|
| Thanks everyone for praying for my mom. The embolization procedure was a success! The procedure took a bit longer than expected because they had to put a stent in her artery. It looks kind of like a wirey metal cylinder that blocks the entry to the aneurysm and keeps the coil in. The doctor had explained to us before the procedure that there maybe the need for a stent if the neck of the aneurysm is too wide. This adds more time and complexity to the procedure as well as the follow up and possible side effect. On a lighter note, we sort of got a kick out of the possibility of my mom causing the metal detector at the airport beep when she can travel again. We've been told that only a small number of people experience the side effect. The inner wall of the artery may grow over the stent. If not severe, then you can just monitor and leave it alone. If it's too much and obstructs blood flow, then they'll need to go in and fix it or even put in a new stent. She has to take Asparin and Plavix for 6 months to keep the blood flow smooth and prevent a stroke. Then she will need to do a follow up angiogram. So I'd appreciate your contiual prayer in that area. My mom stayed one night in the Neuro ICU after the procedure, then another night on a regular floor before she was discharged. She was having problems with nausia and keeping food down at first, probably due to the anesthesia. She still easily tires and experiences headaches sometimes, which is expected for 2 weeks after the procedure as the coil expands, but it seems like she is on the road to recovery. The entry wound at the groin area for the cathetor and the coil is not very big, but she has a HUGE bruise around it that looks kind of scary, so hopefully that heals well in time too. | | |
| I'm waiting at UCSF for my mom. She just went in to get anesthesia in preparation for her procedure. It'll take about 3-4 hours. | | |
| After much research, consulting doctors and some bumps along the way, my mom is finally getting the embolization (coiling) procedure to treat the brain aneurysm, one year from finding it. She is scheduled to go to UCSF at 7am on Monday, May 4th. She will check in first at the admissions office and then go to the Radiology reception desk at 7:30am. Then I assume she will be prepped and wait for the procedure. I'm not sure how long the procedure will take. I'll be there at the hospital to be with my mom tomorrow. It's been such an encouragement to witness my mom's transformation from being very scared and uncertain to embracing God's peace and goodness. The Lord is definitely hearing and answering fervent prayers on her behalf from dear friends like you! Thanks again for your faithful prayers and please continue to pray for my mom especially tomorrow. In His Peace, Amy | | |
| Thanks for your outpour of support and prayers!
A quick update -- The endovascular procedure orginally scheduled for this Tuesday has been cancelled. My mom has experienced chest pains through out the years that's never been evaluated, which can be an indicator of something wrong with her heart. So both the anesthesia nurse and the radiologist agreed to cancelled the procedure until a cadiology consent. The approach is it's better safe to be sorry. So this Friday, we're going to see my mom's primary doctor to get a referral for a cardiologist, who we'll hopefully have an appointment with next week. And we take it from there. If we get the consent then we'll schedule for another endovascular procedure which should be a less wait than usual since my mom is already "in the system". If it turns out that there is something wrong with her heart, then we'll have to work with both specialties on options.
I'll continue to keep you posted. | | |
| I tried to email the following to people, but some of the addresses are no longer valid! So I'm posting it here. I know I've said this before, but I hope to keep in touch better starting by posting on xanga again.
Dear Friends,
Happy new year! Reflecting back on 2008, although a year not void of up and downs, it is evident of God's provision and goodness. I hope as you're contemplating on resolutions for the new year, you will be expectant of great things (perhaps a couple of curve balls too) because God is just that and He is good!
Some of you know or have heard of what's been going on with me and my family this past year. And some of you, I admit, I haven't kept in touch with as well as I would have liked. Regardless, I consider each of you a dear friend and therefore I'd like to share a bit about what's been going on and ask for your prayers.
My mom had been experiencing some discomforts in her body that eventually led to an MRI scan. The results of the scan in May found that she has a brain aneurysm behind the right eye. No one in my family was very educated in the field of medicine, but anything in the brain sounded like a serious matter than not. Her physician explained to us that fortunately the aneurysm is not symptomatic and relatively small, but on the other hand could be like a "ticking time bomb" and rupture at anytime. Some people live with aneurysm all of their lives and never know it and some rupture. I took a leave of absence from work to help my mom seek out doctors and make a decision. After many consultations with Neurosurgeons and Intervention Radiologists and weighing the pros and cons, we've decided to go with a treatment called endovascular coiling at UCSF. This is a minimally invasive procedure that fills the aneurysm with tiny platinum coils threated through a catheter inserted into the femoral artery in the patient's leg and navigating it through the vascular system, into the head and into the aneurysm. If you like to know more about what this involves, I've included some information below. My mom will have a pre-workup date tomorrow at at UCSF to have a brief physical exam and to discuss anesthesia and related operative concerns. The procedure will take place on Tuesday, January 6th. We don't know the exact time yet, but I expect to be informed tomorrow.
Reading back on what I just wrote, I can't believe that it's all contained in just a couple of paragraphs. It certainly can't describe the fear, uncertainty, and questions that my family dealth with during this experience. It also does not tell of how God has brough my mom from that place to peace. I remember asking my mom how she feels after our first consultation with a neurosurgeon. Besides being physically flushed and breathing hard, she was thinking of all sorts of horrible scenarios and very unsure of her faith or God. However, God has shown His face to my mom through the encouragement and prayers of her congregation, even if ocassionally, it's an alternative treatment or cure offered by one of the chinese ladies from church. ;) I hoped that my presence has been somewhat comforting to her as well, although God has used my mom to encourage me and admonish me even at this time. I would never wish an illness on anyone, but even through something as scary as this, God has proven to be faithful.
I would appreciate it if you can take some out on Tuesday, January 6th and say a prayer for my mom. I hope to update you soon with good news from the outcome of the procedure.
Blessings,
Amy
More Info on Endovascular Coiling:
http://www.brainaneurysm.com/aneurysm-treatment.html
Endovascular therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that accesses the treatment area from within the blood vessel. In the case of aneurysms, this treatment is called coil embolization, or "coiling". In contrast to surgery, endovascular coiling does not require open surgery. Instead, physicians use real-time X-ray technology, called fluoroscopic imaging, to visualize the patient's vascular system and treat the disease from inside the blood vessel.
Endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms involves insertion of a catheter (small plastic tube) into the femoral artery in the patient's leg and navigating it through the vascular system, into the head and into the aneurysm. Tiny platinum coils are threaded through the catheter and deployed into the aneurysm, blocking blood flow into the aneurysm and preventing rupture. The coils are made of platinum so that they can be visible via X-ray and be flexible enough to conform to the aneurysm shape. This endovascular coiling, or filling, of the aneurysm is called embolization and can be performed under general anesthesia or light sedation. More than 125,000 patients worldwide have been treated with detachable platinum coils. Learn more about the development of detachable platinum coil technology.
Although no multi-center randomized clinical trial comparing endovascular coiling and surgical treatment of unruptured aneurysms has yet been conducted, retrospective analyses have found that endovascular coiling is associated with less risk of bad outcomes, shorter hospital stays and shorter recovery times compared with surgery.
| | |
|
