Well, it almost rhymes.
We all look back over 2012 with a mixture of regrets and satisfaction. Same here. Everything we have been through has been intended by our loving God to be a learning experience. I usually wish that some of the things I have had to learn in a given year could have been gained by less painful methods, but the main thing is that I learn from life.
I began these 12 months researching and dreading the possibility of needing back surgery. My L5 vertebra had broken loose and slipped forward (spondylolisthesis), putting pressure on the nerve root to my lower right leg & foot. I opted for that surgery and on April 23 had 360 spinal fusion at the L4-L5-S1 level. The jury is still out on the wisdom of that decision and I'm not really sure when (or if) it will come out of the jury room! The back doc tells me I'm doing well, but the nerves in my lower legs (yes, that's with an "s") and feet don't agree with him. They, along with the rest of my rapidly deteriorating body, will have to wait and see if my nerves are indeed regenerating at the bullet-train rate of 1mm per day. By the tape measure I'm looking at about 1500 days, give or take a few. So far I'm a whopping 250 days in! Practially there! Calculated well date: June 1, 2016.
Just when I was beginning to turn a corner with the whole nerve issue in my left foot (the more painful one now), a blood clot set into my left leg. Through that process I learned that I have developed a blood condition called antiphospholipid syndrome. In short, I now tend to clot in a very unhealthy way. So, I will be on blood thinners and in compression hose the rest of my days. My left leg will always be at least a little bigger than my right one and not because of a highly developed muscle! On December 18, I had a procedure on the left leg to essentially insure that I will not have as many problems in that leg 10 years from now as I would have had otherwise.
Okay, so enough of the doom & gloom! God has gotten my attention very well in 2012. I had quite a few discussions with Him as I walked the streets around our home in my back brace. I learned to lean into Him in the long hours of the night when sleep was not where I normally found it. I wept my way through my first back-to-church service on Mother's Day, realizing not just how much I missed it, but how far my heart actually felt from God. I have prayed harder during this year than I have in a long time. I have been humbled by the ocean of prayers that have been uttered for me, most especially for how much my precious wife has asked God to heal and protect me. I don't know what I would have done without her presence and her encouragement.
As I close out 2012, in spite of the speed bumps in my health, I realize how fully blessed my life is. I can do almost anything that I need to do. I can carry on all my work duties at The Hills. I can do most of my household projects & chores. I sleep all night. I get to spend lots of time with my family. I can still do Wal Mart trips, if I pace myself. :)
All in all, I finish the year with great hope and energy. And, as if to add one more blessing to my list, God gave us a white Christmas! It was so great! All our grandkids were here at our house and once the snow had done it's thing, most of them hit the back yard for some frolicking in the beautiful whiteness! It was the perfect Christmas!
So, still some healing to do and plenty of blessings to enjoy! Happy 2013 to all! And...
Prayers up!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Goin' wit da flow
Actually I got a little better news from my vascular surgeon today that I expected. Based on what he told me in the hospital on Tuesday, I didn't think he would have much encouragement for me today, but it was somewhat better.
He did achieve a small flow through my deep vein that was 100% blocked before the procedure. He said that would make a big difference to me in about 10 years when, untreated, my leg would have given me major problems. So, this procedure has been mostly an investment in the future.
As far as the blood clots go, he said that now they are not considered as blood clots, but as scar tissue. So, they will remain. But, at least the blood flow is getting by them.
He told me to wear knee-high compression hose, actually on both legs, from now on anytime that I am up. I don't have to wear them while sleeping, but when I'm up, the blood will want to descend into my legs through my veins. That is because the clots have destroyed the valves that keep that from happening. The bit of good news with the compression hosiery is that over time, they should help my swelling to decrease. The squeeze on the leg will help keep the blood from descending as much. My left leg will never return to the size of the right one, but the swelling should not stay where it is now. I told Terrie that I just need to exercise the right leg a whole lot and beef it up to match the larger left one!
I go back to see him in a year, so I hope he has something much improved to look at next December!
Oh, yeah. One more thing: I found out that I have an ear infection and the beginning of a sinus infection. No, the vascular surgeon didn't diagnose that one - it was a doc-in-the-box. So now, I'm doing 10 days of two horse-tablet-sized antibiotics per.
But, who's complainin'?
Prayers up!
He did achieve a small flow through my deep vein that was 100% blocked before the procedure. He said that would make a big difference to me in about 10 years when, untreated, my leg would have given me major problems. So, this procedure has been mostly an investment in the future.
As far as the blood clots go, he said that now they are not considered as blood clots, but as scar tissue. So, they will remain. But, at least the blood flow is getting by them.
He told me to wear knee-high compression hose, actually on both legs, from now on anytime that I am up. I don't have to wear them while sleeping, but when I'm up, the blood will want to descend into my legs through my veins. That is because the clots have destroyed the valves that keep that from happening. The bit of good news with the compression hosiery is that over time, they should help my swelling to decrease. The squeeze on the leg will help keep the blood from descending as much. My left leg will never return to the size of the right one, but the swelling should not stay where it is now. I told Terrie that I just need to exercise the right leg a whole lot and beef it up to match the larger left one!
I go back to see him in a year, so I hope he has something much improved to look at next December!
Oh, yeah. One more thing: I found out that I have an ear infection and the beginning of a sinus infection. No, the vascular surgeon didn't diagnose that one - it was a doc-in-the-box. So now, I'm doing 10 days of two horse-tablet-sized antibiotics per.
But, who's complainin'?
Prayers up!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
"Post" Procedure
As I prayed over the results of my procedure on my left leg, I asked God that it be successful to the extent that He save my leg from getting worse and eventually becoming useless. That part of my prayer appears to have been answered yesterday! The doc said that the deep, main vein in my leg was 100% blocked and that often he is unable to even get into such a vein to do anything. God answered my prayer to the extent that the doc WAS able to get into my vein and balloon it to the point where the blood is flowing once again. I am not sure of the level of flow, but something is better than nothing, right? The veinous work was being done by the colateral veins, so now maybe they won't have to work so hard. So, that new flow should help my leg in the long run (actually, I don't know if the term "run" is really in my future!).
One other thing I took as a good sign is the nurse's comment on how strong my pulse is in my left foot. She said she wishes hers was that strong. I guess the ole ticker is pushing down that far pretty well!
The other part of my prayer was that my leg get better right now. That part I'm not so sure about. Neither is the doc. He predicts that I'm likely to see little, if any, change in my leg. I guess that means that I'm still going to be swollen everyday. I was hoping that at least some of that would go away. Oh well, we will see. Right now, the morning after the procedure, it is too early to see how my leg is reacting. I know God will enable me to deal with whatever I am facing day-to-day.
I have a follow up with the doc tomorrow, so I will prepare a list of questions for that visit. So, prayer-wise, I'm thankful for the long term benefits and will continue to ask God to deal with the current situation with my leg and do far beyond what any of the dox expect!
Prayers up!
One other thing I took as a good sign is the nurse's comment on how strong my pulse is in my left foot. She said she wishes hers was that strong. I guess the ole ticker is pushing down that far pretty well!
The other part of my prayer was that my leg get better right now. That part I'm not so sure about. Neither is the doc. He predicts that I'm likely to see little, if any, change in my leg. I guess that means that I'm still going to be swollen everyday. I was hoping that at least some of that would go away. Oh well, we will see. Right now, the morning after the procedure, it is too early to see how my leg is reacting. I know God will enable me to deal with whatever I am facing day-to-day.
I have a follow up with the doc tomorrow, so I will prepare a list of questions for that visit. So, prayer-wise, I'm thankful for the long term benefits and will continue to ask God to deal with the current situation with my leg and do far beyond what any of the dox expect!
Prayers up!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Procedure is Set
I found out today that the procedure on my left leg is scheduled for Tuesday, December 18 at 10:30 AM. It will be at Baylor Hospital in downtown Fort Worth. It is a same-day procedure, but I will be there for several hours. I arrive at 8:30, have 2 hours of pre-op, about 1.5 hours of procedure and then 2 more hours in post-op. Barring complications, I will go home that same day.
The procedure will begin with a venogram, where dye is injected into my veins so that the doc can get a good picture of the situation and blood flow. He will then proceed with a thrombolysis intervention, which I believe means an attempt to do something about the clots themselves.
Today I met with my hematologist. He agreed that I should go ahead with the procedure because it can definitely do some good for my leg. I also will continue with monthly blood tests in his office and see him again in 3 months. He also prescribed compression hosiery for me, which I knew was coming at some point. Hey, if it decreases the swelling substantially, it will be worth it. There go my shorts-wearing days. I wonder if they come in fashionable colors.....
Like I said in my last post, the vascular doc says he can possibly give me from 20% to 80% improvement in my leg. I really want all our prayers to be that God will take me to 80% and beyond in the improvement to my leg. So...
Prayers up!
The procedure will begin with a venogram, where dye is injected into my veins so that the doc can get a good picture of the situation and blood flow. He will then proceed with a thrombolysis intervention, which I believe means an attempt to do something about the clots themselves.
Today I met with my hematologist. He agreed that I should go ahead with the procedure because it can definitely do some good for my leg. I also will continue with monthly blood tests in his office and see him again in 3 months. He also prescribed compression hosiery for me, which I knew was coming at some point. Hey, if it decreases the swelling substantially, it will be worth it. There go my shorts-wearing days. I wonder if they come in fashionable colors.....
Like I said in my last post, the vascular doc says he can possibly give me from 20% to 80% improvement in my leg. I really want all our prayers to be that God will take me to 80% and beyond in the improvement to my leg. So...
Prayers up!
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