My surgery has been delayed from the 1st of December to the 10th due to insurance problems. That's okay though it works out better for most involved. Had the surgery remained on the 1st everyone would be rushing for various reasons. This way Papa has more time to get here and can drive at a safer, more leisurely pace. Nathan will be in Louisiana during the surgery, but will return a mere 6 days later and my father will be with me that whole time.
I'm still in disbelief about my recent losses, but I'm sure that's expected at this point. Psychologists say that each time you lose a friend or family member, it becomes more and more difficult for one to handle. It brings up all the old emotions of those you lost previously, so even though two people passed away this past week, I could be experiencing the emotions of the loss of five people instead. I hope that made sense.
Other than that, I'm doing okay. Not necessarily great, but okay.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thanksgiving Double Whammy
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Nathan and I enjoyed a relaxed day together at home with a full Thanksgiving spread (precooked by a grocery store - hehehe). It was a great day for me because any day I can spend with Nathan is a wonderful one!
Unfortunately, before Thanksgiving I was notified that my Uncle Wally passed away in his home. I have so many wonderful childhood memories of this man who always had popsicles and M&Ms for all the kids.
If that wasn't enough, today I received a phone call from my Mom telling me that my cousin Matt passed away yesterday. Again, my mind is full of wonderful memories of this amazingly strong person. He had a much rarer type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that affects the vascular system and this is what took his life.
Although my pain is under control, I'm still not healthy enough to travel for either of the funerals. It breaks my heart because both men were very important people in my life.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you all the best!
Unfortunately, before Thanksgiving I was notified that my Uncle Wally passed away in his home. I have so many wonderful childhood memories of this man who always had popsicles and M&Ms for all the kids.
If that wasn't enough, today I received a phone call from my Mom telling me that my cousin Matt passed away yesterday. Again, my mind is full of wonderful memories of this amazingly strong person. He had a much rarer type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that affects the vascular system and this is what took his life.
Although my pain is under control, I'm still not healthy enough to travel for either of the funerals. It breaks my heart because both men were very important people in my life.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you all the best!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Surgery...Again!
Yes, another surgery. My pump that is implanted in my abdomen, delivering Dilaudid directly into my spine, has started to move. The sutures that attach the pump to the lining of my muscle have loosened, which is what is allowing the pump to move out of place. It's literally jutting out of my side by about 1"-2" and comes to a rounded point - very painful.
On December 1st the surgeon and his team will go in and reattach the pump to the lining with more stitches through the same incision as the last surgery. It will take about an hour and will be done under local anesthesia so I can go home that day.
It's a good thing I'll be able to go home that day because Nathan leaves the next day, December 2nd, for two weeks to visit his family and friends in Louisiana. He returns on the 16th.
This past Tuesday we had our first flurries of snow and today we received some more snow. We may get enough tonight to actually leave a coat on the ground till morning.
That's it for now. I'll keep this updated as my surgery approaches and afterwards as well.
On December 1st the surgeon and his team will go in and reattach the pump to the lining with more stitches through the same incision as the last surgery. It will take about an hour and will be done under local anesthesia so I can go home that day.
It's a good thing I'll be able to go home that day because Nathan leaves the next day, December 2nd, for two weeks to visit his family and friends in Louisiana. He returns on the 16th.
This past Tuesday we had our first flurries of snow and today we received some more snow. We may get enough tonight to actually leave a coat on the ground till morning.
That's it for now. I'll keep this updated as my surgery approaches and afterwards as well.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Can't Sleep
It's now 5:00AM and I've been awake since about 2:30AM. Since I can't sleep I figured I would post another blog entry especially since Nate won't be up for another 30 minutes to an hour.
Why am I awake? I'm excited about today! A new friend will be coming over to discuss, shop for, and work on crafts including jewelry -what fun for a woman! Earlier my mind began racing about things such as what I'll be buying at Michael's Arts & Crafts, what needs to be done in the house before she comes over, etc.
I do want to mention that yesterday I went for CT scan of my pump. They got me in and out of there really quick, surprisingly! As we were leaving I glanced at the images from the test and it was obvious, even to me, that the pump is horribly out of place. Thankfully I have an appointment with the surgeon this Friday to discuss the scheduling of the surgery.
Some crappy news. While walking (yes, walking - isn't that great!) around the grocery store last week I managed to injure my right foot seriously enough that it's still in a great deal of pain now. To make matters worse I twisted my other ankle while getting in the shower yesterday so now I've got two "gimp" feet, as my step-mom would say. hehehehehe These injuries are thanks to the wonderful medical condition called Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome -woo hoo!
I could go on for much longer, but I won't because my blogging will turn into rambling and that's never a good thing.
Much love to all!
~Lisa
Why am I awake? I'm excited about today! A new friend will be coming over to discuss, shop for, and work on crafts including jewelry -what fun for a woman! Earlier my mind began racing about things such as what I'll be buying at Michael's Arts & Crafts, what needs to be done in the house before she comes over, etc.
I do want to mention that yesterday I went for CT scan of my pump. They got me in and out of there really quick, surprisingly! As we were leaving I glanced at the images from the test and it was obvious, even to me, that the pump is horribly out of place. Thankfully I have an appointment with the surgeon this Friday to discuss the scheduling of the surgery.
Some crappy news. While walking (yes, walking - isn't that great!) around the grocery store last week I managed to injure my right foot seriously enough that it's still in a great deal of pain now. To make matters worse I twisted my other ankle while getting in the shower yesterday so now I've got two "gimp" feet, as my step-mom would say. hehehehehe These injuries are thanks to the wonderful medical condition called Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome -woo hoo!
I could go on for much longer, but I won't because my blogging will turn into rambling and that's never a good thing.
Much love to all!
~Lisa
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Medical Update
In the near future I will write a post about my struggle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Dysautonomia, but for today I simply want to let you know how today's doctor appointment went.
I saw Dr. Frease, my Pain Management doctor who has rescued me from a life of excruciating pain by having a MedTronic pump implanted in my abdomen that delivers Dilaudid (synthetic morphine) directly into my spinal fluid. Unfortunately the pump has begun jutting out of my side and need to be "re-tied" so it stays in place and no longer annoys me or causes me pain. This means another surgery, but a minor, one day surgery.
In the meantime, Dr. Frease will continue to increase the amount of pain medicine going into my system. Right now I have no pain while resting or remaining inactive, but when I am active in anyway I can come down with an excruciating headache and joint pain. The increases should prevent the pain caused by being active.
On a side note, we received the results of our cat's blood work. The vet said his blood work came back amazingly well for a 13 year old cat and he is in great health! Wonderful news!
I'll try to post more often.
I saw Dr. Frease, my Pain Management doctor who has rescued me from a life of excruciating pain by having a MedTronic pump implanted in my abdomen that delivers Dilaudid (synthetic morphine) directly into my spinal fluid. Unfortunately the pump has begun jutting out of my side and need to be "re-tied" so it stays in place and no longer annoys me or causes me pain. This means another surgery, but a minor, one day surgery.
In the meantime, Dr. Frease will continue to increase the amount of pain medicine going into my system. Right now I have no pain while resting or remaining inactive, but when I am active in anyway I can come down with an excruciating headache and joint pain. The increases should prevent the pain caused by being active.
On a side note, we received the results of our cat's blood work. The vet said his blood work came back amazingly well for a 13 year old cat and he is in great health! Wonderful news!
I'll try to post more often.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
First Post of a New Blog
So begins a new blog for me. As most know, MySpace was yesterday, and I haven't had the patience to start a Twitter account. I hope to find a good way to archive the old MySpace blogs for posterities sake, but not here.
In the near future a second blog will be started for my soon-to-be new company, LHH Enterprises. For now this one will do just fine as a way to keep friends and family who are interested up-to-date on Nathan, Willy the cat, and my life's events. As for now all I can say is that we're all doing much better than we were just a month ago.
I'm closing for now, but hope to update this page regularly.
Best wishes to all,
~Lisa
In the near future a second blog will be started for my soon-to-be new company, LHH Enterprises. For now this one will do just fine as a way to keep friends and family who are interested up-to-date on Nathan, Willy the cat, and my life's events. As for now all I can say is that we're all doing much better than we were just a month ago.
I'm closing for now, but hope to update this page regularly.
Best wishes to all,
~Lisa
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