Laurie's Update

Full of Life
on 12/26/05 10:34 pm - Broken Arrow, OK

Hi everyone. I hope you had a Merry Christmas!!! I copied this from the Michigan board knowing I could sit here long enough to type a seperate one out. I thought I'd let you know what they found at Harper last week. Stroke - The Lapeer docs say yes, the Harper docs say no. Harper gave me an MRI of the neck and found a herniated disk that they think is causing the numbness on my right side. I have to follow up with an MRI of my entire spine to check all the way down my back. (UGH!!! Jen, I soooo understand your trouble with MRI's. Even with the drugs, it was hard for me to do!!!) BeriBeri - Harper wasn't quite willing to admit that this is what I have. Although I'm 100% positive it is!!!! When I couldn't get anywhere with CORI center, I started doing my own research and it's the only thing I found that matches up to my symptoms. But Harper did jump right on treating my symptoms!! My B1 was depleated, so got lots of that. My folic acid was also depleated, so I got lots of that as well. I got one IV bag of multi vits a day. Boy, do they ever pump you full of fluids!!! Even after spending seven days in Lapeer I was dehydrated when I got to Harper. I still lost about six pounds during my hospital stays, so I'm afraid that it was lean muscle mass that I've lost and not fat. I'll be getting my vitamin levels check again the first of the year. Pouch/Hernia - I knew I had a hernia. (duh, it's huge and painful) Dr. Wood ordered a scope and it brought quite a little surprise (to me anyway). I have two staples that have dislodged from wherever they were supposed to be. They're both in my pouch now. One staple is ulcerated. So, the ulcer is causing my constant nausia and the hernia is causing my pain after eating foods. (talk about your double wammey) I go see Dr. Wood after the first of the year for a surgery date to have them fixed. (He's out of town until then). Heart - I still need to follow up with the cardiologist and get the TEE test done on my heart. I'm believing though, that it was an error on the first test and the TEE will come back normal. So, Harper built me up as much as possible and hopefully that will last until I see Dr. Wood and get my surgery. You all have been so GREAT!!!!!!!!!! Kevin - thanks for the life saving bananas and nuts!!! Jeanne - thanks so much for visiting me on your breaks! It was wonderful to see someone. I'm wishing you the best on your wls journey. Michelle - God Bless you honey. I'm enjoying the aroma of my candles as I'm typing right now!! Thank you for making the trip to see me. Beth - I'm so glad that you called me before you went home. I REALLY thought about sneaking downstairs to see you, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get back up to my room. (haha) Jennifer - You have been my lifesaver through the last few weeks!!!!! It "felt" like you were there with me the whole time. Thanks for everything you've done!!! EVERYONE - I had more phone calls that I can't remember right now. (those happy drugs make me pretty loopy in the head). I KNOW though, that everyone was wishing me well and praying for me!!! Thank you very much!!! (I had people from my May board calling me from California - how wonderful is that!!!!) You guys are more wonderful then I could ever imagine and more then I can repay. I'll let you all know what happens when I see Dr. Wood. Hugs to All, Laurie