Got one... sorta.

Wound Care Adventures!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Hi Everybody!

Hoping all of you are doing well these days! I just had to go over my last entry to figure out where I left off! If I don't blog when these things happen, I'll forget and who has time to blog during the week? Not me!

So I'm generalizing when I say that last week Monday during wound care - as Dr. Larkin was removing the dressing on my facial wound, I had a bleed. She and the nurse that was helping caught it right away and put pressure on there until we could get the surgicel! So she continues on with removing the old dressing she had been working on, and I have another bleed! Yikes! More surgicel! Managed to get the wound area cleaned and redressed. Dr. Larkin asked about my next appt. w/Dr. Zane (ENT)and got it moved up a week for me! We needed him to get my ear cleaned up from drainage and scabbing.

Anyway, went back to wound care on Wednesday and this time my favorite RN, Noel was helping Dr. Larkin remove my dressing. Would you believe I had another bleed? This time from my ear. Got some surgicel put on that area - it was along the outside lower edge of my ear. I used to leave work @ 4pm to make a 4:30 wound care appt. - and they would be done about 6pm and I'd head home! Now, since I've had these bleeds, Dr. Larkin wants to make sure there is always a doctor around, so she's moved my appts. to 11am - that means I have to leave work @ 10:30 am to make that appt. and am lucky to get back to work by 1pm or 1:30pm! I hate to miss that much work, but there is no way around it! I am fortunate that my supervisor Mr. Rios is being very understanding and working with me by letting me go to these appts. and letting me work through my lunch hour to make up some time!

Celia voluteered to come with me on my Friday wound care appt. and I'm so glad she did! It makes a big difference having someone there with you for support! I introduced her to some of my favorite peeps there - Eric, that takes my vitals, Carol is an RN and has redressed my wound. She told Celia, "We love your sister here"! I was fortunate enough to have Noel be the RN to take care of me for Fridays visit. As he was changing my dressing, he had looked away to get something he needed off the medical tray and I had a bleed. Fortunately, it was not arterial, it was from a vein, so it was flowing, but not shooting out! Not a problem and Noel remained completely calm! Celia wanted to give him a standing ovation when Noel finished redressing my wound, for the outstanding job he did! Whew! We were happy - it was finally the weekend!

Saturday was my mom Mary's 74th Birthday! (See photo) Hanz was bathed, so he could smell all nice and sweet for Grandma! Oh we had so much fun! Celia picked up some BBQ for everyone and we all met @ moms to celebrate! Hadn't seen my nephew Mark in a while, so it was great seeing him! I was worried about him bringing his dog, Hula - thinking she would trample over my little Hanz! No, soon as Hula was brought in to moms back yard, Hanz completely took over chasing Hula all over the yard! They were hilarious! Hanz doesn't realize he is a little dog, and had the best time playing with Hula! We all ate and had Key Lime Pie for dessert from Red Lobster! We all played Mexican Train and guess who won? ME!

Early this morning, about 7am and we were still in bed, I felt my neck thinking I was bleeding. I turned my bedside lamp on, yup! I woke Mark up and headed to the kitchen sink to removed my dressing from my face to figure out where I was bleeding from! It was the wound on my face - it was arterial, but it was a thin stream of blood shooting out - not like that time that I had so much coming out! Ugh! We were not happy having to get up so early and to be woken up like that! It was hard finding the exact area to put pressure to control the bleeding. Mark had to get my pillow cases (the regular one, the allergen cover one, plus the one that also covers the pillow because it's one of those contured egg crate pillows) and the twin size allergen cover I have over all my pillows (because there are 2 or 3 big pillows we stack to get me to the right angle and height for me to sleep). All of those had to go in the wash.

We waited a while after getting the bleeding under control to redress the wound. After we did, we lay down for a much, much needed nap! I slept almost 5 hours! I needed that badly! I used to always try and make time for a nap on Sundays to recharge my battery before our week started! Some of my meds make me so drowsy too! Since we've gotten Prince Hanz - our naps have pretty much gone out the window! Hanz is just too cute and I hate leaving him alone for too long, so I deprive myself of that nap. Oh well. I keep hoping that one of these days when he is completely potty trained, that we can bring him into the bedroom sometimes and maybe he can take a nap with us! Mark won't have any part of that though, so it isn't looking like Hanz and I will nap together.

For all of you that always say I'm so brave and strong to handle all of this I'm going through - take a good look at my mother. She is the pillar of strength that raised us on her own and many a time when life was not good ... she held her head up and kept on going! I have learned from her example and do the best I can and I have all of you helping me as well! I have terrific co-workers, (some that don't even work in my department!) that take the time to ask how I am and really seem interested in hearing about it! So many of your prayers are helping me through this rough time! I ran into little Jackie Hallmark @ Spohn when I was done w/my wound care on Friday. She gave me a big hug and told me I was in her prayers. Even some of the clerks @ our local grocery store, have taken the time to read my blog and post a comment!

I look forward to hearing from Shalon soon - she just got back yesterday from an embolization in CO! Check out her blog in the next few days to hear about her trip! Got a nice e-mail from Jody - Arie's mom saying how much she enjoys my blog! Had a co-worker tell me not long ago, that in the ten years she's known me, I was always so private - why the blog now w/photos and a lot of personal things? I told her I wanted other AVM patients to be able to read it and know they are not alone out there. Plus, I also wanted people who don't know what all an AVM entails, to be able to understand what Mark and I have to deal with on a daily basis! This has brought our entire family even closer. Like I've said before - my sister and I didn't grow up being best friends - but she has really come through for me during this difficult time! She is strong for me to lean on and helps us in so many ways! Right now she has a lot to deal with - her mother-in-law is very ill and in the hospital in Houston, so Celia is concerned for her husband so much right now! Plus of course her kids - one away in college and her other son here in town.

My in-laws always keep in close communication, as does my brother-in-law Jim and his wife Shelley - thank you! We'll try and get together soon! Hard to come up w/a time when one of us isn't working, or that I'm not in pain or bleeding. Ugh!

Oh! Before I forget - I want to send a big shout out to Dr. Zane!!! I had an appt. w/him on Thursday @ 1pm. Well, right before going out there, I was @ work and I picked inside my left ear! I could feel what I thought was a scab or maybe some of the dressing that had hardened. I picked it and here comes the blood! Right away I could feel my ear fill up w/blood! I didn't know exactly where to put pressure on there to stop the bleeding! I wondered if the surgicel that had been put on my ear Wednesday had come off, or was it bleeding where I picked it or what? I had a mirror on my bulletin board that I was looking into and finally called out to my co-worker Kathy that had her back to me eating her lunch. She got up and got me more napkins so I could put them up to my ear where I was still bleeding. Got my cell phone from my pants pocket and called Mark. Told him what was going on in case I needed him to come help! Told him to wait, that I would try and stop the bleeding on my own first. Called to Wound Care, and I asked Dr. Larkin whether I could come in for them to redress the area! She said I would not be turned away if I showed up - but she would rather I go to the ER or to see Dr. Zane! Meanwhile, I'm still bleeding - but finally got it to stop! Went on to see Dr. Zane and he got my ear all cleaned up from prior drainage and got rid of some of the scabbing on that little "flap" above the earlobe! I could see everything he was doing on a screen where I watched as Dr. Zane also got rid of some old, dead tissue still in my ear. He started some bleeding @ one point, but got that cauterized (OUCH!!) and it stopped! Cleaned out my t-tube that was still in there and really did some great debriding! He is awesome! I'm just glad nothing he saw or did freaked him out! I had been trying to cheer myself up earlier by showing one of his nurses/techs a photo of our little Hanz, and she said Dr. Zane had a puppy like ours too! She told me to make sure I asked Dr. Zane about it and sure enough! He and his wife have a 3 year old female Brussels Griffon! He told me to come over to another area, where he had several photos of her on a bulletin board. One was of her w/her hind feet on a chair and her front paws on the table and she was looking @ the camera and wearing a pink party hat! She was just precious! Glad to know we won't be the only ones spoiling our puppy! That photo was taken on her 3rd birthday! Maybe out pets can have a play date some time! That little Hanz is such a doll - he is exactly what I've needed to get through these difficult times!

Again, thank you everyone for all your love and support! I'll keep updating my blog and filling y'all in on the latest!

Cyndi Schuman

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Something is weird... with my comp. It won't show Bookmarks. And the place that shows were you are ain't working either.

oh well....
have some youtube...

Sorry got to go... trying to finger out whats up... be back if I can....
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Back....


ohh that's bad!!!

There that's better... SADE

one more...

UB40- Cherry Oh Baby
Now I'm really gona leave.
C-ya!!!

avm nEWS...

nOT mE... BUT WORTH a Read.

A Few Thoughts on the Eve of Leaving

On the evening before leaving for Rochester (Sat.) I wanted to jot down a few thoughts while I’m still thinking about them.

• I have an excellent wife. Proverbs 31:10 says “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” The answer to the first question is: I did (by God’s Providence). The only thing I can say about the second sentence is: Yes, my wife is worth more to me than the sum total of the earth’s wealth. Thanks Karla for your faith, your strength, your beauty, your commitment to mothering, your commitment to teaching our children, and for your partnership in the Gospel ministry. I love you much!
• I am very tired of talking about my brain surgery. I’m tired of thinking about my brain surgery. Talking about one’s brain is very personal. It’s not like we’re talking here about getting a few warts removed from one’s foot. Maybe it’s not really such a good thing to publicly share such personal information. Before the techno age not many talked publicly about such things. Is nothing sacred anymore? This I think in one moment while in the next I am reminded again and again of the multi-faceted, glorious working of God in all things for His own glory and my own joy. So, I’ve decided to keep typing.
• So many things to do and no way to get them all done. But, tomorrow afternoon we leave anyway and I’m sure whatever didn’t get done didn’t really need to get done anyway.
• The tears flow easily these days…more often than I have ever known before. I’m not sure why really. I’m not afraid. I am a bit unnerved I suppose. But really, I am not afraid. I’ve known fear before. As a young kid I remember once being at home alone and thinking that someone had broken into the house. I hid underneath a bed until I heard the sweet voices of my parents. I see life these days as they really are: fragile.
• The Bible tells it like it is. Jesus’ half brother James wrote in 4:13-14 “Come now, you who say, ‘today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

• A pastor friend of mine has a 15 year old niece who has enjoyed excellent health. A couple of weeks ago she came down with what the family thought was the flu. After being sick for a couple of days they took her to the hospital, found her dehydrated and gave her two units of fluid. Her blood pressure was also way down. After being rehydrated her b.p. improved slightly. She returned home.

  Five hours later her parents brough her back to the E.R. and then a children’s hospital. She now had a high temperature and her body literally began to shut down. The major organs were beginning to fail. She was dying. They put her into a drug induced coma for three days. A week ago Thursday the medical staff went to turn her over when she reached out and yanked the ventilator out of her throat…and thankfully began to breathe on her own. She was diagnosed with Toxic Shock Syndrome and is slowly recovering. Apparently this deadly bacteria can enter through any bodily orifice…as simple as rubbing one eye with one finger. Thankfully she is now doing much better.

• Hundreds of you, and others who don’t even have computers have, with all sincerity, offered to do anything for us during these days. I know every offer is sincere. Here is one thing each of you can do. Instead of worrying yourselves sick over this whole drama I would ask that you turn in your Bibles to Psalm 27. Read through the 14 verses of this chapter, think about the implications. If David’s words express the truth of your own heart, then may it first be a balm for your soul. Then please pray it for us as well. That’s what I would ask for you to do for us! Oh yes, and also keep the responses coming. I see and read everyone…with joy!

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Now Me.
I wound up with a headache yesterday. A mean one... and I was having such a good time. (NOT).

I still have a bit of one today.
I hate when that happens.

I will end up taken of nap... oh so good.
I emailed my resume off to someone. We'll see.

Have you ever noticed that I start alot of my sentences with "I"... I need to get over that.
Now some youtube...


A little Beatles for you....



Okay a little more... While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

If you go to youtube they have a bunch of Beatles stuff there....
Be good....
R

Got a few... AVM News! Plus ME!

Gamma Knife Surgery Stereotactic Cancer Non Invasive Cobalt 201 see Website

See Web http://www.NelsonIdeas.com/GammaKnife/Surgery.html Gamma Knife Surgery Stereotactic Cancer Non Invasive Cobalt 201 port helmet Tirgeminal Neuragia Radiation Cells Surgery no incision Radio Surgery MD Anderson Brian Tumors Malignant Biopsies Treatment Side EFfects Cyberknife Therapy radiotherapy Injury imaging maping Medications Microsurgery Disorder epilepsy Parkinsons Subscribe

Tags not taking CT Scan alternative Healthcare Cost Saving acoustic neuromas pituitary adenomas, neningiomas chordomas metastases glial chondrosarcoma craniopharyngiomas Brian Nelson

New data.

Gamma Knife Surgery: No Scalpel Needed
Patients with certain types of brain tumors and disorders no longer need to “go under the knife” or endure physically draining radiation therapy to find relief. With Gamma Knife technology, doctors are able to deliver over 200 beams of radiation with scalpel-like precision directly to tumors and lesions.
Although many people have never heard of Gamma Knife, the procedure has been around for a long time. The Food and Drug Administration approved it nearly 30 years ago, and University of Maryland doctors have been administering Gamma Knife treatments for over a decade. In fact, more than 2,500 patients have come to the University of Maryland Medical Center for Gamma Knife surgery.
Unlike traditional surgery, Gamma Knife procedures don’t actually involve the use of a “knife” or scalpel. In fact, no incisions are made at all. The skull never has to be opened up.
Conditions Treated with Gamma Knife
The following conditions are among those that can be treated with a Gamma Knife.
•Benign tumors — including meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, pituitary adenomas, schwannomas, craniopharyngiomas, pineal tumors
•Malignant tumors — including metastatic tumors, chordomas, medulloblastomas, astrocytomas, ependymomas, anaplastic astrocytomas
•Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
•Trigeminal neuralgia
•Parkinson’s disease
Gamma Knife also differs from conventional radiation therapy. Because patients are injected with such low doses of radiation, they don’t experience the side effects associated with traditional radiation therapy. In fact, several “shots” of therapy can be given during the same session, and treatment sessions can be repeated every few weeks if necessary.

Malignant Biopsies Treatment Side Effects Cyberknife Therapy Radiotherapy

Injury Imaging maping Medications Microsurgery Disorder Epilepsy Parkinsons Scalpel Procedure Epilepsy Doctor Nurse complications Blood beams intersect fractional

CT Scan alternative Healthcare Cost Saving acoustic neuromas pituitary adenomas, neningiomas chordomas

metastases glial chondrosarcoma craniopharyngiomas Brian Nelson

Gamma Knife Surgery Stereotactic Cancer Non Invasive Cobalt 201
End. Studies show strong treatment success rates; for example, local control (successful treatment of a specific site) of tumors in any brain location exceeds an average of 85%. And, despite the name, there is no blade or knife its called Gamma Knife because radiosurgery (one-session treatment) has such a dramatic and precise effect in the target zone that the changes are considered surgical. So theres no incision or blood, and minimal risk of complications.
Through the use of three-dimensional, computer-aided planning and the high degree of immobilization of the patient, the treatment can minimize the amount of radiation to surrounding healthy brain tissue. There are approximately 200 sources of cobalt-60 loaded within the treatment unit. Thousands of radiation beams can be generated from these sources with a level of accuracy of more than 0.5mm, about the thickness of a strand of hair. Individually, each radiation beam is too weak to damage the normal tissues it crosses on the way to the target. But when focused precisely on that target, the beams intersect and the combined radiation is sufficient to treat the targeted area.
Because Gamma Knife radiosurgery is so accurate, the full dose of radiation can be delivered during a single session, compared with multiple visits for linear accelerator (linac) treatments, which use lower doses delivered in fractions (fractionated treatment).
The reduction of excess radiation is important to everyone, but particularly to cancer patients who are receiving other radiotherapy treatments. For these patients, treatment of a metastatic brain tumor a cancer that has spread from the original site might have to be delayed by up to six weeks if certain less precise treatments are used.

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While Mike and Karla are at Mayo

from...

My name is Dean Osborne and Pastor Mike is my pastor at Crossroad Evangelical Free Church. I asked Pastor to allow me to assist him and Karla during their time at Mayo and I wanted to share with everyone an experience my wife Kathleen and I had with some other dear friends during Christmas 2006.

Our best friends Randy and Rita live in Minnesota, where Randy is a pastor. Kathleen and I had planned to spend Christmas with them that year but Randy had the flu, or so he thought, so we stayed home. A few days later, Randy was admitted to Mayo hospital with an unknown diagnosis; it wasn’t long before he had life-altering surgery.

We headed to Minnesota after Randy’s surgery to help while he recovered in the hospital. We observed caring friends and family who wanted to help and were eager for information about Randy’s condition. Through this experience, Kathleen and I learned several things about how we could practically express our support to others in a similar situation.

All of us love them and are eager to help and encourage the family during this time. Our purpose is to serve as your point of contact to help you stay up to date and answer questions you might have.

Staying informed

• I’ll be working with Karla to post updates to the blog — at least daily — and more frequently when appropriate. Checking the blog will provide you with the most accurate information and most importantly, free up Karla to care for Mike and consult with the physicians.
• If you need to speak to Mike or Karla, want to visit the hospital or have a question, please use me as your point of contact. Call 515-238-3147 or send an e-mail to cowboytrader59@gmail.com. Please know we’re not trying to be the border patrol, we’re just trying to organize all the love.

Some practical suggestions

Many of you are wondering about the best ways you can help. Here are a few practical ideas:

• Daily expenses like gasoline, parking, eating out, etc., will quickly add up. You may wish to help cover some of these expenses. As we know from recent posts, Karla’s financial skills are amazing, but it’s still unlikely she’ll convince Mayo to pay them for the privilege of being able to operate on such a fine brain. But seriously, this is a time they need the freedom to buy what will make this trip easy for them, and as we all know, “easy” often costs more.

If you decide to do this, please make your checks payable to Karla Evans and mail them to:

Crossroad Church
P.O. Box 218
Earlham, Iowa 50072

• Most likely Mike won’t be able to enjoy flowers or balloons for several days after the surgery and they’ll be difficult to transport. We’d suggest that you hold off on sending these to the hospital at this time.
• Many of you have already sent cards and notes of encouragement. If you want to send any to the hospital, you can address them to:

Saint Mary’s Hospital
1216 2nd Street SW
Mike Evans Patient
Rochester,MN 55902

• Of course, you can always post comments to the blog.
• I’ve worked with our church to set up a team in Iowa to assist them after Mike returns home. If you live in or near Earlham and have an interest in helping, please contact me via e-mail at cowboytrader59@gmail.com. Watch for more information about this later.

On behalf of Pastor Mike, Karla and their family, thank you for your love, support and prayers. I know they have been overwhelmed by your response. We serve an awesome God and ask that each of you keep them before the Lord in prayer daily.

In His Service

Dean

Go give them a peek... click here
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I've still got a cold.... WTF! I have not been up to much.
What do you want to hear from me? I forget what I have said... so let me know... please... pretty please?

Okay that's enough for now... C-Ya!

Avm News... not mine

Not Me... but a real good post.

Mel's case updated 01

I brought Mel for check-up on 3/2/2009, we reached Tawakal Hospital 12:30pm which the appointment has booked before CNY. We were waiting for around 30 minutes in order to see the doctor. Just because the doctor went to ward visiting.

To be honest, Mel was prepared for the admission to do the angiogram test, and the doctor told us is only 3 weeks the case happen, and worry about the blood clot still unclear, it is better to wait for another week. And next appointment is booked. I'm just curious, since if he knows the test only can be done after 4 weeks, why is he put an appointment after 3 weeks? And RM150 is paid for the short consultation.

He did mention after the angiogram, and it depends on the report, maybe send her to Ampang Puteri Hospital to do the Embolization.

I have done some survey about the embolization:

What is Embolization?

Embolization is a technique in which the blood vessels of the AVM are plugged with non-reactive glue. Under x-ray a catheter is guided from the femoral artery in the leg into the area to be treated. This is repeated for each vessel that feeds the AVM. Patients sometimes require this procedure to be repeated. This method is frequently combined with other treatments. Although embolization can be a complete and successful treatment in its own right; there are occasions when it's not possible to completely manage an aVM with this treatment. In this instance, embolizatin is used as a precautionary measure to reduce risk to the patient whilst undergoing other procedures.

Occiptal AVM before embolization (L) and after embolization (R)

Occipital AVM before embolization (L) and after embolization (R)

What are the Side Effects?

Every patient is different. Some minor side effects maybe observed shortly after embolization of na AVM by some patients, but most feel perfectly fine. The side effects are usually temporary and should subside within a few days to weeks.

Headaches are not infrequently reported. They will usually subside, but if they are persistent, the doctor will prescribe a short course of medication and this will usually take away the headache.

Other possible complications include stroke like symptoms such as weakness in one arm or leg, numbness, tingling, speech disturbances and visual problems. The risk of embolization is low for serious complications such as permanent stroke or death. The estimated risk should be discussed with your doctor.

Bleeding After Embolization Treatment

It is important for you to know that embolization will not usually completely close off an AVM. A person may still bleed from an AVM in such a case. It is not known whether or not partial embolization treatment reduces the risk of future bleeding.

What are the Advantages of Embolization Treatment?

• Embolization is very useful in making the AVM smaller in size in order to be suitable for radiation treatment.
• Embolization is very useful to reduce the blood flow through the AVM just before surgery. This makes it much easier for the surgeon to remove the AVM.
• Can be early repeated and staged.
• Chances of a cure with embolization alone are about 20%.
• No open surgical procedure.
• Short hospital stay.

What are the Disadvantages?

• This form of treatment can only be done if the AVM is made up of vessels that can be reached with the catheters.
• Multiple sessions may be required.
• There is a small chance of a stroke in about 1-3% occurring as the result of the treatment.
• The chance of bleeding every year in a partially treated AVMs is likely reduced by embolization, but not eliminated.
  

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He seems to be straight about the head.... too bad that is not what they say about me....

I got no news when it comes to my favorite subject... me. I still manage to have a bit of a cold... yuck.
And I'm tired.... gonna go back to bad.... uuuuuuummmmm bed!!!!
on that note.... off I go.




Yesterday.


All You Need Is Love - The Beatles


The Beatles Hello Goodbye

There are some really good videos of the Beatles on youtube... go give the a look....

Still got nothing... but

I did get this...
Yep... the worst movie ever!!!

I picked it up at

Psychotronic Titles

and I find that it makes a fine coaster...
and a nice hat.


ARP... yep.Gotta go... see you later.






and...

oh boy... they just get worse....
one more.... okay.

You asked for it.... WOW!

now buy some stuff...


Yep it is the Angry Red Planet trio....