Going Home?

Right now it looks like I will get to take Jeanne home in the morning. Her INR today was 2.1 so we should be good to go. I expect a 2.3 or 2.4 tomorrow but 2.1 will get her discharged. Now we need to keep it from going higher. Heparin was discontinued this morning and I expect to have a reduction in the Coumadin for the next few days starting in the morning.

It will be a big day for her as we need to stop in Custer and schedule follow up with the clinic. I think they will draw blood and check the INR. On Friday she has an appointment with the Cardiologist and then he may take over management of the Coumadin.

Again thanks for the prayers.

Better Numbers

Jeanne was greeted with a 1.7 INR this morning so it is moving now. We need to get stable at 2.3 to go home. Maybe by Monday or Tuesday.

Jeanne was visited by friends from the neighborhood and friends from the easten part of the state today. All were a surprise, and all lifted her spirits.

It is a little late and I am tired so this is going to be short tonight.

Thanks for the prayers.

What A Day

Jeanne called me about 10:00 this morning just as I was approaching Hill City. The doctor told her that he was working on her discharge. Remember that she need s to get to 2.3 on the soup scale? Well she was at 1.4 this morning. What is this all about?

Jeanne and I talked to the nurse and she was more than a little confused at the doctors comment as well. I asked to see him and he came back about ten minutes later. When the conversation started I asked if it was his wife would he let her go home with me. I got a very quick NO. So why is it okay with you if I take Jeanne home. His answer was because she wants to go home.

Okay I now have it figured out. There is a cultural problem as well as a language problem here. Jeanne always tells the Doc that she wants to go home but he took it as a demand. Needless to say we have it settled and she is not going to be released until she hits that 2.3 number!

This event did give us reason to talk with the Docs assistants in Denver and just give them an update on Jeanne's condition. They asked a lot of questions and will get with her doctor there and give her a call on Monday with any thoughts they have. I think that did give her some relief that we are doing the right thing here.

It was a good afternoon and spirits were good.

Pray for a 2.3

The Numbers Game

I will refer to the "Alphabet Soup" number in this and future posts. That is because I can not remember the three letter abreviation. It is the test to check blood thinner levels. The magic number we are looking for is something greater than 2 and less than 3. Jeanne's Alphabet Soup number yesterday was 1.3. I think it was 1.1 when she entered the hospital last Friday. The Doc did increase the Coumadin intake from 7.7 mg to 10 mg on Wednesday but it only made a slight difference. I think that the Coumadin is somewhat cululative in the body so they need to move slow.

She can come home when we hit 2.3

Pray for 2.3

Some Progress

Today Jeanne's labs  showed some progress toward hitting the levels needed for a release. We are hoping she can be released on Friday or Saturday. She is ready to go and sit in her own recliner and sleep in her own bed.

That is all of the news for today.

The Mystery

The Docs are still trying to to get the blood thinner levels correct and by the end of day four have not been successful. It is dissapointing because Jeanne would much rather be home.

That is todays news.

Just Another Day

No change today. The Docs are trying to adjust the blood thinner levels and Jeanne is stuck in bed. She would like to be home. The normal headach and vertigo are still there but she can deal with that better at home. However she is going nowhere until she is off the Heparin.

Thanks for your prayers

Another Day Another Ice Cream

Jeanne had a good night of sleep last night so she felt better today. That is not to say that all of the regular symptoms are not there. The headach was managable and the dizzy vertigo is persistant. It is going to be a long haul to get back to normal. Does anyone know what normal is?

I did get Pizza for both of us for lunch today and a little ice cream in the afternoon. JK is eating well if it is not hospital food!

Again thanks for the prayers.

A Better Day

Not waiting in emergency all day and staying on the pain control has made for a better day. Jeanne does still have the headach but not anything like yesterday. They just told her they hve the Heparin regulated so they will not be waking her up so often tonight. That is a good thing!

She had visitors today which made it nice. It is good to be closer to home so people can come and see her. She does enjoy having someone to talk with other than me.

Keep us in your prayers please.

It Is Never Easy

Jeanne has not been feeling well the last couple of days. Today she had developed a swelling in the left side of her neck and it was painful to touch. After consulting with the Doctors in Denver we headed for the emergency room at Rapid City Regional Hospital. We spent 6 hours in emergency doing various test and at times doing nothing.

The end result was to admit her for treatment of a blood clot that runs from the neck down the left arm. She is expected to be in the hospital for 3 to 5 days. My guess is 5 days because that is the way we do it.

Almost 4 weeks

I realized today that its been almost 4 weeks since my  "procedure" in Denver.  I have to admit, it is nothing like I thought it would be, I feel more like it was an invasion into my brain and my brain is still trying to figure out what went on!  As Skip had posted, I am seeing some improvements and I am thankful for that.  I'm not one to sit very well, so that has been difficult not to overdue.  I am slowly learning to listen to my body.

I took a ride in the car on Sunday and that really seemed to aggravate the dizziness and the vertigo so that was a bit of a disappointment for me.  Many of you are familiar with Ps. 23 ~ The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" ~ well I have to admit that I do want!  I am a very independent person, so the fact that I can't drive myself anywhere let alone ride in the car is  a "want".  I "want" to be able to turn my head without feeling like I just got off a merry go round!  I "want " not to have a headache most of the day!  But, once again, God lifts my spirit with His word.  He is my Shepherd, and a Shepherd takes care of all the needs of His flock, He even carries the one that is too week to walk (which is me!) And He says I shall not want, and if I think about it, He takes care of my needs and the wants are really insignificant.  I believe He is teaching me to be content at the point He has me and depend on Him to supply what I really need.  And He has, I have a husband who has been extremely patient (and is learning to do laundry and more), he has surrounded my with friends, family and Christian brothers and sister who continue to call, support, encourage and most of all lift me up in prayer.  Thank you, thank you thank you!

"I shall not want"!  He is my great Shepherd.

May you know His Blessings 
Jeanne

Getting Better Everyday

The weather here at the ranch has been great. Jeanne and I have been out for a walk the last three evenings. Today Jeanne walked a little over two miles in just over an hour. She is still using the cain for a little extra balance but I can see improvement everyday. She is determined to get back to normal.

Day 4 at home

It has been such a blessing to be at home!  I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to get up in the morning and watch the sunrise and see the sunset in the evening from my beautiful home! My sister Joy is here to help which is such a blessing to both Skip and I.   Each day I feel a bit stronger, thanks to 2 long naps a day, and just being in my own home.  The dizziness is still with me but I feel a little better each day.  I remind myself that even small changes in the right direction means I am moving forward. 

Once again, thank you all for your prayers and friendship and encouragement.  God is Good! 

Blessings,
Jeanne

I am home ~ and so thankful to be here!  I just kept thinking all the way home "Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being praise His Holy Name.  Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."  I was overwhelmed with gratitude when I saw the Welcome Home Banner and the persoanl greetings from my neighbors and friends!  I can't tell you how much that lifted my spirits to know that I am surrounded by such caring and concerned friends.

We were gone just under 2 weeks.  I never would have imagined we would be gone this long at the beginning of this journey.  At times it seemed I would never get back to my home in the Sourthern Hills.  But here I am this morning seeing the glorious view, watching the deer and antelope and breathing in the fresh clean air!  Again I say, Praise the Lord!! 

The ride home yesterday was pretty effortless on my part; just layed my head back, closed my eyes and slept most of the way (with the help of a couple of drugs!)  I am still very dizzy from the vertigo but they are telling me that the body will adjust and I will get better.  The pain from the emblolization is subsiding a bit each day and hopefully as those malformed vessels close down the dizziness will also decrease.  I am told by the doctors that the blood flow is having to re-route itself again so there will be changes for quite some time.  The body is an amazing thing and can compensate when needed.  Again, I am so thankful this was found and treated now ~ the "other" outcome could have been devastating.   I see God's hand in all of this.

Again, you all have been an invaluable support to me and to Skip.  When I really get back on my feet (when I don't walk like I'm drunk) we will celebrate!  Most of all thank you for your prayers!

Blessings,
Jeanne

PS  Call anytime; I'm back in the the Land of the Living!!!!  PTL

Home at Last

We got home about 8:00 PM and it was a welcome sight. Jeanne did well traveling. Sleeping and just keeping her eyes closed did the trick to avoid the dizzy feeling.

Jeanne will update more in the morning.

What an amazing journey I have been on!  More than ever I believe God is Great and God is Good! 

Who would have evern guessed I would be here this long and travel down this road but God!  In ways, as I look back, I can see that He prepared me to cling only to Him and get my strength only from Him.  I have always loved the Psalms and found myself reciting my favorites when the road seemed way too long and my strength all gone.  Ps. 91 was the one that continually came back to me: He who dewells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and fortress, My God in Whom I trust." 

The embolization procedure was more than I could have prepared for and more than the Doctors thought they would find.  The good news is, they got all the areas that were of immediate danger to me.  I didn't realize how close I was to the possibility of hemmorage or complete rupture.  It seems strange to call all this a "procedure" because it is so invasive and traumatic to the brain.  I woke up with what I can only describe as a "brain ache".  Only clinging to God's strength could I have gotten through the first couple of  days.  And then came the surprise! I can only say that God's Hand was there guiding and showing us the way.  I had the choice to be released on Saturday evening but decided to stay one more night.  (Thank you sister Joy!)  If I had not stayed and if there had not been a bed on the progressive floor unit, which meant I spent another night in CCU,  I am convinced I would not be here. 
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Ps. 91:11 For He will command His angels  concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  .....vs. 14:  "Because she loves Me,"  says the Lord,  "I will rescuse her, I will protect her."  God indeed had His angels watching over me in three young nurses, Tovah, from a Jewish family, Rachael, a born again Christian, and Liz ~ not sure.  Their quick response and knowledge of what to do saved my life!  Liz was the one who took her fist and hit me on the chest which got my heart back to beating.  She said she always wanted to do that!!  I am convinced they were and are God's angels! 

So~ here I am!  The danger from the AVM Fistula is gone, my heart is kept at a steady 70 beats a minute and I am looking forward to coming back to my beautiful Southern Black Hills! 

I do have a prayer request (one more at least) that I can tolerate the long trip back.  I am left with a lot of dizziness (benign, positional vertigo) and the only way I can ride in the car is to keep my head back and steady, and my eyes closed. 

I look forward to seeing all of you and cannot thank you enough for all your prayers, comments and friendship. 

See you soon.
Blessings,
Jeanne

Jeanne is Out

Praise God Jeanne was released today. Just getting out of the hospital environment should do a lot toward  making her feel better. Maybe Jeanne will feel good enough tomorrow to update the blog herself.

We will be staying until Monday or Tuesday and then head for South Dakota.

Thanks for the prayers.

Skip

A Better Day Today

Thank you all for the comments and prayers this morning. I think the prayer is working. When I got to the hospital about 7:30 AM Jeanne was awake and had a smile on her face. She had slept better and was a little better rested. She is still dizzy but working with the exercise that was recommended to retrain the balance systems in the brain.

The exercise is not difficult for you and I but for her it is very difficult. It is a look left, look right, look up, look down and practice not getting sick. She has been  more aggressive with her medications and not giving the nausea a chance to get a jump on her.

We are very encouraged with the progress today. Jeanne is determined to get released and when Jeanne is determined THINGS HAPPEN.

Skip

The Thursday Report

It is 3:00 AM Friday morning and I can't sleep.

Yesterday was just another day. I don't think there was much progress in Jeanne's condition. She is still very dizzy which makes her feel sick. The headache continues. They have tried a number of medications to treat each symptom but nothing is giving much relief.

Mentally it is taking its toll on both of us. Jeanne had a couple of panic attacks Thursday thinking she could not get her breath. All of the charts looked good, the oxygen level was good, and so was the blood pressure so I think it is more of a mental issue. She is so scared right now! (So am I)

Having said this I will tell you she is a trooper. She did get up and walk a little in the morning, and with help she is making it to the bathroom. She has spent some time sitting in a chair. All of these things are major accomplishments at this point in time.

The nurses love her, so she does get good attention. She is very polite and always smiling when she talks to them. What else would you expect? That’s my girl!

Please pray. I think if we could pray for her to get her balance back that would allow her to be released. The doctor told her yesterday that the headache could go on for a few weeks. I believe that learning to live with the pacemaker is going to be a long process also.

We both look forward to your comments and support.

Thank You!