Headed to Benton City

I was reunited with my family last night and it was great to hold Aaron! He was a bit fussy...hoping it is remnants from his first set of shots...he has changed so much in the last two weeks!! Things went well last night so we are attempting the trip home...raining sooo hard we had to slow way down so we could see the road and give the wipers a chance...

Medically: I will be on meds for the next six months to get rid of the blood clot and prevent any new ones from forming...for the time being, it is shots and pills...once my blood is thin enough, it will just be pills. As for the Pancreas, it is a wait and see game as it slowly heals.   I am taking enzymes, metformin, and eating a super low fat diet so the pancreas doesn't have to work hard and also to avoid future gall bladder attacks.  The last thing is to take out my gall bladder 6-12 months down the line.  Seems like a lot and definitely complete life altering, but we are taking it day by day.

Can't wait to visit with everyone as I feel better! Thanks for all the prayers.

Let us try again...

So, I am out and heading to Lynwood for the night to make sure nothing happens. More meds on the list now that we are treating the blood clot as well. I can't wait to see Aaron! We are gonna have some serious cuddle time over the next week. Also, I have been dreaming of the bed at Hotel Jeske...hoping the back pain subsidies.

Prayer Request...that I stay fever free, that the back pain is solely from the bed rather than radiating from my pancreas, and that my body handles new foods.

Thanks everyone!

New treatment

We were hoping that I could get released today and then stay in Seattle for a few days, but the Drs want to start me on Coumadin and want to see how my blood looks in the morning and then I will stay one additional day and follow up at blood clinic in TC.  They have been going back and forth on starting the coumadin before I have my gastro follow-up on Oct. 7th. The other option would be to give myself shots until that follow-up...the reason to not start the coumadin is that it takes time to regulate and would it be regulated before my follow up?? The coumadin would need to be stopped before any pancreas proceedures could be done...but that is weeks away and a proceedure may not be necessary. Soooo, they are gonna start the meds, I won't have to give myself shots, but I do have to stay one more night here.
BTW, I am feeling pretty good!

Another day at the Hospital

It seems like I have been back for a long time but it has been less than two days...which means yesterday was a long day/long night.
Today they gave me shots to dissolve the clot in my leg.  I also had an incident where my heart rate went up for a period of time so they gave me fluids because I seemed dehydrated...plain water is getting a bit dull...need some mio.  They are going to draw some blood tonight to look to see if numbers are much different....hopefully tonight will go well and they can discharge me tomorrow...this time we are sticking around for a few days. I am bringing bags of meds home...gonna need to create a spreadsheet to keep it all straight.

I pray that my pain stays under control tonight and they narrow down any other complications before I leave.

Thank you for all your prayers!

What a rough night

Been trying to post all morning, but been interrupted or lose my screen...things have changed quite a bit. On our way home yesterday, I suddenly had pain in my right lung. We called the doc at VM and he suggested going to ER since it could be a blood clot in the lung.  They did a CT Scan at Kadlec but didn't see a clot. They did lots of other tests and eventually the Doc called over to VM and they concluded I should come back. I was gonna come by ambulance, but they would not be able to come get me until 9:00 so MedStar got the call. I had already been at Kadlec 6 hours...luckily they gave me enough pain meds to sleep.  Got back to VM and now have to share a room and we have no view.  I struggled with the night staff because they gave me next to no pain meds...been a rough morning so I have been trying to nap.  My docs here wanted to check better for blood clots so I had an ultrasound to check my legs. They came in a few minutes ago to confirm that I do have a blood clot and a small piece may have broke off and travelled to my lung.  They have started the protocol to dissolve the clot. They are hoping the pains will lessen as clot dissolves.  This could have been from my pregnancy or this hospitalization.

Back at ER

We were driving over pass between Ellensburg and Yakima when my right lung started hurting really bad. We called my doc at VM and he told us to head into the er...so here we are again..will update when we know something!

They cut us loose

We are on our way home.  I still have a huge uphill battle but for the next week I can be at home.  We have an appt scheduled on Oct 7th for a CT scan and meeting with my gastroenterologist for our path forward.  Continue to pray for less pain and for my body to handle the fat in my diet.  Thank you everyone. We will be needing support and many of you have offered. Later I will post some areas that would be helpful...like Aaron time, Dr visit escort, meals, etc. Gonna try to nap on the way home...will update you later.

On Oral Pain Meds

My nurse this morning suggested going without the pain pump in the morning unless I really needed it...the morning went well and when the docs came by, they asked if I was ready to be done with it...wanting to go home and feeling pretty good, I said yes...so all IVs came out. As long as the rest of the day went ok, I could be heading home in the morning.  As the afternoon wore on, my pain  compounded a little at a time. It is my back and I think it is being in bed during the day causing the pain. Hopefully this next dose will take care of it...otherwise we may need new meds.

I received beautiful flowers today from Dade Moeller. Thanks everyone for your support. Wouldn't be smart to send anything else to VM since we hope to be going home...and multiple trips to car won't be good for Jacob.

Prayer Request-pain relief in back so we can come home.

Party in my Room

This afternoon there were 7 VM Dr/Nurse types in my room at one time talking about what it will take to get me home and giving me my much needed pain meds.  I have been off Oxygen all afternoon and my levels are in the acceptable range...so hopefully I can keep that up through the night! They sent me for a chest x-ray and it showed some fluid on the lungs...not pneumonia but need to keep up the breathing treatments. We will see what it takes to get off the meds via IV.

I had a yummy dinner of chicken, roasted baby potatoes, and carrots. And a S'more for dessert minus chocolate and marshmallow. And during dinner, I Skyped with my two main men.  Now I need rest.

Home is in sight!

My Gastroenterologist stopped by to let me know I can go home once I can get my oxygen and pain under control!  Neither of these are things that happen quickly but it could be this week sometime!  We will have to come back in one week for a new CT Scan and then we will plan that path forward.  Going home does not mean that I am healed, that will take months, but there is no need to sit in a hospital bed in Seattle when I can be comfortable at home.  I will not be able to drive and we will still need support for Aaron, but I can be around for important events and to be with friends and family. Thank you Lord!  And thank you everyone for your prayers!  Please continue to pray for the Pancreas to heal with the least amount of damage.  Please pray for enzyme and insulin production as well.

 Once I get home, it will be important that we stay away from anyone who can get us sick so if you are under the weather please wait until you are clear to visit.

This was just the GI doctors so it will be up to the Hospitalists to determine the course of getting me home.  I will let you know what they say.

45

What do the following list of foods have in common?
• 9 oz Extra lean Ground Beef
• 5 oz Cheddar Cheese (5 slices)
• 4 Tbsp Mayonnaise
• ½ c. Heavy Cream
• ¼ c. butter
• 3 Tbsp Corn or Olive Oil
• 5 Tbsp Peanut Butter
• 2/3 c. Almonds
• ¾ c. Cashews

ANSWER: Each one of them represents my maximum daily fat intake….not just when I am here, but also when I get home. Hopefully this regiment will give my pancreas the best chance to heal and not be overworked
What does this mean to me?
• I can no longer Dine out unless I seriously plan ahead.
• Appetizers at all of our favorite restaurants no longer exist.
• Wingstop can forget my standing order (unless I am picking up for Jacob).
• Mashed potatoes are fine, but don’t dare have them at a restaurant where they slather them with cream and butter.
• I am glad I don’t have to taste my cream cheese frosting to know it is good
• I will have to retrain my brain about the goodness in a Bacon Cheeseburger
• My family will be living healthier lives.
• We can teach our son positive eating habits
• I get to experiment with cooking new lean meats and using seasonings.
I had a consultation with a dietitian today and she went over a sample eating plan and good choice verse bad choices. I was in utter shock! The low fat diet just shows the low fat piece and not the insulin portion. Adding carbohydrate restrictions will basically mean cakes and cupcakes are off the table…don’t fret…since I have such good testers, I will still be baking…it just won’t be staying around my house!!

Set up phone to Blog...testing

Just some recent Aaron pictures.

A Day of Rest

Yesterday was a long day with a lot of progress! Jacob and Aaron stopped by after breakfast and spent a fair amount of time with me! It was great to be able to hold Aaron without belly pain like in Richland.

/div>

We ate, we napped, and I know Aaron snuck in some tv time… I also only have one IV so I have a total arm free for him. Even our nurse wanted to meet him! I noticed that my strength was coming back…not going back to the gym strength but sitting up with less effort in bed, walking around easier, less pressure on the lungs Thank the Lord!!! I hadn’t had a shower since I left Richland so that was the goal of the day but there wasn’t ever a gap in visitors so we planned it for after dinner. We waited all day to see the doctors and Jacob had used his last bottle and decided it was time to head back to Joe & Debs…literally two minutes later the Gastrointestinal Doctor showed up and a few minutes after that the my team of General Doctors showed up. They could see the marked change in me over the last 24 hours and it was decided I would transfer floor…apparently my floor was one step about the Critical Care Unit…I made a big climb to the 17th floor…a single room with a great view…I was thinking that this would be okay for a few weeks

…as I was getting settled, a nurse came by to burst my bubble saying I was moving again the next day…What?!$*#(…so I am enjoying the room while it is mine…and it is a one bed room!! I was up walking around my room…feeling very free and strong! Also, the Dr. prescribed a lowfat diet so I had to decide what to eat for dinner…deciding took forever and I ate very slowly when it got here. It had been almost 9 days since I ate solid foods…throwing up was not on my agenda!

up, up, and Away

Before I was even finished with breakfast, to Kadlec docs had confirmed with Virginia Mason that it would be best to have me at Virginia Mason. MedStar took that as an emergency and got to Kadlec before I was even able to get a shower. I was cocooned on their stretcher and transported to the Richland airport (where doting loving supporters sent me off)and after a quick flight was ambulanced to Virginia Mason. We got a great view of Mt. Rainier on the way over. The admin process was like a well oiled machine and I soon found myself in Bed 2, yes, not a private room!!! The hospital has a much older look than Kadlec, but the electronic equipment is top notch. By the time I got some pain meds, I realized it is going to be a long road ahead.

VM Dr Pros & Support Staff Cons: I already miss my Kadlec RNs and CNAs like crazy! I have to be more independent. I have not had someone try to find a vein...the last two days has been IV hell at Kadlec...I have already talked to all three of my General Dr staff (Intern, Resident, and Attending…kinda Greys flashback) and the GI Dr. consults. They have created a binder on me…and she sat down with me while I ate my dinner and we talked about lots of different treatment paths we could take. Right now we are letting my pancreas rest, watching levels with blood, vitals, and special tests. If things progress positively my outcome could be self healing pancreas without surgery and no need for insulin or enzyme dependence. The damaged pancreas will not regain its old status, but heal in such a way that other evasive procedures are not necessary. At any point, bacteria, addition necrosis, or infection can cause complications causing stints, drain tubes, surgery, etc. It could lead to a much less desirable dietary life later. I may be insulin dependent and/or require digestion enzymes. I wanted to show the polar differences and my trust in these doctors to be able to respond quickly with option already planned. This can take weeks or months and the process is not all hospitalization. Once we have the pancreas at an acceptable place, I will have gall bladder surgery. They may at some point go in and grab that remaining stone if they feel it is going to cause a bigger problem.

Some other side notes…when I got here they said I would have an NPO diet…that means nothing to eat or drink…maybe a swab to wet my mouth. That about drove me insane at Richland so I made sure they knew I made it to full liquid yesterday…once the gastro PA heard this she changed it to the same…get this…we are in Seattle…I can get a latte, cappuccino, mocha, or Americana with 4 flavor choices..haha! personally healing my pancreas does not include coffee.

In passing I mentioned my cell phone was dead to my nursing assistant and he called concierge service and they brought one up,,,nice! On a different note, I was sending texts out like mad and my phone overloaded and deleted ALL of my text messages. So if you have sent me anything over text that was important…please re-send, especially kid pics.

Jacob and Aaron made it over and Aaron got to meet Debbie, Joe, Rachel, Marshal, and Lucy! So thankful to have family here willing to help out!

Goodnight!

health issues

It is Thursday evening and today we were made aware of a pretty big setback in my pancreatic health.  I was supposed to have Gallbladder surgery today, but the surgeon came to my room with news that surgery was cancelled because the pancreas was still so enflamed.  Later in the day we met with two other doctors on my now 4 doctor team who also had news about what they want to do for treatment today, but the biggest reality set in when my Doc that initially diagnosed me came to talk to us about the CT scan.  He put it in layman’s terms that sunk in.  I have had Severe Pancreatitis and a large portion of the pancreas is dead.  The dead portion can be a breeding ground for infections and cause severe long-term effects or it can “heal” like a scar.  Either way it is much more serious and they want to make sure I do not get any infections.  The Drs. here are consulting with Virginia Mason tomorrow to see if it would be best to send me now or just watch and take over if there are any complications.

Friday, September 13th at about 11:30 I started having sharp shooting pains in my abdomen and by 1:30 I felt I needed to have Jacob take me to Kadlec ER. Getting back to the ER did not take as long as I have heard some say that it takes, but it was agonizing and the moaning began…I think I have a high pain tolerance, but there was just no end to this…I finally got placed on a stretcher in a hallway and was there for what seemed like an eternity…Again it wasn’t super long, but even the Morphemes they gave me didn’t take the edge off.  I got blood drawn, taken for an ultrasound and X-ray.  And then I heard the say,” She has pancreatitis and we are admitting her. “I wasn’t expecting that at all.  I thought they would give me some heavy drugs to get rid of the pressure aka calm down the “Heartburn & bloating.” Before I got pregnant I would often have these “episodes” that would wake me up in the middle of the night I would take an acid reliever and jump into the bathtub…the hot water running over me would distract and clam me….sometime I would drain most of the water and just fall asleep.  When I would go back to bed I would head for the corner of the couch or pile on the pillow stack. As the attacks happened more frequently I asked the PA (Physicians’ assistant) at my Doctor about it and she said it could be  GERD  or an ulcer and to start by avoiding certain foods in the evening, and that helped and we got pregnant with Aaron and I was eating really health  Post partum I started having symptoms again.