Lordy, I had to go back to see what I posted last to even DO an update!
On Tuesday the 27th it was discovered that one of the leads on my sister’s AICD had become dislodged. She went back to surgery that afternoon to have it re-attached.
The next morning, the 28th, they discovered the OTHER lead (there are only two!) had also dislodged. The odds of this happening was .01%. Back to surgery, re-attached, all double reinforced.
All went well and by evening we were able to watch “Top Chef” together.
The surgeon has finally agreed to do the thyroidectomy. He is an ENT surgeon who specializes in cancers of the Head and Neck. he has been deemed by the Endocronology team to be the most qualified to do the procedure. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday the 3rd. There are a number of things they need to do to prepare her for the surgery and he wants to give her body a little more time to heal.
So there we are. Baring unforeseen complications we hope to be on the road to recovery next Tuesday!
Showing posts with label sick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sick. Show all posts
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
AICD
Automated Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
My forty-six year old sister has a pacemaker. She came through the minor surgery no problem. From a cardiac perspective? They are ready to discharge her from the hospital.
Endocrinology on the other hand? Not so much. We were told two things on Wednesday night in a pow-wow with the cardiologist, endocrinologist and electrophysiologist:
1. Surgical removal of the thyroid gland is the only treatment option left for her
2. No surgeon will touch her thyroid in her/its current condition
So, yeah. BUT, last night they found a surgeon who has agreed to at least review her chart. He is a surgeon who specializes in cancers of the head and neck. Who knew?
My forty-six year old sister has a pacemaker. She came through the minor surgery no problem. From a cardiac perspective? They are ready to discharge her from the hospital.
Endocrinology on the other hand? Not so much. We were told two things on Wednesday night in a pow-wow with the cardiologist, endocrinologist and electrophysiologist:
1. Surgical removal of the thyroid gland is the only treatment option left for her
2. No surgeon will touch her thyroid in her/its current condition
So, yeah. BUT, last night they found a surgeon who has agreed to at least review her chart. He is a surgeon who specializes in cancers of the head and neck. Who knew?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Questions; No Answers
I am seriously bleary eyed from stress and sleep deprivation and I’m not the one in the hospital. After 21 grueling days in the CICU and then the cardiac unit it looks like my sister is facing some tough decisions.
Number One:
Sib 2 had a heart MRI and a heart cath on July 16th. There was evidence of scarring on the front wall of the heart which indicates a heart attack (different than sudden cardiac death, which we know occurred on July 8th) at some point. No one can tell us when or whether it is related to the thyroid or something else entirely. .
Yesterday they did 2 heart CTs to get a definitive answer as to location and extent of the scarring. It is the opinion of the cardiac team to put in an ICD (pacemaker). My sister is 46. Holy shit.
Number Two:
Her Endocrinologist has not been in favor of removing her thyroid surgically. It will take 8 to 12 weeks to determine if her course of radioactive iodine (June 4th) has had an effect. The surgery is risky because her sever hypothyroidism has made her thyroid gland very vascular. In the surgery the manipulation of the glad to remove it could flood her system with thyroid hormones and send her into cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, they now feel they may not have another option. Holy shit.
My overriding concern remains that the trauma she has been though emotionally and physically make her a poor surgical candidate. Which surgery do they do first? Does one affect the other? Questions; no answers.
Number One:
Sib 2 had a heart MRI and a heart cath on July 16th. There was evidence of scarring on the front wall of the heart which indicates a heart attack (different than sudden cardiac death, which we know occurred on July 8th) at some point. No one can tell us when or whether it is related to the thyroid or something else entirely. .
Yesterday they did 2 heart CTs to get a definitive answer as to location and extent of the scarring. It is the opinion of the cardiac team to put in an ICD (pacemaker). My sister is 46. Holy shit.
Number Two:
Her Endocrinologist has not been in favor of removing her thyroid surgically. It will take 8 to 12 weeks to determine if her course of radioactive iodine (June 4th) has had an effect. The surgery is risky because her sever hypothyroidism has made her thyroid gland very vascular. In the surgery the manipulation of the glad to remove it could flood her system with thyroid hormones and send her into cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, they now feel they may not have another option. Holy shit.
My overriding concern remains that the trauma she has been though emotionally and physically make her a poor surgical candidate. Which surgery do they do first? Does one affect the other? Questions; no answers.
Friday, July 16, 2010
CICU
Quick update. My sister is still in the CICU. She is extubated and so is awake and talking for which we are very grateful.
Unfortunately she is still experiencing periods of AFib and her thyroid levels are not trending down as quickly as they would like.
Her health is still fragile and we are taking things one day at a time.
Thank you all for you kind words of encouragement.
Unfortunately she is still experiencing periods of AFib and her thyroid levels are not trending down as quickly as they would like.
Her health is still fragile and we are taking things one day at a time.
Thank you all for you kind words of encouragement.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year
The bad news is my sister is still in the cardiac ICU. The good news is that she is at a different hospital than the last time and we have done a wholesale, and permanent, substitution of her medical team. We are not a litigious lot and for that her old medical team should be on their knees praying to whomever they hold holy.
She had a transesophageal echocardiogram (effective, but no fun) which gave a clear enough picture of her heart that they felt comfortable doing a defibrillation. For the first time in weeks her heart is back in rhythm and is her heart rate is well below 100.
She is too fragile to do the radiation treatment now, so we wait. But we feel much more confident that her health will be closely monitored and the procedure done in a more timely manner than before.
So to any and all who sent a prayer out there into the universe - I thank you.
She had a transesophageal echocardiogram (effective, but no fun) which gave a clear enough picture of her heart that they felt comfortable doing a defibrillation. For the first time in weeks her heart is back in rhythm and is her heart rate is well below 100.
She is too fragile to do the radiation treatment now, so we wait. But we feel much more confident that her health will be closely monitored and the procedure done in a more timely manner than before.
So to any and all who sent a prayer out there into the universe - I thank you.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Updates (Starring good news!)
My sister is home from the hospital! While she is taking a total of eight prescription medications NONE of them need to be injected. Can we say “halleluiah”?
My mirror is up and I’m very happy with the results.
And let me just add that taking a picture of a mirror and not putting yourself IN the picture? Is a whole lot harder than it might seem!
If you can ignore the “which damn camera are we supposed to be looking at?” expressions on our faces, this is me with my mother, my sister and my niece from the wedding a few weeks back.
Growing up we didn’t think we looked much alike, but geez now that we’re older? Yeah, maybe a little.
My mirror is up and I’m very happy with the results.
And let me just add that taking a picture of a mirror and not putting yourself IN the picture? Is a whole lot harder than it might seem!
If you can ignore the “which damn camera are we supposed to be looking at?” expressions on our faces, this is me with my mother, my sister and my niece from the wedding a few weeks back.
Growing up we didn’t think we looked much alike, but geez now that we’re older? Yeah, maybe a little.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Overheard
Hospital room on the cardiac wing -
Nurse B: “Hi, I’m Nurse B and I’ll be taking over your care for tonight.”
Sib #2: “Hi, this is my sister Fannie. She’s here for moral support.”
Nurse B: “Great. OK, I brought something to help with your nausea. But we really need to get your heart rate down. I’m going to give you Cumadin, Atenolol and Lovenox. Have you had Cumadin before?”
Sib #2: “The blood thinner? Yes”
Nurse B: “How about the Lovenox?”
Sib #2: “I’m not sure.”
Fannie: “Hon, I think that’s the injection they do in your stomach.”
Sib #2: “Oh man, I hate that one, it hurts!”
Nurse B: “I know, I’m sorry, but we really need to get your heart rate down. You’re going to need the Lovenox every 12 hours for about four days to give the Cumadin time to kick in.”
Sib #2: “Wait, four days? Will I have to stay here that long?”
Nurse B: “If we get your heart rate down enough to send you home you can do the injections at home.”
Sib #2: “No WAY am I doing that to myself!”
Fannie: “I could do it!”
Sib #2: “No way I’m letting YOU near me with a needle!”
Fannie: “Hey, when my time comes I’m letting you pull the plug!”
Sib #2: “Oh alright, you can stick me.”
Nurse B: “This is what you call moral support?”
Fannie: “I’m holding her hand aren’t I?”
Sheesh.
All kidding aside, they have only been able to get her heart rate from 205 to about 140. A normal heart rate is 70 to 80. We’re also waiting for the results a CT scan. Please keep my sister in your prayers.
Nurse B: “Hi, I’m Nurse B and I’ll be taking over your care for tonight.”
Sib #2: “Hi, this is my sister Fannie. She’s here for moral support.”
Nurse B: “Great. OK, I brought something to help with your nausea. But we really need to get your heart rate down. I’m going to give you Cumadin, Atenolol and Lovenox. Have you had Cumadin before?”
Sib #2: “The blood thinner? Yes”
Nurse B: “How about the Lovenox?”
Sib #2: “I’m not sure.”
Fannie: “Hon, I think that’s the injection they do in your stomach.”
Sib #2: “Oh man, I hate that one, it hurts!”
Nurse B: “I know, I’m sorry, but we really need to get your heart rate down. You’re going to need the Lovenox every 12 hours for about four days to give the Cumadin time to kick in.”
Sib #2: “Wait, four days? Will I have to stay here that long?”
Nurse B: “If we get your heart rate down enough to send you home you can do the injections at home.”
Sib #2: “No WAY am I doing that to myself!”
Fannie: “I could do it!”
Sib #2: “No way I’m letting YOU near me with a needle!”
Fannie: “Hey, when my time comes I’m letting you pull the plug!”
Sib #2: “Oh alright, you can stick me.”
Nurse B: “This is what you call moral support?”
Fannie: “I’m holding her hand aren’t I?”
Sheesh.
All kidding aside, they have only been able to get her heart rate from 205 to about 140. A normal heart rate is 70 to 80. We’re also waiting for the results a CT scan. Please keep my sister in your prayers.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Small Request
Sib #2 was over last night and told us she has not been feeling well. Pain in her back, racing heart, some nausea. She planned to go to the doctor this morning and get checked out.
She did the right thing. Her doctor had her admitted to the hospital for tests because her heart rate was in fact much to high. Test results are pointing to Hyperthyroidism (ding-ding-ding - family history)which they will deal with when they get her heart rhythm under control.
Sib 2# is a single, working mother who needs this like the proverbial hole in the head. If you so inclined, a good thought or a quick prayer would be much appreciated.
She did the right thing. Her doctor had her admitted to the hospital for tests because her heart rate was in fact much to high. Test results are pointing to Hyperthyroidism (ding-ding-ding - family history)which they will deal with when they get her heart rhythm under control.
Sib 2# is a single, working mother who needs this like the proverbial hole in the head. If you so inclined, a good thought or a quick prayer would be much appreciated.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Well yeah, so I was wrong
Smug
Pronunciation: \ˈsməg\
Function: adjective
1 : trim or smart in dress
2 : scrupulously clean, neat, or correct
3 : highly self-satisfied
While #1 and #2 describe me to a degree I LIVED #3 until this week. I was the one who was NEVER sick. NEVER. Not in YEARS AND YEARS! Flu Shot? Why?
Well people, I have been laid low. I went to the Emergency Room. I am doped up on antibiotics and pain killing ear drops all in the hope that my flight tomorrow will not be excruciating.
Pray for me. And pass the wine.
Pronunciation: \ˈsməg\
Function: adjective
1 : trim or smart in dress
2 : scrupulously clean, neat, or correct
3 : highly self-satisfied
While #1 and #2 describe me to a degree I LIVED #3 until this week. I was the one who was NEVER sick. NEVER. Not in YEARS AND YEARS! Flu Shot? Why?
Well people, I have been laid low. I went to the Emergency Room. I am doped up on antibiotics and pain killing ear drops all in the hope that my flight tomorrow will not be excruciating.
Pray for me. And pass the wine.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Oh Dear Lord
People, it is FINALLY FREAKING March. You know, as in spring is just around the corner? And yet:
- It is elven degrees
- There is a good five inches of fresh snow on the ground
- I have a sore throat mixed with laryngitis
- I'm not sleeping AT ALL well
- I'm drinking so much tea with ecinacia that I'm peeing half my body weight every half hour
- I'm using so much saline nasal spray that I can smell an ocean breeze that's a billion miles away
- We're leaving town at O'Dark Hundred on Wednesday morning and my To Do list seems to be growing exponentially
Now if you'll excuse me, my table is ready. Pity, party of one.
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