Happy Birthday Pickles!
Tuesday morning I reported to Presbyterian Hospital at 5am for a liver biopsy. I got all checked in, changed into a beautiful gown, gave lots of blood, had the IV hooked up, got a burning injection in the booty and wheeled down to Radiology to be the first biopsy of the day. WooHoo! I was going to be in and out. Hopefully out. So I thought.
Somehow the lab broke my blood vial that would allow them to know my blood would clot. Pretty important when they are pricking at your very pourous liver. So, they had to redraw my blood and send it back through the lab. Back to my room I went, for what was supposed to be about an hour. Two and a half hours later they came to get me. Beause the first injection was wearing off, I had to have another "twilight" injection and them back to Radiology.
I didn't have to wait too long once downstairs before they took me into the room. They did the ultrasound on my liver and let me know that I needed to stay awake during the procedure so I could hold my breathe from time-to-time. To say the least, it was a disgusting procedure to watch and pretty damn painful. The only good thing, it was over in about 20 minutes. After which I begged for a Vicodin and was back in my room for little naps in between vital checks which were every 20-30 minutes. I had to lay in my right side (incision side) for 4 hours. I thought then I would be able to go home. Which is what should've happend, but I almost fainted when they finally got me up to take out my IV, so I had to stay another hour to be montiored.
Finally 11 hours later, I was on my way home in at the beginning of rush hour traffic. I made it home and went straight to bed for the night. I was told Tylenol would be enough for pain, but they lied. Luckily I had one leftover Vicodin and that got me through the night.
Wednesday I had planned to at least work from home, but that was about impossible. I slept most of the day and finally called the dr. to ask if my symptoms were to be expected. He wasn't concerned and said I should be go to go Thursday. So Thursday morning, still groggy, but not too sore, I got up and headed to work. I didn't make it to my big meeting that morning and thought I was going to have to go back home, but as the morning went on I was doing a little better. Until just after lunch.
I started having severe stabbing pain near the injection site and finally had to leave a meeting, ask Shannon and Jim to find Greg for me, and was rushed to the ER. The pain was extreme, I was having trouble breathing and I started blacking out. I finally got checked in the ER, laid on my side and breathed through the pain. Of course, by the time I got to see a Dr., the pain was gone. My radiologist called for a CTscan and some other blood test, but thankfully all were negative and showed now sign of internal bleeding. I got lots of pain pills and was finally released to go home.
Friday morning on the way to work, the pain started coming back and I loaded up on pain killers and called my GI. Evidently, I'm a lucky 5% of patients that have severe spasms after a biopsy. The biopsy came back proving I have NASH (fatty liver- likely brought on by gall bladder removal and controllable by diet) and I am just riding out the spasms with meds and sleep until Monday. If they are still going strong, I am going to demand more answers from my GI. It's awful and ridiculous to be so out of sorts.
Anyway.....long story, longer week.
Well, I don't have any pictures to post, but I do have an update of what we've been up to since January.
Karen
I gave up the Sequoia for a 2009 4Runner Sport. I had to downsize in case gas gets all crazy again. I'm getting used to the smaller size and love the fact that I can zip around and get into a parking place in one try, but I do miss the extra cargo. I'll get over it.
At work - Swamped! We landed a big piece of business and became agency of record for Texas Instruments (North America and Europe), and have been transitioning them over from JWT. It's been lots of long hours, skipped lunches and hard work (hence no Blog postings), but we are just about to get started on new projects. Luckily, our client contacts are very nice and easy to work with. I hope we get in the groove very soon.
On Tuesday, I am having a liver biopsy. My liver counts are high and continue to escalate, so we need to go in and find out what's going on. Chances are I have something called NASH. I have had a lot of unexplained GI issues since having my gall bladder removed 3 years ago and I hope this will give me the answers. I have had every test known to man done in the last 6 months and fortunately, all have been negative; unfortunately, I have no answers to the increased liver counts. Soon, I hope. Very soon.
Greg
Venza, his new pride and joy. He also gave up his Tacoma and moved over to a CUV. We like to call it his soccer mom car, or the mini-wagon, or the station van. It's a nice upgrade from a truck and has lots of gadgets. Right up his alley.
Luckily, he hasn't been busy at work and has been able to take over the mom duties - picking up from school, taking kids to dr. appointments, Hunter to football practice, etc.
Speaking of football practice...Greg coached his first football game and the kids won.
Hunter
Hunter has been working hard to earn an iPod Touch. We opted to not get the DVD systems in our cars this time and have Hunter and Dylan earn themselves a Touch. It's not going as fast has he would like, but he's almost there.
The 4th six weeks just ended and Hunter had a very good report card and a super nice note from his super great teacher. We are very proud.
Saturday was the first football game of the Spring season and Hunter stepped up. He played QB and they played a pretty good game considering they didn't have a practice. They won 13-0. Way to go Hunter.
Dylan
Dylan is still working hard in Kindergarten and making excellent grades. She loves art and art history and is a math whiz. We are very proud of her accomplishments and are encouraging her to take some additional art classes.
She was invited to her 1st sleepover Saturday night and made it until about 10pm. Then I got the call that she wanted to come home and sleep in her own bed. So I went to pick her up and she crawled right into bed and fell asleep. She's just not quite ready yet.
Spring Break is coming up the week of March 16. Greg will be taking off the week to stay home with Hunter and Dylan. I am going to try to take a day or two so we can head to Fossil Rim and maybe to Ft. Worth for some playing around.
That should bring you up to speed. I hope to have some new pictures soon. Especially of our QB.
