From Teresa... Well we're home and trying to figure out some kind of routine. There are PT , OT, and speech therapy to go to three times a week at the Dixie Regional Medical Center. Sweet relatives have come to the house to be with the girls while I run Tami to all of her appointments. We have a new neurologist that had his own stroke at the age of 21. He went on to become the doctor he is today. He encouraged Tami to decide what her goals are and work until she gets them. He scheduled a sleep deprived EEG for Dec. 3rd. She needs to only get 4 hours of sleep the night before. ( I'm still trying to figure out how to work it so I'm not sleep deprived along with her.) After evaluating the results of that test he will determine whether or not she needs to continue taking the Keppra medication. (It is routinely given to anyone that has had brain surgeries to prevent seizures.) It's also the $500.00 a month drug, without a good generic substitute. Her next apt. with him is scheduled for the end of Jan.
The hematologist (blood doctor) informed us that Tami was low on her "protein S" that is one of the things that your body uses to help the balance of clotting and thinning of the blood. That was probably the cause of the clot that caused the stroke in the first place. The way to deal with the problem is with blood thinners for the rest of your life. Today the Doctor informed us that we can ween off the Heprin shots and on to the Cumidin pills once a day at bedtime. Yeah! We still have to do the shots through Mon. morning along with the pills, at which time if Mondays test show the levels where they need to be , we can stop the injections. I CAN'T WAIT! The pills are much cheaper and there is a generic that can be used. She still has to get regular blood draws to monitor the levels but after shots in the gut that burn, that seems minor! The protein S thing is genetic so the Doctor recommended that at some point we get me and Tami's girls checked for it. It can be done in a blood test. I asked if there was any urgency to check the girls and he said "no". Just in the future.
I got a library card so that I can access the internet once in a while. It's hard to get away for very long so Grandma Ann may be doing most of the updates. The "silver lining" to being here helping to take care of "my beautiful girls" is that this is a fantastic place to spend the winter. I'm savoring the sunshine. Anyway...More later Teresa.
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2 comments:
Thank goodness Teresa doesn't have anything else to do but take care of Tami. And thank goodness that they get along so well since it sounds like she'll be there for a long time. So lucky to have each other. And all so blessed by the many donations so they don't have to stress as much. Keep up the strength and don't loose hope.
Good to hear they are figuring what is going on slowly but surely. Not a week goes by that I don't wonder how Tami is doing! It brings a smile to my face to hear of all the progress Tami is making.
Marc Prickett
C81-UCMT
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