Hey everyone, another update from yours truly. It's a bit of a long one due to the amount of things that have happened. Its a bit of a mixed bag so bare with me...
First off some good news: it started last this past weekend, on Saturday, my physio came thru at about 12pm for his usual session. But unbeknownst to me he brought an oxygen tank along with him. We were taking a walk. What you guys don't know is at the time, I was on the t-piece (which for those how don't know, its a smaller version of the ventilator with only an oxygen cable attached). So we took off all the excess cables, put on the oxygen tank and stood up. At first Josh just stood and let me gain my balance. Then we took our first step, then our second, then another, and another, until I was standing at my ICU door. Then I took my first step outside ICU. Success! But it didn't stop there. I persevered, and continued one small step at a time, until the unthinkable happened. I ended up half way down the corridor, about 35 paces in total. Josh gave me a chair to rest on, I had done it, further than I have walked in the past. After some relaxing, I began the same journey back, one small step at a time. I made it back to the ICU and back into the chair I sit in during the day.
Then Sunday comes along, Josh shows up for our 4pm session. This time he sends my nurse out to get the oxygen tank. We were going for another walk. Josh preps me in the mean time, and the nurse returns with the oxygen. Again, I stand up, catch my breath and I'm off.. One small step at a time. I reach my ICU door and take my second step outside ICU. Success again. Now the real journey begins. One small step at a time, I make my way down the passage again, to the same spot I rested at the previous day. After a bit of a break, I stand again, but this time, I head even further out. Further and further out until I have walked twice then distance than the previous day! Success again. Then the great trek back to the mid point a quick rest then a slow walk back to ICU.
Now for some so-so news. As you know I've been waiting for some time now for a biopsy to be done on a lump they found in my chest. So 3 days ago I go into theatre to have the biopsy done. For those who don't know, what that means is putting me under what I thought would be local anesthetic, and then a small cut is made in my side. Then a small probe is sent thru the cut, up to the lump and it takes a small sample of it for analysis. Anyway, I am wheeled into the surgery and they begin. What they discover next is that my lung is fused onto the rib cage. So the surgeon had to slice the lung off of the rib cage. I now have a drainage pipe inside of me draining off the excess fluid.
The results of the biopsy itself is that the lung is full of clots. That I suppose in itself is a blessing, as it could have been worse like cancer or something. I'm now black on clot treatment to clears up the lung. There is a risk tho that the blood thinner could cause my brain to bleed again so I am going to ask each and every one of you to please keep me in your prayers that this does not happen.I need all the support I can get.and
In other news, I've had some success with my hand now too.. It's starting out the same way as the foot did, with little twitches here and there. But today, I had a rolled up pillow case inside my hand, and after much "talking to the hand" there was movement! I squeezed the pillow case about 20 times in total. Very small movements to start, but like the leg, it also started the same way. So that at least is another success.
Any who, I'm keeping as positive as I can considering all the new issues. Please just keep thinking of me too. Well that's my news for now, I did promise it would be a long one.. I will continue to update you as things develop.
Take care for now everyone.
Findan
» Edited on: 2015-01-09 08:56:40
» Edited on: 2015-01-09 09:01:09
» Edited on: 2015-01-09 09:09:57
» Edited on: 2015-01-09 10:29:33