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Update on my husband

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:10 am
by whyRwehere
My husband had his second procedure done yesterday, and the doctor said it went beautifully. His internal Jugular is now 10mm (originally it was .5mm). Unfortunately, she said there was nothing she could do about his missing pre sacral venous plexus problem. No stenting, just balloons...we are happy with that.
Later that day, he was able to get the foley catheter removed, which had been on for about 2 months (!). They are just not into self-cathing here, but we persisted this time and now have a stock, plus my husband has started to pass on his own again some of the time......a very big thing...MERRY CHRISTMAS like!
So, hard to say if he feels much different, because he is so tired. If he says anything, I'll pass it on...which reminds me: he said the other day, that when he wakes up, his arm/hand no longer feels numb.
So, Happy Holidays,
WhyRwehere

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:31 am
by ozarkcanoer
I am glad to hear that your husband has some improvement. It's too bad that he still has the fatigue. I know how bad that can be. Maybe since these missing veins are now coming to light (I know there are people with missing jugular veins in addition to you husband's venous plexus) then vascular specialist can research how to treat these problems.

Thanks for the update and please let us know about any change in your husband's status.

ozarkcanoer

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:39 am
by whyRwehere
Oh, sorry, it isn't fatigue as such. He's tired, because yesterday was a long day, and then he was up 3 times last night, because he has had to drink a lot and then eventually self cath....

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:48 am
by CRHInv
Why, I am so glad to hear there is some improvement already. My fatigue was has been greatly reduced and seems to still be getting better even 1/1/2 month out. I hope this is the case for you guys.
Have a very merry Christmas!
Beth

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:56 am
by mormiles
A lovely Christmas blessing for you two. With MS, the smallest of improvements is cause for joy. May you both have the merriest and most blessed Christmas!

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:58 am
by whyRwehere
:) Thanks, here's hoping his progression stops...that would be such a relief!!

question about numbness

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:26 am
by sunwest
You are both so courageous and very inspiring. Good job! I am very happy for you and grateful for your example. Keep posting incoming info.

I'm new here and looking for cases where relief is found in numbness after the ballooning.

Because the ballooning doesn't cure cell death damage in the brain, the opening of the veins must be doing something else as well.

Does your husband have cervical ribs? One or bilateral? These ribs are an abnormality found in .02% of the population. Cervical ribs can compress the jugulars depending on how the rest of the person's skeleton is set up.
The problem will typically show up after adolescence.

These ribs are visible on X-ray and should always be mentioned in the write up.

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:30 am
by youbetcha
Good news!!

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:53 am
by CureIous
Excellent report, thanks for the update, keep us informed! What a great Christmas present!
Mark.

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:01 am
by EnjoyingTheRide
Wonderful news! Forgive my ignorance, but where did your husband have these procedures done?

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:23 am
by cheerleader
Why,
A very, merry Christmas. Your hard work and dedication has paid off- for your family and eventually many more. I wish your husband continued healing.

The theory behind the immediate improvements after the procedure is better blood flow and increased oxygenation to brain cells. Healing of prior damage takes time, but can happen as well. We don't know how much- it is like stroke recovery.
blessings to all!
cher

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:54 am
by sunwest
cheerleader wrote:Why,
A very, merry Christmas. Your hard work and dedication has paid off- for your family and eventually many more. I wish your husband continued healing.

The theory behind the immediate improvements after the procedure is better blood flow and increased oxygenation to brain cells. Healing of prior damage takes time, but can happen as well. We don't know how much- it is like stroke recovery.
blessings to all!
cher
WhyR, can you tell me how far apart your husband's procedures were?

Dead brain cells can never be recovered. Stroke recovery is behavioural and done with months and months of therapy to teach the brain new pathways. That's if someone takes the trouble to offer it and the patient has the money to afford it.

Taking people's organs is done on the basis that damaged brain cells never ever recover.

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:02 pm
by whyRwehere
My husband had his interventions done in Paris. They were 3 weeks apart. We have to consider that sleeping inclined has helped his hand numbness, although we haven't done as good a job inclining the bed, as one would like.
The bladder problem has been an ongoing nightmare for the last 2 months. Things are not working correctly down there, but at least some urine is coming out on its own now. He will still need to self cath, but it is better than the foley catheter!! (Although I think that Dr Foley was a genius to invent that).
I do not know about the rib thing, as I don't know when my husband last had/ ever had a chest x-ray.
The doctor intends on writing a paper about the case. That is good news.
Now I have to convince someone to go to bed, so that Santa can do so, too.

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:29 pm
by AndrewKFletcher
sunwest wrote: Dead brain cells can never be recovered. Stroke recovery is behavioural and done with months and months of therapy to teach the brain new pathways. That's if someone takes the trouble to offer it and the patient has the money to afford it.

Taking people's organs is done on the basis that damaged brain cells never ever recover.
Edited poor statement to say what was meant. Sorry for not thinking with my keyboard.
What I was trying to say was that brain death is not be as permanent as we are led to believe.
That statement is so wrong. Dead braincells are repaired all the time. Do a google or go pubmed. Think it was a Dutch paper I read.

Also there is the case of the 12 year old girl from Kent with cerebral palsy (brain damage from birth)

She got out of her wheelchair and walked at school, now clothes and dresses herself and has regained the muscles in her legs to the point that they look too masculine acording to her mother. Using Inclined Therapy only!

http://www.medindia.net/news/Exercise-c ... 1799-1.htm
http://www.vetscite.org/publish/items/000764/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6362183.stm

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:40 pm
by sunwest
AndrewKFletcher wrote:
sunwest wrote: Dead brain cells can never be recovered. Stroke recovery is behavioural and done with months and months of therapy to teach the brain new pathways. That's if someone takes the trouble to offer it and the patient has the money to afford it.

Taking people's organs is done on the basis that damaged brain cells never ever recover.
That statement is so wrong. Dead braincells recover all the time. Do a google or go pubmed. Think it was a Dutch paper I read.

Also there is the case of the 12 year old girl from Kent with cerebral palsy (brain damage from birth)

She got out of her wheelchair and walked at school, now clothes and dresses herself and has regained the muscles in her legs to the point that they look too masculine acording to her mother. Using Inclined Therapy only!

http://www.medindia.net/news/Exercise-c ... 1799-1.htm
http://www.vetscite.org/publish/items/000764/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6362183.stm
Exactly.... so what's going on? Why are people being asked to donate their loved one's organs when these patients can be cured of brain cell damage. Thank you Andrew!!!