Updated July 12th, 2006
WELCOME
Hello, all. I started this blog for my family and friends who all live in different parts of the country. This way they all can keep up with what is going on in my life wherever they may be. It is also cheaper than phone calls :)
The Archives page is now available. I have also started to place the newest information on top. I hope this helpful to everyone.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
DOCTOR UPDATE: I went back to see Dr. Burke (my orthopedic) on Friday the 7th. He seemed very pleased with the progress I have made with regards to range of motion. He took more X-rays and mentioned that the tibia is completely healed - I just need to get my strength and more motion back. I have also been experiencing some clicking and discomfort in my right knee, which was just ripped open in the accident. Dr. Burke wanted me to have an MRI to see if I had a torn ligament in that knee that could have been missed. I had the MRI today and I go back to see Dr. Burke and get the results of the MRI on the 19th. If all goes well, the clicking is caused just by scar tissue. If not, then I will have to undergo another surgery to repair the damage.
Other than that I have been in a real "poopie" mood. Very little makes me happy and I hate being stuck in the house with little to do and only watching videos. It gets very tedious after a while. I hope all of you are well. I know I have become lax in my contact and I apologize.
Best wishes.
Saturday, July 1, 2006
Wow, did I actually miss a whole month? Well, some of you may already know that I have had nothing but complications since accident. At first, all the damage from the accident (see the May Archive), then I had a severe blood clot with "multiple" clots in my lungs as well. (Deep Vein Thrombosis with Pulmonary Embolism). I would not have even known about it if I had not had some unusual pain in my leg. I though a pin had come loose or something. So, on June 9th, I called the doctor and explained the pain and even said that it was scaring me. The nurse called me back with 5 minutes and told me to get to the ER because the doctor thought it might be a blood clot. So I trudge all the way back down to Bayfront and I'm get stuck more than a pin cushion and sent for an ultrasound. The ultrasound shows that I have a "large" blood clot in my left leg. Now, my pulse was maintaining itself in the 120's which made the ER doc suspect that a part of the clot may have traveled to my lungs. I get stuck a couple more times and then sent to have a CT Scan with contrast (I hate that stuff - it makes you feel like your going to pee yourself!). All they told me was that I had "multiple" in my lungs and that in order to know how many I would have to undergo more tests and a specialist would have to be called in - I declined. So, I was admitted (again) and sent up to the fourth floor to have a quick infusion of IV blood thinner, then put on injections and oral medication.
I was told to get an emergency medical alert bracelet, that stated the above, as well as, that I am now on Coumadin and currently under treatment. I found a site that sells engraved bracelets and necklaces if anyone is interested in seeing what I am looking at. I need to raise a bit of money though before I can buy one. I would prefer to have both a bracelet and a necklace, but I also know that this may not be feasible.
Now I have to have blood work done every two weeks to make sure that I (my blood level) is staying within the therapeutic range on the blood thinner. So far so good for a couple of weeks and then yesterday (June 30th) my doctor calls me at 8 o'clock in the bloody morning. I immediately get worried because the DOCTOR is calling and not a nurse. Anyway, I get a hold of him and he tells me that I have "a critically high INR" - which is what the level of blood thinner is called. It was at 10 and it should have been between 2 and 3 to be therapeutic. I explained to him as well that I had noticed a bit of blood as well (no need for details here). At this he gets very concerned and tells me to go to the ER (again!!). This time I get to go to SunCoast Hospital, which I consider a far better facility. They kept me for a good portion of the day, drew a lot of blood, and gave me a Vitamin K injection to counteract the Coumadin.
Now I'm home again - after going to the doctor again today to have - that's right, you guessed it - more blood work! Many of you have been wanting to know how I am entertaining myself. Well, I spend a lot of time reading. I really want to get Janet Evanovich's new book "Twelve Sharp" which is part of the Stephanie Plum series. And I have also been working on crocheting a blanket. I find it very relaxing to just sit there and do that - it is almost like meditating. I am also really looking forward to the possibility of going back to school - I have no idea what for but it should be good fun!
I will try to do better at keeping up with this site so that everyone may know what is going on, not just those I speak with on the telephone. I also received an email from Yahoo! saying that my site was unavailable several time last month due to being over my bandwidth. If this continues to be a problem, I will have to pull down the accident photos page, since that (the large files) seems to be what is causing the problem. I have resized them so that they are not as large but it is possible that the problem may continue. Please let me know if you experience any problems, so that I can correct them as soon as possible. Also, PLEASE sign the guest book - I only have one so far (thanks Mom) and I would really like to see who is taking advantage of this page.
I miss you all.
Love.
