Tag: strength

Day 4 Update

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

I should have listened to my own advice and learned lessons from previous brain procedures. Rest, rest, and listen to your body. However, I felt a little better yesterday (Sat.) so I did more, which in turn, I am paying for today.

Yesterday my head pain wasn’t as bad, so I tried to wean off the Tylenol. I only ended up taking one all day. But that also meant I:

  • Made my own big breakfast
  • Took a shower
  • Walked (slowly) inside for 15 minutes
  • Lots of blogging, TOO much blogging
  • Sat up watching a lot of TV
  • Put dinner in the oven

I did take a nap or two, but I should have only done one or two of the list above and not all.

Day 4 Update

Overall I’m doing very well 4 days after the flow diverter deployment. That sound like a space vehicle segment. “T-minus four hours to flow diverter deployment.”

Head pain has been hit and miss depending on how much I’m doing. I removed the dressing on the groin incision site yesterday after showering and the plug site looks very good. Not even any bruising, which is great. It is still tender, but getting better. None of that is unexpected.

When I left the hospital on Thursday, I was experiencing some pretty strong abdominal muscular pain. I had no idea where that came from and it made sitting, standing and moving in bed quite painful. Thankfully, it finally feels like that is easing up. I must have had a minor muscle pull that was self-inflicted. I did speak to the Dr’s office about it on Friday.

My balance is still a little wobbly and I’m doing everything very slowly from sitting down, sitting up, turning around and walking. Sudden movements cause a stir and bending over is rough. Everything brings on fatigue.

It has taken me about 5-6 hours to feel decent today as a result of the activities yesterday. Pretty good head pain and discomfort around face, ears, and neck. So it’s back to the two pills of Tylenol every six hours. The good, old-fashioned ice pack I bought is really coming in handy and feels great.

My non-brain related eye injury from the cat isn’t quite as black as it was, but still pretty purple. There is some yellowing on the actual eye ball on my OPPOSITE eye, which I’m a little concerned about, but we’ll see if it’s still there tomorrow. The cut itself is healing nicely.

Please Note: I AM seeing all your comments on Facebook and the blog posts. I just can’t reply to all. I do have to go in and approve many of the comments on WordPress when I see them before they show up. But I wanted you to know I DO see them and I am extremely grateful for all the love , prayers, and support. THANK YOU!!

FYI: These posts are half typed and half using the terrific keyboard dictation feature

Realities & Fears

Published on by heiditea5 Comments

FYI: These posts are half typed and half using the terrific keyboard dictation feature.

One thing I’ve realized in the last 15+ years of hospital stays with my brain aneurysms, is that a hospital gown, or Johnny as they are referred to, is the great equalizer.

When wearing the gown, no one knows how rich or poor you are, your political leanings, the internal trauma you have endured, and for how long. It’s the costume of reality in a hospital. The Johnny doesn’t care.

The richest most powerful woman in your state is essentially just another patient like the young man who washes dishes at a restaurant laying next to her. The opening at the back of a Johnny not only displays our backsides, but also exposes our extreme vulnerabilities while staying in the hospital.

Any modicum of modesty is thrown out the window as one relinquishes personal “duties” to the nurse working your room at the moment. God bless them ALL!

There was a woman and her teenage daughter in the waiting area for admissions when Dave and I arrive. The older woman had MS and her daughter had cerebral palsy. They both required assistance walking and the daughter had communication issues.

Having one person with a disability in the family can be challenging enough, but I had tremendous amount of respect and empathy for this woman and her daughter dealing with daily struggles to live a “normal” life. And the mom was upbeat, chatty, and smart.

Observing this woman and her daughter maneuver the hallway and communicate with the hospital staff was a swift dose of potential realities for the brain procedure I was about to undergo in a few short hours.

Although I had a tremendous amount of confidence in the staff and doctors here at Maine Med, it IS still the brain and there is aways some potential for something unexpected to happen.

With the only other exception being the heart, if something goes wrong during a procedure in the brain, it can effect the rest of your life in a dramatic way. Just what we needed to see before heading up to pre-op.

My fears dissipated after speaking to my doctor before the procedure and I was ready to get this over. I knew whatever came from it, that Dave and I could handle it.

But I’m still not a fan of the Johnny, however.

Home Sweet Home

Published on by heiditea3 Comments

This is old girl is enjoying some quality time with the other old girl. Nice to be back home in my own bed. I don’t quite have the energy to write a full blog post yet. Maybe tonight. #blessed

More Brain Bling?

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

This morning we met with my doctor to discuss the results of my angiogram, his findings, his recommendations, and the next course of action.

FINDINGS:

  • In comparing the most recent angiogram with the angiogram from 2016, there are “significant changes” in the bloody remnant in the neck of the aneurysm.
  • This finding gave my doctor “anxiety that it is at risk” of rupturing in the future again.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Place a flow diverter inside my existing stent to prevent more blood from getting into the neck of the aneurysm.
  • They may insert and expand a balloon first to push back any “tines” from the original stent to allow the new flow diverter to be positioned better.
  • The Surpass flow diverter is a more flexible stent that should adhere better to my “ugly” and “challenging” arterial structure around the aneurysm.
  • It’s an endovascular procedure, so not open head surgery.
  • Bringing in an additional doctor with knowledge of this procedure and flow diverter to assist if need be.

MY DECISION:

  • To go ahead with this procedure here at Maine Med.
  • Will be put on blood thinners (Plavix and full-strength aspirin) the week prior to procedure then remain on both for 6-months after.
  • Procedure could be as early as March.

There is a good video about administering the Surpass flow diverter on this page, although it doesn’t show it being deployed inside another diverter: Surpass Flow Diverter

I was surprised to read on my blog that I’ve been dealing with the stress of this darn remnant for 11 years now. When the re-coil and stent didn’t do the job, the next course of action would be the stent within a stent. If THIS doesn’t work, there is a possibility we could sacrifice that entire section of artery, but I’m counting on it working so let’s not even go there.

Making this decision with Dave by my side gave me a sense of relief. Relief in knowing I’m doing something about it and there is a plan of action. I have great faith in my doctor and his familiarity with my case, my brain, and this particular brain aneurysm for the past 11 years. I know he wouldn’t make a recommendation unless he felt there was a good chance of success. And so far, he hasn’t been wrong.