Thursday, December 16, 2010

Recent Trip to IU and Other Updates

Hello G-Peeps!  

I have to start off this blog by expressing my sincere gratitude for all the prayers from everyone this past week.  It has been a challenging week and you all remind me that I have the best friends and family that a person could have.  

The appointment with my Hematologist, Dr. Jain, was positive.  My white blood counts were normal!  However, my Iron is still low.  So we may be looking at giving me Iron by IV since I am unable to take orally.    I will see her again in 4 months. 

The appointment with new Pain Specialist, Dr. Buenaventura, was amazing!  He concluded that I actually have several bulging discs in my back, as well as, arthritis.  How do you get this from have a sedentary job for 18 years???  Weird!  He gave me a prescription for pain patches and I am having injections done on Tuesday for my back.  This should really help alleviate the need for pain medication!  He also recommended Physical Therapy.  Given that I have basically in a bed for the last 6 months, I am actually looking forward to this as well.

My recent trip to IU Hospital was very productive.  My wonderful husband, Hugh drove me to Indiana and I stayed at the University Place Hotel; which is connected to the Hospital by a sky walk.  He had to drive back after my appointment with Dr. Wittles because he had a Christmas Party on Wednesday.  My parents drove over on Wednesday morning to attend the appointment with Dr. Ykinney and bring me home.

Dr. Wittles decided to change my food formula from the Jevity to a new formula that is more concentrated. I am having some issues (that I won't go into) and he hopes that this will help correct them.  He also recommends that I get a local nutritionist.  I did have a nutritionist, but she moved to The Cleveland Clinic. Anyone know of one in the Dayton area?  

We discussed the problem I am having with feeling dehydrated and the possible need for the PICC line.  He feels that it would be better for me to flush water in my J-tube around 25 times a day rather than dealing with a PICC at this point.  Doing that would give me an additional liter of fluids.  Putting it directly in my J-tube would mean it would go directly in my small bowel and it would be absorbed better.  

I told him that I am still experiencing pain in my J-tube and he said that perhaps the balloon is still inflated too much.  I am meeting with my local GI Doctor tomorrow to see if I should get it deflated to 10 cc's instead of 15 cc's.

We did discuss the Gastric-Stimulator at the end of the appointment.  He still feels that I am a candidate for the device.  However, I told him that I am not a fan at this point but we will discuss it when I return in February.

I took Dr. Wittles by surprise when I asked if I could take his picture with me.  He was a little confused as to why I wanted it until I explained why.  Dr. Wittles is a very soft spoken Doctor but don't let that fool you. I have found that this man clearly knows about this disease.  I feel so very blessed to have found this Doctor and am thankful that he has taken me on as his patient.    Here is the picture of me and Dr. Wittles.




This next picture is of his Physician Assistant, Shannon.  Shannon is an Angel!  She coordinates my care at IU.  She calls me monthly to check on me and has really became a friend.  I appreciate her so very much.  She works her tail off for her patients and she cares so very much for each and every one!



On Wednesday, I had an appointment with the ENT Specialist, Dr. Ykinney.  This appointment was to review the tests I had done at The Cleveland Clinic last year.  The performed a hearing test on me and determined that I have mild hearing loss!!  My goodness, how old am I again???  The Dr. said that there was nothing really to worry about regarding the tests from Cleveland and sent me on my way.  

So, I will begin my new food next week and hopefully that will help with the issues I am having and help to get increased fluids.  

The other day, I found the perfect thing for my week in my Daily Devotional (from My Daily Bread).  Paul wrote "In everything give thanks" (1 Thess 5:18).    While we may not be thankful for everything that comes our way, we still should give thanks in everything.  It may be difficult to be thankful when we loose a job, our health fails, or our children do bad things, but we can be thankful for the good that God has brought to us in this life and grateful for the life to come.

As endless as God’s blessings are,
So should my praises be
For all His daily goodness
That flow unceasingly! —Adams
Instead of being preoccupied with our problems,
let’s praise the Lord for His blessings.

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