Post by Kristen Gamauf on Dec 24, 2005 1:58:06 GMT -5
Merry Christmas Everyone!!
Well, I have been hearing it from many people that I am slacking on my update duties. Mike had his followup appointment on Thursday with his doc from Edwin Shaw, Dr. Hayek.
He checked Mike over extensively and was impressed with his progress. They told him about Mike's persistent leg pain in his right leg (not the HO). My fear has been (since I've been doing internet research of course) that the pain is possibly a result of his blood clot. A bit of info.
I had seen online that a blood clot can cause damage to the veins and specifically the valves in the veins resulting in chronic vascular problems even after the clot is gone. This condition is called "post-thrombotic syndrome", which you guys can google if you want.
However, Dr. Hayek luckily did not see signs of it in Mike's leg and thinks it is more of a change in muscle tone in the right leg. For some reason, mysterious just like the cause of HO, in brain-injured patients the muscles can get some funky tone qualities going on. Forgive the colloquial language.
Anyways, he prescribed Mike this new medicine that helps with the muscles, and it seems to be helping a bit (though he just started it). The pain in his right leg has been hindering his recovery the most.
Mike also got to visit the staff at Edwin Shaw, and they were all amazed at the progress he's made since he left!
Dr. Hayek is super sure that as soon as Mike gets his bone flap put back in, he can go through the driver recertification course and start driving again. It is just too dangerous until they put that back in to be driving a car. For that matter it really is dangerous for Mike to ride in a car, but you have to draw a line somewhere.
We have been continually amazed, as recently as this week, at the care and concern of the people around us. Just this week we received a very nice card in the mail from the Pruchnicki's. It made my dad cry even.
Tonight I prepared all my veggies and stuff for the food I am making to take to Grandma's tomorrow. I am making spinach salad with Garlic Herb Vinaigrette dressing, and an onion bread appetizer. Mike even whipped up some cream cheese spread for crackers.
So at 5 o'clock tomorrow we will be heading over the river and through the woods to Grandma Hoyt's house like we always do on Christmas Eve. It is hard to imagine what that trip could have been like given other twists of fate. We are very grateful for all our blessings and hope that this message finds you and your loved ones in good health and spirits. Thanks again everybody, and the next post will probably be details about Mike's upcoming surgery.
Well, I have been hearing it from many people that I am slacking on my update duties. Mike had his followup appointment on Thursday with his doc from Edwin Shaw, Dr. Hayek.
He checked Mike over extensively and was impressed with his progress. They told him about Mike's persistent leg pain in his right leg (not the HO). My fear has been (since I've been doing internet research of course) that the pain is possibly a result of his blood clot. A bit of info.
I had seen online that a blood clot can cause damage to the veins and specifically the valves in the veins resulting in chronic vascular problems even after the clot is gone. This condition is called "post-thrombotic syndrome", which you guys can google if you want.
However, Dr. Hayek luckily did not see signs of it in Mike's leg and thinks it is more of a change in muscle tone in the right leg. For some reason, mysterious just like the cause of HO, in brain-injured patients the muscles can get some funky tone qualities going on. Forgive the colloquial language.
Anyways, he prescribed Mike this new medicine that helps with the muscles, and it seems to be helping a bit (though he just started it). The pain in his right leg has been hindering his recovery the most.
Mike also got to visit the staff at Edwin Shaw, and they were all amazed at the progress he's made since he left!
Dr. Hayek is super sure that as soon as Mike gets his bone flap put back in, he can go through the driver recertification course and start driving again. It is just too dangerous until they put that back in to be driving a car. For that matter it really is dangerous for Mike to ride in a car, but you have to draw a line somewhere.
We have been continually amazed, as recently as this week, at the care and concern of the people around us. Just this week we received a very nice card in the mail from the Pruchnicki's. It made my dad cry even.
Tonight I prepared all my veggies and stuff for the food I am making to take to Grandma's tomorrow. I am making spinach salad with Garlic Herb Vinaigrette dressing, and an onion bread appetizer. Mike even whipped up some cream cheese spread for crackers.
So at 5 o'clock tomorrow we will be heading over the river and through the woods to Grandma Hoyt's house like we always do on Christmas Eve. It is hard to imagine what that trip could have been like given other twists of fate. We are very grateful for all our blessings and hope that this message finds you and your loved ones in good health and spirits. Thanks again everybody, and the next post will probably be details about Mike's upcoming surgery.