Warning ⚠️ Dressing change...

⚠️warning.....  if you dont want to see, dont look....⚠️



Several have awked questions, so I decided to post a series...  this is the sorbaview dressing...
We do the driveline dressing change every other day....  the occlusive dressing was every day.
Since I have to have sterile gloves in some steps, it is not a true step by step.... but here it is...

Just thoughts...

I have been on anti depressant meds off and on for 20 years....  I am still in the process of dealing with myself and who I am...   I am thinking this is a lifelong process, I am trying my best to like the person inside of me...


Too many times, I have thought about someone and just didnt call them....
Too many times, I have wondered how someone who was sick is now feeling....
Too many times, I have just not wanted to bother someone...
Too many times, I have forgotten to check on a special person.....

But then I realize that too many times that is what others are thinking.

Too many times I expect people to do things that I never got around to doing...
Too many times I expect people to care...
Too many times I expect people to read what I write....
Too many times I expect people to care.....

But then I expect that too many times others are expecting that of me.

Too many times I have felt rejected when someone hasnt checked...
Too many times I have felt inferior...
Too many times I have felt totally alone.....

But there are too many times that others have these feelings.

Too many times people expect me to be strong...
Too many times people expect me to keep them informed....
Too many times people expect me to be more than I am....

Too many times I have tried to be everything for everyone.
Too many times, not many times because I needed it for me.

But then I met Larry, and too many times, I have been blessed with his love.....

Well add another one I have to learn to spell, Gastroparesis....

gastroparesis - What is it?

While the pill cam is probably out, the gastric emptying scan on Friday showed that Larry has Moderate Gastro.....  this means another med to deal with..

But it is most likely what is causing his wild insulin levels, his heartburn, his bloating.....

What caused this?  Who knows, but think he has had this for several years now....

Raining here...  but it makes me drowsy....

New game

Larry and I have a new game.  It is called where at Baptist Medical is Dr Ransom today?

  New sighting today     We were at the hospital lobby check in kiosk and this voice in my ear said " does he know what he is doing".   I turned slightly and it was Dr Ransom.   Now remember this is an important heart surgeon, the one who gave Larry life.    I admire him so, but I like him too ....   and love his patient interaction with us.....   but if I had turned 2 more inches Dr Ransom and I would have kissed.   Now that would have been a shocker.

Previous sightings:
He was walking by Larrys room in CVICU when his ICD went off,
Saw him in walkway by rehab,
Going up in elevator,
 in the Outpatient Center hallways many times, sometimes gobbling down food
In waiting areas outside of the clinic offices,
and today in lobby.
*edit - When he comes into patient rooms, he sits down, on the bed or whatever, and really talks.

 He always stops and talks.  Always makes me smile

I wonder if the LVAD nurses have a gps tracker on him?
Hmmmm. If he has a fitbit i guarantee his  steps # gets him prizes.

*edit - sent this to Tori for her laugh a day.....

Why are we here?  Another test.  Gastric emptying scan.  Have to be here for 3 more times today.   Every hour to check progress of stuff they give him.  To see if he has gastroparesis.   This could be the cause of his insulin spikes and extreme drops.

Forgot to mention just a few seconds later after we saw Dr Ransom,  we got a call from Dr Hughes nurse.., checking to see hiw he was feeling...

Today, while passing time, Larry trying out the new bluetooth earbuds that I got him...  of course I get "that look" cause he knows the photos are for this blog......

No results on scan....  afterwards we went to Jason's Deli...  got home, grabbed a nap, then tea.....
I have 2 new individual tea pots and new loose tea...  Breakfast tea for Larry, Earl Grey for me.....

I forgot to mention, prayers please for BB.... my daughter in laws mother... she has another tumor, had radiation today...

Ct scan showed the dang pill is finally moving....   that is great news.....

Just took 2 weeks.  Yes really....

Must have been either the homemade peach hand pies or the gnnocci......

Pill cam...... yep still there

that dang little camera just hasnt moved....  💊
it is still in Larrys stomach, which is better than it being in his small intestines...  
but it is just sitting...... not taking any photos, because the battery only lasted 8 hours... it seems like Larry just can't catch a break....  he is feeling better since the last bleed, but those 2 bleeds set him back, he is just now where he was in early June....  

Frustrating to him.... 😖 this will mean another trip into the hospital 🏨 for an upper endoscopy to retrieve the camera.....  of course it is very depressing to him to think about more....  
CT scan tomorrow... gastric emptying scan scheduled for Friday.... 

Even if he needs a tooth pulled, it will be a hospital stay...  

Had his checkup with Dr Ransom yesterday....   they were so funny... ⌨️ they went live on their new computer system yesterday, and it was taking them 3x as long to do anything than before.  When they get the hang of it, it will be great, they will be connected to the hospital as well...  we did get to see his chest xray with his Lvad pump....  all was good with that visit......  but didnt have report from abdominal xray yet.....

Larry did get a new apparel in for batteries...  this isnt a vest, not a backpack....  it is a tool apron....  the others were hitting on one of the nerves causing back pain and his knee giving way...  just another option for him....  

Was walking into Kroger when this really LOUD alarm went off....  i looked around to see whose car alarm was going off, when all of a sudden my phone was blinking as well.....   i forgot that I had given nurse Tori this very special ring tone so I would not miss a call from her..

Ok.... it was TORI.....  she asked if Larry would do an new LVAD patient conference.....  when they know there is going to be a new LVAD recipient, they ask a current patient to go talk to them.... i was not there when Larry's person came..... but it is a really great support thing.....

 this patient is getting a swan catheter in the morning to measure heart pressures.. ( Larry had his swan in for about 5 days before the surgery, the entire time it is in, you remain in CVICU) . He is scheduled for his lvad implant on Tuesday....   so when I got home I told Larry....   he said sure, so while I was putting up the groceries, this is how he answered Tori.....   i really like their relationship.......

So anyhow, we will go tomorrow to visit and I will try to remain outside and be quiet....  I will share my name and number with his wife......  for later questions... I am positive she will need the information later....  at this point it is OVERWHELMING, to say the least.....  but please remember them in prayers,as well as the medical team......

Steamed carpet again today, steamed doggie crates, washed all bedding, to include sofa throws....
Hopefully that will do it...  need to do the studio again,
And then fingers crossed that the possum fleas are all gone......  i still am disgusted by it all....

Larry seems to be doing better each day inspite of the pill camera fiasco....  will post on monday after the next xray, when we get results....  also have an appointment at clinic that day.

Today was my last trip to dentist for a bit...  had to do some laser shaving in some area where dental implants were...  all i know is it is sore....

Weather here is unreal... lows in the 60's, highs in mid 80's....  this is August....  our hottest month in Arkansas...  in fact in 2011 there was record highs for this day....  makes me ponder.......  what?

In spite of everything going a bit off track, I am thankful for each day that I have with Larry...

Today was pamper me day...  haircut and color...💇🏼 my hair grows about an inch a month... lots of white was showing......  I told my sweet stylist that i appreciated the therapy as much as the haircut....   lol...  she was doing her own bangs bright pink... totally love it on her, but nope never been tempted..  but i needed that....  

when i got home the driveway had been sprayed off.... i am glad Larry felt like doing it, but it worries me, but he did say he had his phone with him.... 📲so i just praised him instead of being a mother hen.....  

Last night I was talking to son about Larry's pill cam, it really doesnt happen very often...  again one of those freak things....   another xray on monday...  if it doesnt pass, then yes they might have to do surgery...  larry wasnt sure of the exact location... he is not very science inclined....  doesnt like medical issues or discussions.... guess I really do need to have him watch 

"Fantastic Voyage movie", my first year out of college, I taught 7th grade life science, learned a lot that year... but I also showed the movie.... 👩🏼‍🏫

 He will be getting another xray to see if the pill cam 💊is still in residence, and they do have him scheduled for a different gastric scan on the 11th...  this one will be a nuclear scan....

Thank you to those who are still reading, who are still commenting both on here and personally, and to those who are still praying...  we are both very appreciative and are not done yet...  just need more 🌈rainbows after the rain 🌧

Diane 💗Larry

Still there

Oh yes.... the pill camera is still in Larry's digestive tract.... comeback next week for another xray, UNLESS you begin having any pain..... yes really...

Again..... this is what it looks like.

But at least his hemoglobin/hematocrit are good...  not dropping, so no bleeding right now....

Fleas seem to be gone....  my flea bites are not itching anymore...  so maybe that is good news....