I took down my most recent post because I was getting reports that the video I uploaded wasn’t visible, and that the comments weren’t working. I’m not sure what happened, so I thought I would start fresh. Besides, there are some pretty big things going on in my life right now that take precedence over YouTube videos.
My Father-in-Law Steve: About nine years ago, he was diagnosed with a tumor on his thyroid gland in the side of his neck. He had surgery to remove it, and during the surgery had a blood transfusion. It has since been discovered that the blood was tainted with staph bacteria. He has been being treated with antibiotics for several years now, but the staph has morphed into being antiobiotic-resistant. And now, in one of those kick-you-when-you’re-down acts of fate, he has developed a fibroid tumor behind his eye. His surgeon can not operate because the level of staph in his blood makes him too infectious for surgery. He would basically render an operating room unsterile.
So. Steve’s business is sound equipment for bands and theaters. He works for a large music store that sells and repairs instruments as well as complete sound systems. Through his work he was offered a job working for a theater in a town outside of Sydney, Australia. He has always wanted to go there.
He is going. To Australia. In April.
He says he will be back to visit during Australia’s winter vacation, when businesses mostly close for a few weeks. That would be the end of July into August. Then, back to Australia. It costs $1000.00 a person to fly to Australia. We will never be able to visit him there. My husband is taking it pretty well.
My sister-in-law Alisa: For years, she has been battling a group of symptoms that most doctors can not accurately diagnose. She has had doctors suggest everything from antidepressants to “why don’t you try doing some aerobics?” Finally she found a doctor who diagnosed both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and a Thyroid condition. She constantly feels like she has the flu. About a month ago, a doctor told her she showed signs of possibly having had a stroke sometime in the past. Two days ago she went to the hospital because her hands were tingling and her face felt droopy on one side.
She has a hole in her heart, and possibly lupus. She is 37 years old, with a teenager and a toddler. She’ll need orthoscopic surgery to fix her heart, and she lives in another State.
Scary stuff, sad stuff. Stuff that makes me feel helpless, and frustrated, and a little angry. Stuff I can do nothing about.
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I’m so sorry, Elizabeth. Big hugs to you.
Hmm, sounds like a tough week for you and your family. Big hugs and hang in there.
As a sidenote, I live in Sydney – let me know if you (or Steve) have any questions.
Good vibes coming your way.
OY, SHEESH….crappy week I see. Hopefully it will get better. Sending some “happy days” wishes your way. Hang in there!
So very sorry to hear this… My thoughts are with you and your family.
(((((hugs)))))
Australia was one of my very favorite places to live. The people I met there are amazing!
I’m sorry for all the scary sad things going on in your life. I will be thinking of you, and if there is anything I can do to make anything easier, please let me know!
You’re in my thoughts! Keep your chin up.
Very sad and scary indeed! Sending all the good vibes I can muster.
Oh man. That sucks. Vent/cry away as you need to, I know I’ll listen/read.
I really hope that something can be done for both of them.
I’m so sorry. What a double-whammy.
Oh, I’m so sorry. That is a lot of crap to be dealing with, let alone all at once.
Sis – I apologize that I cannot remember if I updated you or not – so I’ll do it now in case I didn’t.
The actual list of illnesses I have (so far yuk yuk) as a CURRANT diagnosis are: CFIDS; Persistent Ebstein Barr Syndrome; Mitral Valve Prolapse; Neuropathy in my brain due to migraines which cause chronic almost daily migraines; Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis; and since last November, a history of stroke with unknown cause thus far. Some of these by themselves would be no big deal, but combined with everything else and I’m just a mess lol.
The MRI series they did on me in November confirmed that I did have a stroke but the reason they did the CAT scan in the first place is because of the migraines, which are NOT caused by the stroke lol. When I was admitted into the hospital this last Monday they ran another CAT scan and MRI which, because I can eaves drop well and my doctors had a nice little habit of talking about me OUTSIDE of my room to each other, I learned showed that I did indeed have another stroke but that I was lucky enough that it didn’t show any new damage – and then I heard *muffled mumble same area that was damaged initially* *more muffled mumbled response this is her second instance so she would qualify*
They did a HORRID procedure called a transesophageal echocardiogram where they stick a camera about as tall as and a little wider than a screwdriver handle down your throat and turn it all around (while you’re awake, gah!) to do an ultrasound of your heart from behind it and that’s how they found both the hole in my heart and an aneurysm.
My neurologist has decided to NOT approve the surgery to repair the hole in my heart *at this time* because she’s “not at all convinced” that the hole is the cause for my strokes. My ADA titers were also VERY high (640 when normal is around 30), which are the same antibodies that are high when someone has lupus but the rheumatologist said he doesn’t think it’s a strong possibility that I have lupus because I haven’t had the swollen joints, the face rashes or the Raynaud’s Phenomenon (purple fingers fingers and toes from cold or stress) that are most common with Lupus – however I do have many of the other symptoms such as the chest pains from deep breathing, extreme fatigue, swollen glands, mouth ulcers, edema, unusual loss of hair, muscle aches, on and on..
Unfortunately I had two of the worst migraines I’ve ever known while I was in the hospital (probably triggered by all of the chemical-ly and antiseptic smells) and was hopped up on fioricet and nebutal and wasn’t able to ask the questions I probably should have and will have to wait until tomorrow to get a few more answers.
They upped my medication for my neuropathy, put me on Plavix along with my current 81mg of aspirin, drew about 20 vials of blood over the 4 day period (12 of them the morning of the day I was discharged) sent me home with a list of follow up appointments and that was that. I’ll do my best to keep you up to date/informed.
ACK this was much longer than I wanted it to be but you’re stuck with it now as I don’t really feel like going back and reading through and figuring out where to prune lol.