Friday, October 28, 2016
No more posts until January 3, 2017
The remainder of the posts for this history occur between Friday, January 3, 2014 and Friday, December 5, 2014. The miracles related to Ken's illness weren't quite finished. But then, I don't think they ever will be. Miracles seem to have eternal impact.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Last night was scary because Ken was so out of it with Lortab. He tried to get up, still connected, but couldn't sit up, even after I disconnected stuff. I was panicked because he was acting like he had low sodium and mental confusion. But after doctor visits, blood tests and Xray they confirmed that yes his sodium was down to 130 but the biggest problem was the Lortab. He got the nose sponge out this morning, and has been doing fine withTylenol. When Becca and Chris were here he still had pain relief from the general anesthetic and the blood hadn't started dripping from his nose. A humidity mask has helped and thoughtful nursing, and helpful doctors and residents.
Last night was scary because Ken was so out of it with Lortab. He tried to get up, still connected, but couldn't sit up, even after I disconnected stuff. I was panicked because he was acting like he had low sodium and mental confusion. But after doctor visits, blood tests and Xray they confirmed that yes his sodium was down to 130 but the biggest problem was the Lortab. He got the nose sponge out this morning, and has been doing fine withTylenol. When Becca and Chris were here he still had pain relief from the general anesthetic and the blood hadn't started dripping from his nose. A humidity mask has helped and thoughtful nursing, and helpful doctors and residents.
So that is why we are
still here at the hospital on Monday night at 5:38. But the IV is out and Ken
is dressed and we are just waiting for the pharmacist. It will be good to
be home. I slept at the hospital all three nights but had about one good
night's sleep. There is a fold out loveseat that is really tricky to fold
out. I had to ask about four different people for help the first night, but
only one the second night and managed all by myself last night.
We just got the
prescriptions and will get them filled and be on our way. We will need to
do some free water restriction again because of the low sodium, and no coughing
or sneezing and no shoe tying, head below the heart, or lifting things over ten
pounds, but we are good to go.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Friday, October 18, 2013
Monday, October 18, 2013
Successful surgery. Everything they can do with different sinus surgeries in one. They drilled connections, straightened things, had to go through the eyebrow, put in a drainage shunt, and closed the hole even though there was no dye leakage. Doctor said he was sweating bullets for a while. Everything worked perfectly. He is awake now, but I haven't seen him yet. Surgery took over four hours.
In the recovery room he looked pretty good.
There were a few complications later.
Successful surgery. Everything they can do with different sinus surgeries in one. They drilled connections, straightened things, had to go through the eyebrow, put in a drainage shunt, and closed the hole even though there was no dye leakage. Doctor said he was sweating bullets for a while. Everything worked perfectly. He is awake now, but I haven't seen him yet. Surgery took over four hours.
In the recovery room he looked pretty good.
There were a few complications later.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Tuesday, October 15
Another blessing. Ken had his pre-op appointment yesterday and the doctor
showed us the sinus scan results. There are many places where his sinuses
have not drained correctly. He has a lot of gunk they will clean out.
There are also places they will fix so that they will drain instead of
recycling. They will straighten the septum or whatever they called, the bone in
the center. The biggest most important thing will be closing the
connection between cerebral fluid and sinus. They will do it with his own
tissue. They hope to see clearly where the problem is by injecting dye
into his spinal fluid with a lumbar puncture.
It is because of this last procedure that he will be staying in the hospital for two days. The first day he will have to stay flat on his back. We don't know what time the operation will be, but the doctor thinks it will be early. It will be a three to four hour surgery. They will use a camera and do everything through the nose.
We are hopeful that it will prevent the kind of sinus infection that happened in Chile and that it will help his body be able to deal with things better so that his health can continue to improve.
It is because of this last procedure that he will be staying in the hospital for two days. The first day he will have to stay flat on his back. We don't know what time the operation will be, but the doctor thinks it will be early. It will be a three to four hour surgery. They will use a camera and do everything through the nose.
We are hopeful that it will prevent the kind of sinus infection that happened in Chile and that it will help his body be able to deal with things better so that his health can continue to improve.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Monday, September 9, 2013
Monday, September 9
We met with the ear, nose and throat doctor today, and finally we have an explanation and solution. The explanation of the CT head scan online was really scary and it turns out that Ken has had some bad sinus surgery years ago that has led to complications and that he has a kind of chronic sinus infection with a crack that can connect sinus infection to a part of the brain that can cause symptoms like meningitis. The doctor says he can fix, it, correcting the botched surgery. It sounds major. They will keep him in the hospital for two days. The soonest he can do it is October 19. It is something they couldn't have done in Chile. What they did in Chile helped, but it wasn't enough to solve it. It is complicated, but the doctor is confident. They will put a dye in his lumbar fluid and use cameras. There is a possibility that they might have to make an incision under his eyebrow, but they will try to do the surgery through his
We have planned a trip to Texas and Missouri between then and now. We will probably leave the day after he sees his primary care physician. Tuesday or Wednesday Sept.; 24 or 25. The pre-op appointment is October 14th. We plan on being with Michael and Sare through the weekend of September 28 and 29 and then be in Warrensburg for Ocean's birthday on October 2. We will spend conference weekend, the 5th and 6th with David and Julie and family.
We now have an explanation for how terrible the sinus problem was and for the slow recovery. We have great hopes for major improvement when he is more completely cleaned up.
We stopped by AAA this afternoon. The office has moved and at first Ken didn't remember being there between missions. It was where we got our international drivers' licenses. But then after being there and after I talked about it, he remembered us getting our pictures taken.
It makes us glad we are here in the United States and finally gives us medical help that we did not receive and could not have received in Chile. A verification of the rightness of our being home.
Communication between specialists and to us took time. Ken was eventually told that he needed to have sinus surgery. The doctors were especially concerned that during a sinus surgery many years earlier a hole had accidentally been created between his sinuses and his brain. It needed to be closed. Dr. Alt and a surgical team took several hours to take care of various sinus problems. It was a complex surgery, one that could not have been done where we were in Chile. We were again grateful that we had been sent home.
We met with the ear, nose and throat doctor today, and finally we have an explanation and solution. The explanation of the CT head scan online was really scary and it turns out that Ken has had some bad sinus surgery years ago that has led to complications and that he has a kind of chronic sinus infection with a crack that can connect sinus infection to a part of the brain that can cause symptoms like meningitis. The doctor says he can fix, it, correcting the botched surgery. It sounds major. They will keep him in the hospital for two days. The soonest he can do it is October 19. It is something they couldn't have done in Chile. What they did in Chile helped, but it wasn't enough to solve it. It is complicated, but the doctor is confident. They will put a dye in his lumbar fluid and use cameras. There is a possibility that they might have to make an incision under his eyebrow, but they will try to do the surgery through his
We have planned a trip to Texas and Missouri between then and now. We will probably leave the day after he sees his primary care physician. Tuesday or Wednesday Sept.; 24 or 25. The pre-op appointment is October 14th. We plan on being with Michael and Sare through the weekend of September 28 and 29 and then be in Warrensburg for Ocean's birthday on October 2. We will spend conference weekend, the 5th and 6th with David and Julie and family.
We now have an explanation for how terrible the sinus problem was and for the slow recovery. We have great hopes for major improvement when he is more completely cleaned up.
We stopped by AAA this afternoon. The office has moved and at first Ken didn't remember being there between missions. It was where we got our international drivers' licenses. But then after being there and after I talked about it, he remembered us getting our pictures taken.
It makes us glad we are here in the United States and finally gives us medical help that we did not receive and could not have received in Chile. A verification of the rightness of our being home.
Communication between specialists and to us took time. Ken was eventually told that he needed to have sinus surgery. The doctors were especially concerned that during a sinus surgery many years earlier a hole had accidentally been created between his sinuses and his brain. It needed to be closed. Dr. Alt and a surgical team took several hours to take care of various sinus problems. It was a complex surgery, one that could not have been done where we were in Chile. We were again grateful that we had been sent home.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Monday, September 2, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
Our 49th Anniversary: Forty nine years ago today, we decided to commit
to love and care for each other forever. We had no idea what we were in
for. We didn't really know each other. Our real future was
unimaginable; much less imaginable than we imagined. We are still getting
to know each other. Our commitment continues. Our love is deeper
and sweeter and more real. 
Friday, August 26, 2016
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
We try to walk every day. This morning we made it all the way to Wentworth Assisted Living on 33rd South with only one rest on a wall [about a mile]. We visited the Wentworth living room and then walked home, with one lean against a wall rest. It was proof to me that the lumbar puncture has helped move things forward. Definite improvement.
Ken has had doctor appointments, CT, MRI, eye doctor, ENT doctor, Podiatrist, dentist, primary care, lumbar puncture and will start physical therapy three days a week. We try to not have more than two things a day. I have been fitting in my doctor appointments in between things. Ken takes two or three naps a day. We have no church assignments. Ken has been staying just for sacrament meeting and today walked home alone while I stayed to Sunday School and Relief Society with the Landbeck family who were visiting. It was good to go to the temple yesterday. We went to Jordan River, but may try Salt Lake with the elevator soon.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Saturday, August 24
This morning we went
to the Jordan River Temple. Going to the
temple is a blessing.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
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