14, 2020 •  [Post 24]

Praise the Lord. Now you can focus some considerable energy of killing an elk.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Elkduds » 01 16, 2020 •  [Post 25]

Yeah man, that is some from-above news for you and your family :D
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Re: Laid Up

Postby ishy » 01 21, 2020 •  [Post 26]

Great to hear brother! Chronic health stuff sucks. So glad you got good news.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Magic » 01 24, 2020 •  [Post 27]

I have been reading along and was very encouraged to read about the latest tests and yes, sincere Prayers are answered.
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Lefty » 01 24, 2020 •  [Post 28]

Ive read and re-read the posts a few times. And don't know how to respond.
But a positive outlook is always a good start. Ill keep you my prayers
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Re: Laid Up

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 01 24, 2020 •  [Post 29]

I just wanted to thank everyone for your prayers, well wishes and support. You've been really encouraging to me, and you should look me up anytime you pass through central Texas!
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Re: Laid Up

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 01 25, 2020 •  [Post 30]

Same to you mister, if you ever have to swing by W WA, let me know.
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