Eric Tapley

There’s an article titled “Robot combined with swallowable camera could give docs a better look inside the small intestine” at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online today. It discusses a new micro-robot that can be swallowed and then used to take pictures and biopsies of the small intestine.

Not only is this just cool technology, this is the kind of medical advancement that’s really going to help change the lives of people with chronic intestinal illnesses. Instead of having a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to check on ones intestines, this robot could be used instead, and give better results because endoscopes typically can’t see far up into the small intestine. And the uses go far beyond just helping those with Crohn’s Disease - it can also be used for individuals suffering from certain types of cancer and (hopefully) for general screening.

I’m always happy to see new technologies developed that are really intended to improve people’s lives. Kudos to Metin Sitti and his team at Carnegie Mellon University.

More Information:
“Robot combined with swallowable camera could give docs a better look inside the small intestine” at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online.

“The ‘Bugbot,’ a Robot with Six Legs and a Camera”, a related story with more about nanobots at Roland Piquepaille’s Technology Trends blog.

Online Discussion at Slashdot about this development.

I’ve been a little silent online the past few days due to some complications with my stoma (more information on stomas and stoma care). Specifically, my stoma is recessed slightly into my skin so it’s hard to get a good seal for the colostomy bag and appliance. This is allowing stomach acids and discharge to get against my skin in a ring around the stoma, which causes a lot of irritation and some bleeding.

I’m working to manage the pain - so far it hasn’t been too severe, and I’ve been able to work through it or use some mild painkillers. I have continued to maintain my activity level and diet, so I’m not regressing in terms of my recovery, but this is a setback and it’s making life a little more difficult. Thankfully I only need to work with it for another six weeks or so until the reversal surgery.

How’s your life? (Be honest.)

Why the hell didn’t you say “Great!”?

I keep thinking about value, and meaning, and what makes a good life. Not necessarily a good life in the sense that someone else would define it as pure, or purposeful, or following some set of socially defined moral guidelines. I mean a good life in that I’m happy and that what I do has value and meaning for me. Maybe along the way I’ll make a difference to other people, too, but living for someone else can’t be your primary goal or you’re not really living, you’re acting out a script.

Lately I’ve been reading quite a lot, to help pass the time as I recover from surgery in a more fruitful way than watching marginally acceptable TV shows. And I want to share a really cool manifesto I read on being creative. I think it’s worth reading, if you can spare 30-45 minutes, and isn’t really a “how to” so much as a “wake up and think about your life in these terms for a bit” manifesto.

How To Be Creative, a manifesto published at Change This. It’s free. And good. Enjoy.

It will be interesting to see how my definition of a good life changes once I’m a father. Stay tuned.

I’m pleased to report that my recovery continues at a great pace. I’ve been walking around outside quite a bit, eating plenty of varied foods (but sticking to a low fiber, low residue diet) and helping out a bit around the house, all without problems or pain. So at this point I feel comfortable easing back into life, and will start working a light schedule from home, as tolerated.

If you try to email or call me and don’t hear back right away, however, please be patient. Although my recovery is progressing nicely I’m still going to take breaks and rest when I need to, and that means shutting off my PowerBook (gasp!) and turning the ringer off on my phone.

You all knew I couldn’t stay away for long.

I’ve been home for almost a full day now, and it’s great to be recovering here. I’m still a little weak and tired, but in general am recovering much faster than I expected. I have very little pain and feel quite good - I’ve even been outside for a walk today, which was nice, since I’ve been indoors for the last ten.

My surgery went well, but was more difficult than originally anticipated. I was admitted to the Boston Medical Center a day early with another partial intestinal block, but the team decided to go ahead with surgery instead of postponing it again - there was no reason to postpone and the block didn’t cause any of the additional difficulties. Difficulties arose because of my past two years of active Ulcerative Colitis and previous surgery, but Dr. Becker and his team responded well and didn’t have any trouble. It just took them more time than expected to operate.

My recovery started slow as my body adjusted to the new layout of my abdomen and the incision started to heal, but once I was able to start walking around I began recovering more quickly and feeling significantly better and stronger. Walking is really good exercise, especially when you’re recovering from surgery, and I intend to keep up with a steady schedule while I rebuild my strength and return to health.

So there you are - I’m at home, walking around a bit but generally still resting and focusing on easing back into things, eating real food, and very happy to be getting well again.

Hey, everyone. Just a quick update to let you know that I’m home recovering now. I was released from the hospital late this afternoon.

I’ll write more later, but for now, I want you all to know that my recovery is going very well, I have only a little pain that is managed quite well, and am generally feeling great. And it’s wonderful to be home.

There are just a few more days left until I have surgery. I’m beginning to feel a bit anxious about this. I know from past experience there are parts of the recovery which will be very uncomfortable - having a catheter, the tube down my throat to keep my stomach cleaned, the sameness of the room and routine day after day - and I’m starting to focus on those things. I need to keep my eye on the ball, the intent of this is to help me return to health. A few weeks of discomfort and pain to finally recover from years of ongoing problems (and possibly years into the future, without help now), well now, a few weeks isn’t such a big deal.