Weekend Update

I have been to the doctor a couple times this week to regulate my Coumadin (blood thinner) dose. I have been able to stop the heparin which is nice since it involved poking myself twice a day and the heparin leaves a bruise every place it is injected. The deal with the blood thinners is that they do not dissolve clots but prevent new ones from forming. The clots that are in my lungs will have to dissolve on their own. The doctor said this can take 3-6 months. Each place that there is a clot (at least 4 each in different lobes) prevents blood from flowing freely and there is a lot of inflammation in that area so the lungs can’t work well. He said that I can expect to feel extremely tired and not to push it because I will feel worse. Starbucks (the dog) likes this schedule!

I have been really beat this week. I get out of breath with even minimal activity like going up and down our stairs. I do at least one errand a day just to get out and then come home and take a nap! I have a migraine almost every day but it has been manageable with Imitrex. When my doc asked a neurologist what could be done about the headaches he said, “not much,” and that it could be an “interesting” few months. Hmmm…not sure I like the “interesting.”

I can’t even whine to TJ . Well I could, but not legitimately. He got to do the heparin and Coumadin thing, has felt worse longer and had more stuff going on- and he doesn’t complain. I might have to go out for coffee with a girlfriend and get it out of my system.

I see the hematologist on Tuesday to discuss the results of the blood work he did and hope to get some answers for the cause of the clots. We are very impressed with the hematologist.

T.J. has been able to do a couple video presentations to the RG lead team meeting in Bangkok and has several more to go. Technology can be a real gift! Overall, he is working on getting his energy back.

While we certainly are ready to get off the health roller coaster and have some energy back (life is dramatically different than 15 months ago) we really are not discouraged. God is in control. He loves us and He never wastes life’s experiences.

Prayer requests:
-That God would give Mary Ann the energy she needs to get through her days.
-That God would help us both stay encouraged and continue to trust in God’s -goodness.
-That T.J. would continue to gain strength.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Jon and Chip are doing well although Chip experienced some “post traumatic” stress after he got back into school after the Bangkok hospitalization. Jon has a part time job in Knoxville but is looking for something more permanent.

Blessings

Mary Ann and T.J.

MA Hospitalized

Around 1:30 am Sunday morning I woke up with incredible chest pressure and and pounding heart rate. Given how fast my heart was going I figured I was in atrial fibrillation and Tim called 911. At the hospital the doctors figured out that the cause of the atrial fib was multiple small blood clots in both lungs so I was admitted and am on heparin.

Yesterday I saw my family practice doc, a hematologist (to figure out why the clots), a cardiologist, and a pulmonologist. The challenge is to figure out the cause of the clots. Late last evening I had an ultra sound of both legs that indicated that clots in my legs (like from travel) is not the cause. Today I have an echocardiogram to make sure that the severe irregular heart rate was not from a cardiac cause. They also drew about a dozen tubes of blood.

I will be in for a least a couple of days while they make the switch from IV heparin to shots of heparin that I can do at home and coumadin. This will mean weekly trips to the doc for a long time while the coumadin is regulated.

We have a huge praise that this event happened at home and I could get to the hospital -where we are starting a frequent stayers club. (Maybe we could redeem points for decent coffee and real toilet paper.) And that a clot did not end up in a place that could have had devastating results.

Prayer requests would be:

Finding a cause that can be taken care of. The alternative is to be on blood thinners the rest of my life.

No complications like loose clots that could end up in bad places.

A medication was discontinued that can contribute to clots. When I have stopped in the past has led to a killer migraine. Pray that there is a good way to manage this.

Please pray for TJ this week. He has a very intense week as the RG lead team meets in Bangkok. He is doing presentations by video and over the net. He has a lot of preparation to do and will have to be up most of the night for several days at the end of the week.

Also pray for Jon and Chip. Bummer to do this again with your parents! Chip had gotten home at midnight Saturday from a week long hiking and camping trip in Arizona and we woke up at 2 to head to United. Jon is now living in Knoxville, TN.

Addendum: I wrote what is above early this morning. It is now 9 PM and we are home! It was decided that since I can inject my own heparin I could go home. I will be seeing my doc almost daily for a while to get the bleeding times and meds regulated. Please pray for no bleeding events. It was very drippy when the nurse pulled out one of my IVs. I have not gotten results from the echo cardiogram. I will also be following up with the hematologist and pulmonologist.

We are heading to bed early.

Gratefully once again,

Mary Ann