March 31, 2009

Yesterday the neurologist informed me that the CT scan last week showed that Rand’s left carotid artery is completely blocked – not even a trickle of blood is getting through to the brain on that side. Consequently, vascular surgery to clear out that artery is not feasible. In two weeks I will meet with the doctor and find out the implications and options for Rand as a result of that test. I will post a summary of that meeting on this blog. I am not going to discuss the results of the scan with Rand as he has already forgotten about it.

This afternoon we are off to adapted bowling and life goes on.

Keep Rand close.

Love,
Connie

March 24, 2009

Rand celebrating his February birthday.

Recently, during physical therapy at the hospital, Rand suffered a TIA, which is a precursor to a stroke, and he spent several hours in ER. As a result, the neurologist ordered an ultra sound of his carotid arteries. Today we met with the neurologist to discuss the results. The ultra sound showed that the left carotid artery is totally blocked and supplies no blood to Rand's brain. The doctor told us that the ultra sound is not completely accurate and reliable so he has ordered a CTV scan with an iodine contrast which Rand will have this Friday morning. He said that if the CT scan shows that the artery is really totally blocked there is nothing they can do, but if there is even a trickle of blood getting through that artery, then they have some options. The first and foremost option is surgery to clean out/roto-router the artery. That is a dangerous surgery because a piece of plaque in the artery can be easily jarred loose, travel to the brain or other major organs and be fatal. There are other procedures as well, but the doctor didn't discuss them with us. About a week or ten days after the CT scan we will meet with the neurologist again and hear those results. We will then either say good bye to him or be sent on to a vascular surgeon for a consultation and some decision making.

The other day I was telling Rand about the tests that were coming up and that he had gone through similar ones about three years ago. At that time the doctors did not recommend vascular surgery because he was so weak that they did not feel he could survive the operation. When I told him that there might be a similar discussion this time, Rand said, "NO! NO!! NO!!!" After the appointment today, we went out for lunch and I told him again about the procedure on Friday and the options that the results would produce. He listened carefully, had a pained, anxious look on his face but did not say anything.

The neurologist examined Rand and was pleased with what he could do, very interested in what deficits he has and how his processing works. Rand could tell the doctor his name but not mine. He did know that I was not his mother or sister and laughed at both suggestions. When the word "wife" came up he said Yes. Not too long ago he didn't understand the difference between the terms and confused the roles when questioned. When asked to hold up three fingers and point them at the ceiling, he struggled and looked at me to confirm that he was doing the right things, that he had figured out three fingers and the location of the ceiling. After a hesitant and shaky start, he managed to follow the directions correctly and was very proud of himself, emphatically pointing at the ceiling much longer than necessary.

The neurologist also made a referral to the Speech Pathology Dept. It will be interesting to see if they will continue to provide services to Rand after all this time.

He made some comments about quality of life and said that he fully expected Rand's life span to be another 15 to 20 years.

This has been a long, tiring day, filled with anxiety and the unknown. Rand was so tired after lunch that he decided not to go bowling which was fine with me! To top it all off, this afternoon I got a call from the cruise line about our celebratory Mexican Riviera Cruise in April, 2010. The company has canceled all cruises to Mexico and added trips in the Caribbean instead. Uff da. I am back to the drawing board. Oh, well, it gives me something else to think about, look forward to and to keep me out of trouble.

I will keep you posted on the next steps. Please keep Rand close to your hearts and in your thoughts and prayers. It is an anxious time.

Love,
Connie