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Adam Lauer DO

Surgical Update From Johns Hopkins Mid-July to Late-July


Hi followers of my official health blog. Above is a scene from our vows renewal on 6-21-2024, 12 years married since 7-14-2012. Left to right: Franklin 7, Sir Charles 5, Ms. Maggie 9, almost 10.

 

Tuesday July 9, I had the pre-op labs, EKG, and anesthesia visit to determine my relative safety for the Whipple surgery. 

 

Friday July 12, after saying good bye to my children, in-laws, and wife, we departed for Johns Hopkins hospital for my attempt at surgery. 

 

The anesthesiology people were great.  After i was asleep, they installed a central line to monitor internal pressure and to administer blood or fluids as needed. 

They installed an arterial line to closely monitor blood pressure constantly. 

A Foley Cather was installed to take care of urination both during surgery aftercare. 

 

When i awoke, i recall feeling for drains in my abdomen. There weren't any. This was my first indication the surgery wasn't completed. I asked the anesthesiologist if they did my full surgery and she said "you'll need to speak with Dr Burkhardt"...i knew this meant "no."

 

When Dr B and my wife came in, i could see the solemn expressions so I asked, "good or bad news doc." He said "bad."

"Give it to me straight doctor, please get right to the point," i asked. 

He said "we dissected deep beyond the stomach and freed up your duodenum. Behind this was pancreas and we fully mobilized it ready to do your surgery. This is when i noticed 4 small nodules on your liver. We biopsied these intraoperatively, and they were cancerous, 3 out of 4"

 

This meant they had to abort the pancreas surgery. My gall bladder was giving me trouble in the few weeks leading up, so this was removed during surgery due to inflammation/infection "chronic cholecystitis."

 

The first night and first two post-op days were very hard. Pain was challenging due to the large incision, and that they messed with the pancreas. Surgeons rules: "rest when you can. Sleep when you can. Don't mess with the pancreas." Playing with it releases lots of inflammatory chemicals into the area. Mine was messed with substantially but not removed. Taking out the tumor doesn't help when new tumors are popping up. 

 

I was released post-op day #2, Sunday, to our hotel in Baltimore. I was feeling weak Sunday and Monday. There was a set back Tuesday that required ER evaluation. The line was so long, we opted to go to neighboring Pennsylvania where Ellen's parents live. This was a three hour drive starting at midnight Wed morning. We slept a few hours then went to a local ER, much shorter wait time. This showed normal labs and normal CT scan but for a lot of air in the abdomen, a normal finding after open surgery. Still, the PA seeing me wanted to transfer us back to Hopkins. I declined and we went back to Ellen's parents to recuperate. 


Thursday morning we decided it was better to be near my excellent care team in Maine. 14 hours drive to Maine, we slept maybe 6 hours in our own beds then headed out. Dr John Vanadia has been my surgeon for many years. He admitted me to SJH ER all day starting 0700, Friday morning, July 19th. We got more labs, more thorough CT, and a nuclear medicine scan looking at bile duct system for leaks, called HIDA scan.  Great news, these tests were negative. 


I still have to recover from a scar that goes from my chest bone to just above pubic bone. There is ongoing inflammation internally on the right that we know rest and anti-inflammatory meds will resolve in time.

 

As to the not so great news of metastatic pancreas cancer. It's on the liver. If it's there, it is probably seeded everywhere. That's the prevailing theory. 

 

I hate to say this folks but my time is limited. My local oncologist in Augusta Dr Liu said the average time remaining is 8 month, with a range of 5 to 11 months. It's been recommended by my doctors that i close the medical practice in a controlled manner. This will be far better than if i die and suddenly it's a crap-shoot.

 

We encourage people to call EMMC, SJH out patient practices, and PCHC as soon as possible to get on their wait lists. For those who prefer Direct Primary Care (DPC) option, you should call Dr. Jack Forbush in Hampden at 207-945-5400.

 

As far as DPC or prepaid patients, we will refund any FUTURE credits according to our refund policy, on a prorated manner. 

 

I am very very sorry to give you this sad news but i prefer you hear it from me and not the rumor-mill. A letter will follow in the coming days.


It has been my honor and privilege to be your physician and friend.

Adam

Adam Lauer, D.O.

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Cheryl
Cheryl
Aug 07

My sincerest thank you!! My family and I are ever so grateful to have had you in our lives all these years and the wonderful care/ compassion you have given and shown for each and every one of us, especially during our difficult time of with Dad illness. You are truly one of a kind! I am both sorry and deeply saddened for you and your family and will keep you all in my prayers. May you and your family cherish each others time together ❤️

Cheryl Whitehead

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tlc.cozycat
Jul 29

I am so sorry to hear that the surgery was not able to be completed and your journey with is coming to an end. God bless you and your family and all that you have done for your patients. You have been a God sent blessing in my life and given me my quality of life back, I was praying you would be blessed with a miracle and rewarded for all the good you have done in this world. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family during this time. I pray that your journey is comfortable and peaceful. ❤️🙏 God bless you and your family 🙏

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Joanne A
Joanne A
Jul 25

Dr. Lauer and precious family. So heartbroken at this devastating news. I don't have the words to express my gratitude and respect for such a wonderful, caring, loving human being. Ten years ago, you helped me to let go of the denial of and then navigate my own cancer diagnosis. I will always remember you as a forthright, honest, intelligent and funny medical professional.....a true-blue person with a big heart for healing.

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Pam Ashby
Pam Ashby
Jul 24

Wayne and I are so very sorry for what you and your family are going through. You have been the BEST doctor Wayne has had in a long time. You have been in our prayers and continue to be.

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Cindy Smith
Cindy Smith
Jul 24

Adam, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I continue to pray for a miracle. Cancer sucks. You are a great provider, one of the best! Stay strong, stay faithful and love your family with all your heart. The Smith's

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