Mom has settled in well; has resumed nearly all of her daily obligations for care and feeding of my healthy and otherwise perfectly capable father (please do interpret subtext here...)
She's a little startled still by how serious condition had become, how it might have easily been overlooked and misdiagnosed until it was too late. She still seems a bit emotional but less anxious and hostile now---that's a relief for all of us.
She has aches and her head still hurts---that might continue until the aneurysm ceases to press on that nerve, up to a month. But her pain meds are helpful and she's able to have some fun. Yesterday we went to see a movie and today will see another one. Tonight might even include dinner out.
I'm really glad to be here, not only to assure myself that she is well but also to provide another observer as she is not comfortable being alone just yet. I'm really really happpy to make sure of that!
Phone calls are quite welcome!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
What a difference a day makes...
File this under "Unbelievable But True"-- Mom is home, sleeping in her own bed.
The Deal
After waiting what seemed a torturous amount of time, Dad, Mom and myself were able to speak to the Interventional Radiologist who performed Mom's "surgery" last night. First, he was able to do take care of the aneurysm without opening her head---a huge improvement in approach from all standpoints.
Fiber optics and other instruments and materials were guided through her veins until the abnormality was discovered and evaluated. The physician took a good deal of time to sketch out the location of the defect and characterize it for us. It was 11 mm in size; the threshold for intervention for intact aneurysms is 3 mm (at least those in the brain)---this particular physician said he'd never seen one that size before. He also indicated that it was showing signs of being very close to rupture. He told us that we owed the referring Ophthamologic Neurologist t big time; that he had saved Mom's life, pure and simple.
There was plenty of scary talk the many signs of averted doom. He did report that he discovered two additional aneurisms that were 2 mm in size---not sufficiently large to warrant the risks associated with repair. Unfortunately for Mom, the news gets bad at this point. The risk factors for increasing size are :
The Deal
After waiting what seemed a torturous amount of time, Dad, Mom and myself were able to speak to the Interventional Radiologist who performed Mom's "surgery" last night. First, he was able to do take care of the aneurysm without opening her head---a huge improvement in approach from all standpoints.
Fiber optics and other instruments and materials were guided through her veins until the abnormality was discovered and evaluated. The physician took a good deal of time to sketch out the location of the defect and characterize it for us. It was 11 mm in size; the threshold for intervention for intact aneurysms is 3 mm (at least those in the brain)---this particular physician said he'd never seen one that size before. He also indicated that it was showing signs of being very close to rupture. He told us that we owed the referring Ophthamologic Neurologist t big time; that he had saved Mom's life, pure and simple.
There was plenty of scary talk the many signs of averted doom. He did report that he discovered two additional aneurisms that were 2 mm in size---not sufficiently large to warrant the risks associated with repair. Unfortunately for Mom, the news gets bad at this point. The risk factors for increasing size are :
- smoking (Mom has a 50 year history of smoking)
- diabetes mellitus (Mom has Type II)
- hypertension (strike 3)
The good doctor did not mince words about what MUST happen to keep the patient from repeating this episode. Mom received the news as those who know her might expect.
Moving Forward
Kind of anticlimactic, but there's no news here. Beyond making some very difficult lifestyle changes, Mom will have to undergo arteriograms per six months for the next two years. She has lifting restrictions for a while as the femoral artery entry site heals and she's quite tired so she needs to rest. Her headaches should resolve over the next month or so as the defect slowly atrophies and relieves the pressure it was causing on the trigeminal nerve. Its unclear whether her pupil issue will resolve.
We have some concerns over her emotional status---a scary thing has happened and all of you know that at age not all that old Mom has now dodged two bullets: the heart attack just before Lyman and Carrie's wedding and this. She is certainly shook up. Additionally, she seems pretty labile and goes from giddy to weepy to snappy to combative in less than a blink of an eye. All quite reasonable for a short time but if it doesn't get better soon we'll need to start considering whether she's had some cognitive changes associated with the aneurysm or its repair.
In all, I'd still say it beats the alternative. Thanks to all for your kind words, deeds, vibe, prayers and information dissemination.
Eye Witness report
Mom seems really great! We haven't seen the physician so I don't actually know anything but she's more or less wakeful, a little anxious and concerned. As are we but all signs are quite encouraging.
Stay tuned!
KHM
Monday, December 17, 2007
Surgery Complete
So surgery is over, Mom is in recovery where she'll be for some time. Surgeon gave Dad very little information except that the repair went fine. No idea what the implications are
Dad did see her very briefly and she said she was scared. That's all I've got for you right now.
Dad did see her very briefly and she said she was scared. That's all I've got for you right now.
First News and Background
Dad called me about 6:00 pm tonight to say that Mom had undergone an arteriogram today after seeing an optical neurologist. Mom complained of headaches daily for over a year as many of us aware and since this summer also voiced concern that her left (?) pupil, sometimes both, appeared to be dilated. She had sought care with ENTs, immunologists and her Internist and I think even had a previous unremarkable CT scan during this period.
The results of the arteriogram suggest she has an aneurysm along the trigeminal artery in her brain. A slow leak of that aneurysm could account for her complaints but none of those associations are being put forward, to my knowledge, at this time.
What it is clear, and proceeding now, is that the aneurysm requires immediate surgical repair. She is expected to be in surgery until about 12:00 AM EST and will be taken post-op to the ICU. Both the condition and the procedure were characterized as "very risky".
I'll be heading to Tampa to check things out and handle whatever Mom and Dad need. I'll keep this blog updated as warranted. Feel free to share. I don't have any contact information other than she is at St. Joseph's Hospital on Martin Luther King Blvd in Tampa. Her former place of employment...
The results of the arteriogram suggest she has an aneurysm along the trigeminal artery in her brain. A slow leak of that aneurysm could account for her complaints but none of those associations are being put forward, to my knowledge, at this time.
What it is clear, and proceeding now, is that the aneurysm requires immediate surgical repair. She is expected to be in surgery until about 12:00 AM EST and will be taken post-op to the ICU. Both the condition and the procedure were characterized as "very risky".
I'll be heading to Tampa to check things out and handle whatever Mom and Dad need. I'll keep this blog updated as warranted. Feel free to share. I don't have any contact information other than she is at St. Joseph's Hospital on Martin Luther King Blvd in Tampa. Her former place of employment...
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