I'm sure y'all all know I will only post when I have a meaningful update, so knowing there's a new post should be viewed as positive.
Pete had his appointment this morning for the ultrasound of his lower legs and feet. As I mentioned on Saturday, he's had some swelling in his lower left leg and foot. This has been accompanied by skin that is cold to the touch (not regular cold, but cold). The neurologist wanted to make sure he didn't have any DVT, and sent him in for ultrasound this morning.
We got there early, which I'm always excited about and filled out paperwork. There were some odd questions on the paperwork (like what color do you prefer red, blue or black) and a few minutes after I turned it in, some guy comes out with a tote bag (blue) with a little portfolio thing, a banana and a soft drink inside. We're spent how many weeks and half a million in services there and this is our first giv-y.
Anyway, we're sitting there and I'm mulling my good fortune when this huge guy walks up to me and asks if I remember him. I did not, but he reminded me that he was part of Pete's pit crew when he first arrived at Methodist. He had seen Pete's name on the list of patients for the day and it was familiar so he reviewed his chart. He called Dr. Volpi and asked if he wanted a repeat of any of the brain ultrasonography and if I had a little longer to stay at the hospital they could recheck his carotid arteries and some other things. Yup, we can stay as long as you need him! It didn't occur to me until later that the insurance deductible turns over on Thursday, so whatever tests need to be done under the old one would be great!
The extra tests added about an hour to his time there and it was certainly an hour well spent. Dr. G (not the M.E. the pit crew dude whose name I don't recall) came out and told me that the right frontal carotid is still completely blocked, and the left one is still completely clear. He said the ultrasound on the other arteries revealed the large one on top that had been blocked IS now cleared so he has additional blood flow to the part of the brain damaged by the stroke. This might account for some of the increased function in his left leg that was sort of sudden, but I do not know for sure. Any medical people reading this could certainly help me with that. Dr. G definitely found it to be something extremely positive.
The nurse told Pete that the scan on his legs looked just fine too and that he would be faxing reports over to Dr. Volpi. I'll call his office Friday to confirm. Any changes will be reported as appropriate.
Seeing a member of the original medical team that admitted Pete brought back a whole bunch of emotions for me. I'm sure those will come and go as time goes on, but positive thoughts in that regard would be appreciated.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Merry Christmas!
It came and went so quickly! But it was the 4 month mark on Pete's stroke recovery, which in the grand scheme of stroke recovery is a long time.
He's come so far! This week, we had 2 rehab sessions at TOTS and finally got more sessions scheduled for next week. We have been working on his arm and shoulder and they are loosening up a good bit and he's got the ability to move his left elbow out (away from his body) a bit and that will help those muscles get stronger. He's also able to move his left ankle to lift his foot a bit and the wiggling toes are getting more wiggly. On the whole, I take this as excellent progress. He needs to work on his standing balance and work on standing on both legs, which he has not been doing much of, he's using the right leg for almost everything and that is really no way to walk.
We went to the the neurologist on Tuesday and he's quite pleased with Pete's progress. He has prescribed some medicines to help with the pain that is associated with the feeling returning to his left side. Pete is not one to take medication for pain, but that is not really something he has the option for right now. The doc also told him he needs to get out more, so we'll be doing that. There are some issues with intermittent swelling of his left hand and foot and the doctor wants to rule out any sort of blood clot in his leg by doing a test on Tuesday and otherwise, there is a study going on right now about edema and Pete will be enrolled in that study.
One other thing is that Pete's blood pressure and heart rate are completely under control. The BP at the neuro was 120/70 which is about what they say is "perfect" and his heart rate was in the mid 60's, also pretty darn good. Before the stroke, his BP was running in the "Oh my God" range and his heart rate was all over the place. He is taking no medicine to make that happen at all and the only change was quitting smoking. If you need any more encouragement, I'll be happy to give it.
Right now we have the plague in our house, so we're all sort of recovering from that. For all of you who have followed Pete's story, please know you have our many thanks for your support and prayers. His recovery is progressing well, but there is still a long way to go. We will need you all for a good time to come. I'll try to post more often, but know that if there is no post, it means the status quo is in effect.
If I don't post before then, everyone please have a happy and healthy new year.
He's come so far! This week, we had 2 rehab sessions at TOTS and finally got more sessions scheduled for next week. We have been working on his arm and shoulder and they are loosening up a good bit and he's got the ability to move his left elbow out (away from his body) a bit and that will help those muscles get stronger. He's also able to move his left ankle to lift his foot a bit and the wiggling toes are getting more wiggly. On the whole, I take this as excellent progress. He needs to work on his standing balance and work on standing on both legs, which he has not been doing much of, he's using the right leg for almost everything and that is really no way to walk.
We went to the the neurologist on Tuesday and he's quite pleased with Pete's progress. He has prescribed some medicines to help with the pain that is associated with the feeling returning to his left side. Pete is not one to take medication for pain, but that is not really something he has the option for right now. The doc also told him he needs to get out more, so we'll be doing that. There are some issues with intermittent swelling of his left hand and foot and the doctor wants to rule out any sort of blood clot in his leg by doing a test on Tuesday and otherwise, there is a study going on right now about edema and Pete will be enrolled in that study.
One other thing is that Pete's blood pressure and heart rate are completely under control. The BP at the neuro was 120/70 which is about what they say is "perfect" and his heart rate was in the mid 60's, also pretty darn good. Before the stroke, his BP was running in the "Oh my God" range and his heart rate was all over the place. He is taking no medicine to make that happen at all and the only change was quitting smoking. If you need any more encouragement, I'll be happy to give it.
Right now we have the plague in our house, so we're all sort of recovering from that. For all of you who have followed Pete's story, please know you have our many thanks for your support and prayers. His recovery is progressing well, but there is still a long way to go. We will need you all for a good time to come. I'll try to post more often, but know that if there is no post, it means the status quo is in effect.
If I don't post before then, everyone please have a happy and healthy new year.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Now we have outpatient fun
I have been bad again. So, since we came home. . .
We had a wonderful weekend after Thanksgiving! I got the tree up and Anna and I decorated the front yard. She picked out a blow up Santa and wuv's him! We'll see how she likes sitting on his lap this weekend!
We went last Friday (the 5th) back to the neurosurgeon's office to have the stitches/staples taken out and OMGosh, he looks so good! There will be a couple of battle wounds that stay, but mostly, Pete looks like our Pete. I'll try to get a picture and add it to the blog for those who think I'm crazy. After that, we went to the TIRR Kirby Glen facility, this is their outpatient place. They call it TOTS, for Tirr Outpatient Therapy Center, and it looks a whole lot like the gym at the hospital, and the patients there are likewise in varying degrees of rehab. When we were touring the place, there was a man who was walking with very tentative steps and I told Pete to watch him, because that's what he was going to be doing before he knows it.
He has continued to get stronger and to improve in his cognition skills since his surgery. This sounds punny, but having the bone flap put back in has taken a load off his mind. The day after we got home, he was laying in bed and I told him he needed to move his left leg so I could adjust the covers and he lifted the darn thing right off the mattress! And here we were excited he could wiggle his toes, now he's wiggling all 5 of those little dudes and lifting his leg. He said his abs were weak and of course they were, it hurt every time he worked them. So, I've got him working on that too. He's been emailing like crazy and really his typing hasn't lost much only using one hand. The best thing is how much stronger his left arm is getting. I have a little 2 pound weight that I think he could hold. That's not much at all, but considering 2 months ago, he didn't know his arm was there, much less could he move it, that's pretty remarkable.
Today he went to TOTS for an evaluation. The speech therapy folks were much impressed. The recommendations they received was for 5 days of therapy a week, but they don't think it needs to be more than 3 days. The occupational therapist is going to work on reworking cooking skills. Sounds like a plan to me. The physical therapist has been tasked with getting him upright. Over the weekend, I told Pete that once that happens, I'm going to sit on the couch for 3 weeks and he can do everything.
His mom has been here during the week for like 3 weeks, I don't know for sure. It has been a wonderful experience for us all. Pete has enjoyed having her around and Anna sure does love her Oma.
I can't believe Christmas is coming up so fast! More later.
We had a wonderful weekend after Thanksgiving! I got the tree up and Anna and I decorated the front yard. She picked out a blow up Santa and wuv's him! We'll see how she likes sitting on his lap this weekend!
We went last Friday (the 5th) back to the neurosurgeon's office to have the stitches/staples taken out and OMGosh, he looks so good! There will be a couple of battle wounds that stay, but mostly, Pete looks like our Pete. I'll try to get a picture and add it to the blog for those who think I'm crazy. After that, we went to the TIRR Kirby Glen facility, this is their outpatient place. They call it TOTS, for Tirr Outpatient Therapy Center, and it looks a whole lot like the gym at the hospital, and the patients there are likewise in varying degrees of rehab. When we were touring the place, there was a man who was walking with very tentative steps and I told Pete to watch him, because that's what he was going to be doing before he knows it.
He has continued to get stronger and to improve in his cognition skills since his surgery. This sounds punny, but having the bone flap put back in has taken a load off his mind. The day after we got home, he was laying in bed and I told him he needed to move his left leg so I could adjust the covers and he lifted the darn thing right off the mattress! And here we were excited he could wiggle his toes, now he's wiggling all 5 of those little dudes and lifting his leg. He said his abs were weak and of course they were, it hurt every time he worked them. So, I've got him working on that too. He's been emailing like crazy and really his typing hasn't lost much only using one hand. The best thing is how much stronger his left arm is getting. I have a little 2 pound weight that I think he could hold. That's not much at all, but considering 2 months ago, he didn't know his arm was there, much less could he move it, that's pretty remarkable.
Today he went to TOTS for an evaluation. The speech therapy folks were much impressed. The recommendations they received was for 5 days of therapy a week, but they don't think it needs to be more than 3 days. The occupational therapist is going to work on reworking cooking skills. Sounds like a plan to me. The physical therapist has been tasked with getting him upright. Over the weekend, I told Pete that once that happens, I'm going to sit on the couch for 3 weeks and he can do everything.
His mom has been here during the week for like 3 weeks, I don't know for sure. It has been a wonderful experience for us all. Pete has enjoyed having her around and Anna sure does love her Oma.
I can't believe Christmas is coming up so fast! More later.
Friday, November 28, 2008
And, we're home again!
Pete called about 8:15 this morning to tell me the doctor had been in and was ready to discharge him. So, I finished breakfast, took a shower and headed up. It's 2:50 and we just got here. Anna did better than should have been expected being cooped up in the hospital all day long, but as always, she's a trooper!
He looks just great but is absolutely wiped out from the trip home. He was going to go to bed, but instead, he wanted to send an email to his PT from TIRR to follow up on his therapy. He has about 7000 unread messages in his email inbox, so we'll be going through those and deleting all but the junk!
Y'all have a great rest of your holiday. I know I will.
He looks just great but is absolutely wiped out from the trip home. He was going to go to bed, but instead, he wanted to send an email to his PT from TIRR to follow up on his therapy. He has about 7000 unread messages in his email inbox, so we'll be going through those and deleting all but the junk!
Y'all have a great rest of your holiday. I know I will.
Monday, November 24, 2008
He looks like our Pete!
OK, well, the surgeon came into the waiting room at like 3:15 to tell us that the surgery was done and it went great. So, given past experience, it was going to be about 90 minutes to 2 hours before they called me into recovery to see him. When it was 5:30, I saw one of the hospital "guest relations" people and asked her to run it down for me. She looked at the computer and says, "this shows him still in the OR". She asked if I was sure the doctor came in to say the surgery was over or he was just about to go in. I told her I was and she called the surgery secretary who confirms that the surgeon finished his work around 3:00 and that the resident was closing him up, for over 2 hours. It does make sense to some degree. Put your hands in your hair and see how little give your scalp has, so you gotta know it takes some doing to stretch it far enough to be able to staple it, particularly when you are trying to make sure you don't harm him.
Anyway, I was finally able to see him around 6:45. He was coming out of the anesthesia and was nauseated and had a headache but I looked at him straight on and he looked so good, his head is all back to normal. Well, if normal means having probably 150 staples in it (obviously there's a dressing over the incision) and there is of course some swelling under the scalp, but otherwise, it's the very handsome shape he's been for all this time.
They put him into the NICU, but not the one he's been in before, that unit is full. There is a 6 bed overflow unit on the 3rd floor and that's where he is. The nurse that I wanted to bitch slap was there to take care of him. She didn't remember our history, but she remembered me. I have to say that she is an excellent nurse, but a wee bit too married to the rules.
I came home and gave Anna kisses and put her to bed, she's sleeping like an angel.
Anyway, I was finally able to see him around 6:45. He was coming out of the anesthesia and was nauseated and had a headache but I looked at him straight on and he looked so good, his head is all back to normal. Well, if normal means having probably 150 staples in it (obviously there's a dressing over the incision) and there is of course some swelling under the scalp, but otherwise, it's the very handsome shape he's been for all this time.
They put him into the NICU, but not the one he's been in before, that unit is full. There is a 6 bed overflow unit on the 3rd floor and that's where he is. The nurse that I wanted to bitch slap was there to take care of him. She didn't remember our history, but she remembered me. I have to say that she is an excellent nurse, but a wee bit too married to the rules.
I came home and gave Anna kisses and put her to bed, she's sleeping like an angel.
It really IS brain surgery
and praise the Lord it is over. Pete did very well and is probably moving into recovery. Once he's all awake, I'll be able to go see him. He'll spend at least tonight someplace I really never wanted to go again, the NICU, but that only stands to reason. There is still a possibility of continued accumulation of cervical spine fluid, which would necessitate a shunt being put in. So, they will do a CT in a couple of days (oy) and see how that is doing.
The surgery took right at the estimated 2 hours, but it took way over an hour for him to be prepped for surgery.
The good news is that when he goes up to the NICU he can show off his new toe wiggling trick. I bet a few of the nurses will be surprised at that development.
Pete was up raring to go this morning. I was too, although I could have used another hour of sleep. I had a punch list before I left and still had to go in 3 times for stuff I forgot. Thank heaven I remembered my reading glasses, because this screen is teeny tiny!
Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts. You cannot imagine how much they mean to me.
The surgery took right at the estimated 2 hours, but it took way over an hour for him to be prepped for surgery.
The good news is that when he goes up to the NICU he can show off his new toe wiggling trick. I bet a few of the nurses will be surprised at that development.
Pete was up raring to go this morning. I was too, although I could have used another hour of sleep. I had a punch list before I left and still had to go in 3 times for stuff I forgot. Thank heaven I remembered my reading glasses, because this screen is teeny tiny!
Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts. You cannot imagine how much they mean to me.
Monday, November 17, 2008
This Monday/Next Monday
What a day today! We went to see Pete's PCP first thing this morning, went to see the Cardiologist after that, went into the neurosurgeons office to drop some records off and then went up to the country to get Pete's mom.
That's how many transfers into and out of the car? He's getting really good at it, although he doesn't always aim well the first time and spends a bunch of time getting himself into the car. About the time he's done with that, I've got the wheelchair broken down and in the trunk. Although this afternoon, Pete's mom and I almost collapsed in laughter trying to get it into the trunk. I tried from the wrong end (the side with the wheels) and it ended up spinning away from me. Then she tried, same thing happened.
But, in reality, he's doing the whole deal himself, I'm truly just spotting him. I do think you might get a chuckle if you considered Pete and I in a very small bathroom, with a bath chair, a transfer chair and an addition to the toilet to make it more stable for him, trying to get him through all those transfers. It was pretty funny if I say so myself. We're just working through the bumps and really, he's stronger every day. Tonight, the guy was just worn out, and was in bed pretty early.
Next Monday, we go back in to have his bone flap replaced. I can hardly wait to be honest. He'll be in the hospital probably through Thanksgiving, but who cares! We have so much to be thankful for this year and it doesn't have to be confined to a specific place to celebrate. Besides, the food at Methodist is good and I have to figure the turkey and dressing will be outstanding. And, then starting at the beginning of December, he'll be back in outpatient rehab at the TIRR Kirby Glen facility.
Oh, one more thing, this evening I asked him if he could wiggle his toes. He said he'd try and he sure did wiggle those toes on his left foot. He said he couldn't feel it or see it, but I told him I could both feel and see it. Manipulating his toes is important for eventual walking, which I feel certain is going to happen.
Anna is doing a bunch of acting out. I feel certain she's more than a little mad at both Pete and me. Pete for not being home for so many weeks and then just showing up, and me for casting her aside for daddy. It's kind of like a reverse of the man's reaction to a new baby in the house, except on a 2 year old's level, which depending n the man is either more or less mature.
That's how many transfers into and out of the car? He's getting really good at it, although he doesn't always aim well the first time and spends a bunch of time getting himself into the car. About the time he's done with that, I've got the wheelchair broken down and in the trunk. Although this afternoon, Pete's mom and I almost collapsed in laughter trying to get it into the trunk. I tried from the wrong end (the side with the wheels) and it ended up spinning away from me. Then she tried, same thing happened.
But, in reality, he's doing the whole deal himself, I'm truly just spotting him. I do think you might get a chuckle if you considered Pete and I in a very small bathroom, with a bath chair, a transfer chair and an addition to the toilet to make it more stable for him, trying to get him through all those transfers. It was pretty funny if I say so myself. We're just working through the bumps and really, he's stronger every day. Tonight, the guy was just worn out, and was in bed pretty early.
Next Monday, we go back in to have his bone flap replaced. I can hardly wait to be honest. He'll be in the hospital probably through Thanksgiving, but who cares! We have so much to be thankful for this year and it doesn't have to be confined to a specific place to celebrate. Besides, the food at Methodist is good and I have to figure the turkey and dressing will be outstanding. And, then starting at the beginning of December, he'll be back in outpatient rehab at the TIRR Kirby Glen facility.
Oh, one more thing, this evening I asked him if he could wiggle his toes. He said he'd try and he sure did wiggle those toes on his left foot. He said he couldn't feel it or see it, but I told him I could both feel and see it. Manipulating his toes is important for eventual walking, which I feel certain is going to happen.
Anna is doing a bunch of acting out. I feel certain she's more than a little mad at both Pete and me. Pete for not being home for so many weeks and then just showing up, and me for casting her aside for daddy. It's kind of like a reverse of the man's reaction to a new baby in the house, except on a 2 year old's level, which depending n the man is either more or less mature.
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