Dear fellow stroke survivors and caregivers. My caregiver, my beloved Jerry, passed October 23, 2011 at 8:30 pm. He was without pain and was ready to meet his Maker. I believe God led me to purchase long-term care insurance back in 1997 and they provided for Jerry and I will continue to have it until I get my strength independence back. On Jerry's deathbed, I promised I would work hard; I have a long way to go. I have a lot of friends and caregivers to help me in my continued Jerry. The passing
It’s been a while since I posted. The day-to-day physical and emotional confusion and people in and out have robbed me of my strength. On Wed. Oct. 26, Jerry had his last session with the oncologist who told him he cannot handle any any more chemo; he is not strong enough and too weak to stand any more. Jerry is now in hospice at home with 24 hour care. The pain med was increased yesterday as the pain has spread all over. He can drink yogurt shakes we blend with strawberries, some ensure and si
I feel very remiss not posting about Jerry but so much has been going on that I either don't have the time or I am crying. Jerry's chemo has taken a toll on him to the extent of loosing 40 lbs. I put in my long-term care insurance (altho' he now needs it more than me) and had a caregiver be with me and Jerry 2 nights in a row. He has continued to get weaker and cannot safely walk with a walker any mre. Tues he fell going to the bathroom, hit his head, luckily no blood, but he knocked out his ot
Jerry has been so nausous the last few days, he hasn't been able to keep anything down in spite of pills for nausous. Today his oncologist admitted him to the hospital for IV fluids and nutrition. I hope and pray this will be the answer to a new start
I keep you posted. I'm doing okay but I believe courage does not overcome fear. Prayer will and I still belive and hope that a miracle is on the way.. Hugs, Leah
Hi fellow survivors and caregivers: Time to again bring you up to date with the goods and not-so-good happenings here at our Tucson abode. While I am grateful that I qualify for home health care, it takes up a few hours every day and is very tiring. That’s nothing compared to what Jerry is going through. I arrange for people to drive him for all of his appointments, including radiation and as of last Thursday chemo. Also grocery shopping and who is going to bring in our trash etc. Its hard bein
What a week. Having one person in the household who is ill is one thing, but two is hardly do-able.
Jerry had an MRI last Monday to find out if all was a go-ahead for chemo to start on Wednesday. The oncologist called within a couple hours to tell him the MRI showed quite a few “spots” in his brain. That is not what we wanted to hear. So they switched immediately to radiation to hopefully kill the brain tumors. Dr. Brooks said the good thing is the tumors are very small and they caught it
I haven’t updated my blog in a while because I was in the hospital. Both Jerry and I are having severe health problems. Leah fell backwards and hit something resulting in a compressed fracture of L-1. The pain has been excruciating. I went to the hospital and they started a pain management program then rehab for a week so I can walk with a walker, get in and out of bed and go to the bathroom by myself, all of which still hurts even with pain meds. They are not doing surgery due to my stroke (p
Tomorrow Jerry goes to the hospital (out-patient) to have the lump removed from his upper back. Then they can do a complete biopsy to see if it is malignent. He has to be there at noon and surgery isn't till 3:30 (and of course no food after midnight tonight - rather tricky for a diabetic). I've been anxious and finally figured it is because I really am completely powerless - over Jerry, his diagnosis, me and what I can and can't do making me a less than desirable caregiver. Along with that co
I have depended on Jerry so much for his strength that it is hard to kinda' take the lead..but I'm doing a little more than usual and not bugging him for things not done.
Yesterday we met with Jerry’s oncologist, Dr. Richard Brooks. He has a wonderful bedside manner and is calm and patient and uses words we can understand. After a consultation and review of medical records, he examined Jerry adding that he was in real good shape which should help matters no matter what happens He than call
Hi all: I again was reminded of why it is good to take everything a day at a time and enjoy each minute of each day. The week started out good. Tuesday Jerry had a CT for a lump on his shoulder blade which was getting bigger and started to be painful. He was already driving home when they called him back for another CT of the front and back of his chest. After the 2nd CT and again in the car he had a call to go to his doctor's office immediately. We were skeptical of the lump on his back but i
Today is the 5 year anniversary of my brain stem stroke. Looking back I am as amazed as my husband, doctors, trainer and friends of my progress. I have had a lot of ups and downs and have bounced back with God’s help for strength and courage. Last August when I fell, broke 3 ribs, punctured my lung resulting in various procedures and COPD, I didn’t think I was going to rally. I was discouraged and disappointed. I worked hard but the progress was so slow that I didn’t see it. I have been so
Hi fellow bloggers: I haven’t blogged in quite a while and realize blogging encourages me to look at changes and/or progress I have made in my stroke recovery. Sometimes they are so small I don’t notice until someone points it out to me. My husband, trainer, primary care physician and close friends are good gauges for me.
There are physical, emotional and spiritual changes which I like to look at and which I think are moving me to a deeper level of acceptance. One big improvement I have ma
Time for an update. My spinal stenosis pain is miraculously still gone (I hope for good) plus I am off my regular doses of pain meds. The doctors said this just doesn’t happen! No doubt guardian angel is at work! So except for neuropathy in my hands and feet which I’ve had since the stroke, I’m pain free for the first time in a looong time. My husband says I look better and my eyes and mind are clearer. :bouncing_off_wall:
Now I have to deal with COPD. :yeahrite: I think it is from bei
Just a quick note to let you'all know I exercised 20 min on Sat and 25 min today (Wed). My trainer is taking is real slow and doesn't want me over-tired or over-doing. She is oncentrating on my arms and I will see a physical therapist before she will start with leg and ab exercises because she doesn't want to wake up my spinal stenosis. She has given me her recommendations of some good PTs in my area without me going back to out patient rehab which I would prefer not to do. We will see. Leah
The surgery I was scheduled for today was canceled yesterday afternoon after seeing my pulmonolosist. I don't know why I didn't know this before but my lungs are in bad condition and I am a high risk for surgery. I have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and emphysema even though I quit smoking 15 years ago. These conditions do not go away. Luckily I haven't had pain for almost 2 weeks so I hope it won't come back. He can't say why because my spinal cord was definitely narrowed; I saw
I wanted to give you a quick medical update on me. My last MRI showed increased pleua, the fluid lining the outside of the lungs and the chest wall. This is what most likely is causing my shortness of breath. Tomorrow I have an outpatient procedure at the hospital call a thoracentesis where they will aspirate the fluid guided by a sonagram and hopefull get it all. They go through the back and I hear it doesn't hurt; it's anethesized first. I have to have this done prior to my surgery on Jan 13 (
I neglected to mention that I saw my neurosurgeon on Mon and my surgery date is set for Jan 13. I have an appt with my pulmonologist next week as they still saw some fluid on my rt. lung. I pray there is something they can do so they don't have to cancel the surgery. God is in charge, so I will rely on Him. I think you'll all agree that is a good choice (better than my pea-brain) :juggle: Hugs Leah
:bouncing_off_wall: :Clap-Hands: :happydance: MERRY CHRISTMAS - HAPPY HOLIDAYS - ETC ETC ETC
This is all I can do for blogging. My mother-in-law will be coming and spending 2 nights with us after all so I had to get on my ball (rolling). I feel awful. My leg is so painful I can hardly stand, let alone walk, and I have a headache since I woke up. Good thing I got a lot done yesterday. Presents (not many) are wrapped and under our undecorated artificial ficas tree!! We have a string of
Very clever, Sue. I just got through emailing Lin to get a copy of the Nov. newsletter which I missed reading. I told her I wanted to get back into strokenet and seem to be at a loss of words as to what my problem is. It seems that since I was diagnosed early in 2010 with spinal stenosis I feel I don't belong in "stroke" anymore. That is very irrational thinking. I stroked in June 2006, almost died and know I have a lot to share. Tomorrow I have 2 tests at my dr.s clinic and another dr. appt Fri
Hi all: Wanted to check in to let you know I'm still trying. My 3rd epidural didn't work and the pain in my right leg is really bad in spite of pain pils. I have a condult Nov. 1 with the M.D. who has done my epidurals. I am not willing to go on for a year with this pain. Epidurals are hit and miss. I called my Primary care (neurologist wouldn't get back to me) and asked about a small increase in dose and he wants to see me tomorrow "about the epidural" whatever that means. I hope he is an advo
I know there are a lot of wonderful books which address stroke or related feelings or life in general. A friend of mine recently gave me "I will not die an unlived life - Reclaiming Purpose and Passion"by Dawna Markova. It addresses many areas of reminding you of who you are and healing your life. It teaches how to navigate our lives rom the inside out rather than being at the mercy of life's changes and also deals with negative emotions of years gone by. It certainly has helped me when I am i
Hi all: :cheer: After my fall and hospitalization we looked to see how we could have prevented it (it happened in the middle the night…we do have a nightlight). The bed we have is one of those high pillow-top mattresses. We had it rigged it so I could get in and out with a railing to help pull me up and my walker right by the edge of the bed. However, If I sat on the edge of the bed, my feet didn’t reach the floor so I kinda’ had to slide down.. We should have paid attention to this before
HI FELLOW SURVIVORS: After quite a while, I finally got it “together” enough for a biog entry to let you know where I’ve been. On August 3 in the middle of the night I got up to go to the bathroom. I don’t know what I hit on the way down but I broke 3 ribs one of which punctured my right lung. After an ambulance ride and many tests, the dr. said I had pneumothorax (i.e. collapsed lung which created air between the lung and chest wall. He inserted a chest tube in my lung to drain out the air
:Tantrum: THIS MAKES ME SICK. I HAD A WHOLE POST WRITTTEN. AND I TRIED TO PUT IN A PICTURE AND I LOT EVERYTHING. WELL, The crux of the matter is we leave Sat for Phoenix for a week and I plan to meet Kimmie Anderson. Hopefully she can re-introduced me to the "new"
stroke website. New things are hard for old birds like me to learn. Move later. Love ya all , Leah :friends:
