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Jillybean67
BucketHead
PeaNut 449,423
December 2009
Posts: 766
Layouts: 2
Loc: Southeast Texas
 |  Posted: 1/29/2013 5:09:18 AM
I wanted to give an update on my DH who suffered a massive hemmorhagic stroke in March of 2012 at the age of 46.
Progress has slowed down which they warned us would happen. He has been going to therapy three times a week but insurance will only pay for 25 visits in a calendar year so continue with that we will have to pay out of pocket.
He has been having some bowel issues for the past six months and after seeing three local doctors who ran all sorts of tests and telling us they could find nothing wrong we visited a specialist in San Antonio last week. It took abou five minutes of explaining the symptoms and about two minutes to EXAMIN him and he diagnosed the problem and a solution! We go on Thursday to San Antonio where the doctor will be injecting Botox into the muscles that are contracting and not allowing him to push things out as they should. The Botox will make the muscles relax and will last 6 to 8 months which will hopefully allow his brain to rewire the pathway that tells those muscles to relax like normal.
We also purchased an electronic muscle stimulator for his affected arm and hand that hopefully will help him regain some use of it. It is his right hand and since he is normally right handed to get some use back would be a wonderful thing. We also purchased one for his leg. Insurance would not cover either one so at almost $10k it was a big investment but if it helps even a little will be well worth it.
The speech impairment frustrates him the most. To say the simplist thing can sometimes take minutes and sometimes doesn't come out at all. He has a hard time remembering my name. You can tell he knows what he wants to say but it gets lost somewhere between his brain and his mouth.
He is very self-conscious and doesn't like to go out in public. So it is very rare that we even go out to eat.
Some days it is hard to deal with it all. I went from having a helpmate to being the sole provider of our family. I get sad and wish things could just go back to the way they were. I sometimes feel like my prayers don't go any higher than the ceiling. I look at men around me in the store, in the car next to me in traffic, everywhere and wonder why my husband and not that man? And then I have to remember that "all things work together for good, for those who love God" Romans 8:28 , and I have to put my faith and trust in Him to see us through.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. | |
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margievis
PeaFixture
PeaNut 58,762
December 2002
Posts: 4,221
Layouts: 335
Loc: Humboldt,TN
 | Posted: 1/29/2013 6:07:32 AM
Thank you for updating us! You have my prayers! | |
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paintedmoon
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 150,843
June 2004
Posts: 7,808
Layouts: 213
Loc: Texas
 | Posted: 1/29/2013 8:26:28 AM
Jill, thank you so much for this update. I'm glad to hear there are things happening now (and in the near future) that will help with some of these issues. I'm sorry that it is costing you so much, though, both monetarily and emotionally/physically. Your husband is a lucky man to have you by his side through all of this - you are an incredibly strong woman, and it makes me sad that you both have had to face such trials.
I will keep both of you in my thoughts, and I hope he continues to see improvement and feels better in the days/months ahead.
Anne | |
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ayaandjudah
PeaNut
PeaNut 578,067
January 2013
Posts: 28
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 1/29/2013 8:38:19 AM
he will be in my thoughts | |
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memories5
PeaAddict
PeaNut 272,462
August 2006
Posts: 1,834
Layouts: 348
Loc: Indiana
 | Posted: 1/29/2013 11:47:35 AM
We have a lot in common dear lady and I have the same exact thoughts... I just want to walk around the mall or go out to dinner... I feel the same about my prayers too... Thanks for your post... We should chat about things...  Jen | |
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scrapmingo
PeaAddict
PeaNut 173,756
October 2004
Posts: 1,919
Layouts: 18
Loc: Maine
| Posted: 1/29/2013 11:55:19 AM
Thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your husband on this journey!
Alison | |
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bendedroad
Nicki
PeaNut 405,632
January 2009
Posts: 6,720
Layouts: 111
Loc: West Virginia
 | Posted: 1/29/2013 12:06:37 PM
Jill, thank you for coming back and bringing us up to date. I had hoped no news was good news. I know this has been an arduous journey and at times it would appear there is no light at the end of the tunnel - but hang in there. You are making strides in the right direction. Our continued positive thoughts and prayers are with you, your husband and family.  | |
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Jillybean67
BucketHead
PeaNut 449,423
December 2009
Posts: 766
Layouts: 2
Loc: Southeast Texas
| Posted: 1/29/2013 1:19:30 PM
Thank you, everyone, for your well wishes and prayers.
It has been a hard year for us. We used to try and get away for a weekend every couple of months to visit some place new, to take pictures, to have fun. I went to Las Vegas on a company trip earlier this month and it was my first trip out of town in almost a year. I had so much fun even though I didn't really do much of anything but take pictures. I felt guilty for having fun. I try to go one Sunday a month with my sister somewhere close to take pictures and feel guilty doing that while my DH is at home. But if I don't get out and do something I will go crazy.
My mother-in-law quit her part-time job so she could be at home with my hubby while I went back to work. Two weeks after Tom got home from the hospital, she tripped and fell, breaking her hip. She had to have hip replacement surger. She is doing fine and has healed wonderfully. Then I broke my shoulder in September 2012 tripping over my son's cat. I had to have surger to put a metal plate and screws in so it would heal properly. Someone at church suggested we wrap my son in bubble wrap so nothing happened to him.
I don't feel very strong. I get frustrated, angry, sad and sometime wish I could just run away. Work is actually an escape since it gets me out of the house but I feel like I go from one stressful situation to another.
I feel like I'm whining but it is good to be able to "talk" about this. And Jen, anytime you want to talk I'm willing. | |
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REBL
PeaFixture
PeaNut 413,839
March 2009
Posts: 3,501
Layouts: 23
Loc: Keystone Province Canada Eh
| Posted: 1/29/2013 7:17:11 PM
Jill
Thanks for the update! ..... feel freee to 'whine' here anytime. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Have LOTS of bubble wrap if you need any. | |
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deragirl
PeaAddict
PeaNut 300,444
February 2007
Posts: 1,817
Layouts: 77
Loc: Montana
| Posted: 1/29/2013 7:17:32 PM
You are the second person today that I pass this passage on to - I heard it in the car on the radio and it stuck with me through the day. I am sure it is familiar to you, but sometimes reviewing Paul's words is helpful:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
I will continue to pray, including that you and your husband not lose heart - that encouragements come into your life on a regular basis, even if the physical healing is slow and financial burdens are heavy. Your prayers are heard and cherished (which I think you know) it is just that sometimes the answers aren't quite how we envisioned. | |
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Cindy March
BucketHead
PeaNut 487,105
November 2010
Posts: 768
Layouts: 0
Loc: Long Island, New York
 | Posted: 1/29/2013 8:17:04 PM
I am praying for you and your family. | |
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gardencat
PeaAddict
PeaNut 495,307
January 2011
Posts: 1,412
Layouts: 135
| Posted: 1/29/2013 8:17:40 PM
thank you for taking the time to come and update us here on what is happening with you and your husband.
You are carrying a very heavy load now and my heart goes out to you. Please do not feel that you are whining. Sometimes it helps just to be able to communicate what you are feeling to someone else. Even if they cannot give material help, it lightens the load just to be able to say it and to admit that you get frustrated or overwhelmed...things you might not feel free to say to those around you who are involved in the situation.
You and your family are in my thoughts. | |
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Scrapbookermel
BucketHead
PeaNut 352,358
December 2007
Posts: 731
Layouts: 3
Loc: Ohio
 | Posted: 1/30/2013 5:04:14 AM
Jill, I can fully appreciate what you are going through. (My 19 year old niece has a serious brain injury from an auto accident in December of 2010.) So while we are watching her college and high school friends graduate from college this spring, we are trying to teach her to eat, talk, walk, etc. It can be very emotional. And we have also experienced the insurance problems. Botox has been very helpful for my niece and I hope it is for your husband as well.
I think the bubble wrap is a great idea and would make a cute photo!
Progress with the brain is very slow as we are also finding. It amazes me how little we know about the brain. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. | |
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katiedoodlesgran
PeaNut
PeaNut 213,224
July 2005
Posts: 378
Layouts: 0
Loc: Near St. Louis
 | Posted: 2/2/2013 11:11:52 PM
Bless your heart you do have a full plate. I am adding my prayers as well. | |
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