Things are no longer touch-and-go and so my blog updates have been few and far between. Erik is doing really great. Last weekend the three of us went to the beach and enjoyed some family time in the sand. It was a nice little vacation and much needed. In the last month Erik has started doing all sorts of every day things.
He has golfed 9 holes a few times, which is tiring but worth it. Erik played poker with some of his buddies, and won! He even cooked breakfast for my dad, and dinner for his on fathers day. Erik is now staying home alone several days a week...So give him a call, he may have time to grab a bite to eat or just hang out for a bit.
Yesterday he drove for the first time in almost three months. It went well, actually great and we believe that Erik will soon be able to transport himself to his appointments (after we find a new car that is).
Although in the big scheme of things Erik is recovering great, there is still a steep mountain ahead. Erik is going to Physical and Speech Therapy several times a week. The doctors appointments are frequent, and we are now trying to figure out what to do about his right eye. Erik is seeing several different eye specialists and there may be more surgeries in the future. We are unsure what the next step will be. Erik has problems with severe headaches and fatigue...and as a family we are dealing with the emotional aspects of the accident. Life is different now, we need to take things a bit slower. We have learned to sidestep around loud noises, and lots of commotion. We try things, and if they aren't working out - we back off. As the old saying goes, we take take it day by day and we make the most of the small things.
Thank you everyone for being so great. We have awesome friends and family and you amaze us every day. Erik, Tanner and I are lucky to be surrounded by wonderful people.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Post-OP
Life has been slow since the shunt surgery. Erik had muscle spasms and was flat on his back for several days...he seems to be doing much better since yesterday. This is good, because all the therapies have been put on hold until he feels better. Next week is busy with appointments and so I hope he is back to 'work' mode by then.
It looks like his CSF leak has stopped since the surgery. There has also been an unexpected bonus since the shunt was put in. Erik's double vision seems to have been repaired. I guess that the CSF pressure was not only causing the leak, but the double vision too. Erik has an eye appointment next week & we will learn more about his vision at that time. This is great news...he might have dodged another surgery. Keep your fingers crossed.
It looks like his CSF leak has stopped since the surgery. There has also been an unexpected bonus since the shunt was put in. Erik's double vision seems to have been repaired. I guess that the CSF pressure was not only causing the leak, but the double vision too. Erik has an eye appointment next week & we will learn more about his vision at that time. This is great news...he might have dodged another surgery. Keep your fingers crossed.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Caregiver Calendar Updated 5/18
Thank you so much for helping care for Erik while he is down! We really appreciate it: for Erik it's a nice change of pace to hang out with his friends and for me - it's nice to get a break and go back to work.
Following is the current calendar. Someone has volunteered for every shift in May. Thanks guys!
Following is the current calendar. Someone has volunteered for every shift in May. Thanks guys!
Click on Calendar above to view Large
Click on Calendar above to view LargeFriday, May 16, 2008
TODAY'S Shunt Surgery
Today Erik had his shunt put in. I am so glad that today is over.
He has a incision in his abdomen under his belly button and another in his back on his spine (around the same height). The neurosurgeon team put a small tube (not a vein) in his dura, which surrounds his spine and holds in CSF (the same 'dura' that surrounds is brain). They wove the tube (shunt) under his skin on the right side of his body and attached it to a cavity in his abdomen. This tube drains CSF from his dura at his spine to his abdomen which will naturally absorb into his body. The purpose of this is to relieve the pressure in Erik's brain. With less pressure, it will give the tear in his dura at his brain time to heal. The shunt works on a gravity type system. When he stands up it drains, when laying it does not. He will have headaches because of the shunt, this means that it is working. They should not be migraine headaches, but a slight headache instead. Erik now knows what it feels like to have your stomach cut into - it hurts: and I along with a lot of other ladies can vouch for that. I keep trying to remind him that his muscles will grow back together - it just takes time.
Erik's surgery was short, only 1/2 hour and I saw him 2 hours after it was over. The Doc's said that everything went great. He was funny in the recovery room coming off of the anesthesia. He was talking and cracking jokes, even to other patients in the recovery room. We went into the hospital at 6am and got released at 5pm, so it was a long day. The drive home was NOT fun, but it is now over and Erik is sleeping on the couch heavily medicated.
I am winding down and trying to stay cool. Whew. As far as we can tell, Erik wont be having surgery anytime soon, the next time maybe 5 months down the road for his Eye. The neurosurgeon thinks that Erik may be able to get his eye fixed by an optical surgeon instead of himself. This would be much less invasive and his head would not need to be opened up again. He said that it has something to do with lengthing and shortening the muscles that attach the eye. This sounds much better then the alternative, taking his brain out and fixing the optic roof. Once again I am getting ahead of myself...one day at a time.
He has a incision in his abdomen under his belly button and another in his back on his spine (around the same height). The neurosurgeon team put a small tube (not a vein) in his dura, which surrounds his spine and holds in CSF (the same 'dura' that surrounds is brain). They wove the tube (shunt) under his skin on the right side of his body and attached it to a cavity in his abdomen. This tube drains CSF from his dura at his spine to his abdomen which will naturally absorb into his body. The purpose of this is to relieve the pressure in Erik's brain. With less pressure, it will give the tear in his dura at his brain time to heal. The shunt works on a gravity type system. When he stands up it drains, when laying it does not. He will have headaches because of the shunt, this means that it is working. They should not be migraine headaches, but a slight headache instead. Erik now knows what it feels like to have your stomach cut into - it hurts: and I along with a lot of other ladies can vouch for that. I keep trying to remind him that his muscles will grow back together - it just takes time.
Erik's surgery was short, only 1/2 hour and I saw him 2 hours after it was over. The Doc's said that everything went great. He was funny in the recovery room coming off of the anesthesia. He was talking and cracking jokes, even to other patients in the recovery room. We went into the hospital at 6am and got released at 5pm, so it was a long day. The drive home was NOT fun, but it is now over and Erik is sleeping on the couch heavily medicated.
I am winding down and trying to stay cool. Whew. As far as we can tell, Erik wont be having surgery anytime soon, the next time maybe 5 months down the road for his Eye. The neurosurgeon thinks that Erik may be able to get his eye fixed by an optical surgeon instead of himself. This would be much less invasive and his head would not need to be opened up again. He said that it has something to do with lengthing and shortening the muscles that attach the eye. This sounds much better then the alternative, taking his brain out and fixing the optic roof. Once again I am getting ahead of myself...one day at a time.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Plastic's Appointment
We went to see Dr. Meuller today, Erik's plastic surgeon. He provided us the photo's of the CT scan that was taken last Thursday on 5/8. These images are crazy. He highlighted in yellow each titanium plate that was added to Eriks face. You can see the screws at the end of each plate...they look a little nobby.
As you can see in the following picture. There is a bunch of yellow in the optical floor of his left eye (shown on the right side). That yellow is the titanium mesh that was used to lift up his left eye. There was a hole in this area prior to the plastic surgery.
This image shows a hole in the side area of Erik's head, above the temple. That is a drill hole that the surgeons used to cut Erik's skull open. The cut is shown at the line of the square plate. Dr. Meuller said that the hole will heal itself.
This is the most shocking image. This is the left side of Erik's head. YES there is a giant hole in Erik's skull. We had no clue. I can't get over it. When you look at Erik ... you can actually see a concave indention in Eriks head. I guess that Erik did not realize the indention until I mentioned it to him about 5 minutes before Dr. Meuller walked into the room. This hole seems very strange to me. I am not sure why there is no solid material in this area. The plastic surgeon said that later he can 'pop it back out' with a titanium mesh...I am unsure why it was not done to begin with. It seems a little dangerous to me. We don't have another appointment with Doctor Mueller for another 3 months, so I guess that if Erik wants to 'pop it out' then the surgeon wants to wait to do it.
The next picture shows the big issue with Erik's face. Notice that when you look into the right eye socket, there is nothing there (see the difference between the left socket) This is an issue. There is a hole in Erik's optic roof.
I have re-created a couple diagrams the doctor showed us in order to make it a little easier to understand. This is a normal eye socket in profile view. There is fat behind the eye with an optic roof and floor containing it. Erik's left eye had a hole in the optic floor, which was repaired by that titanium mesh that I mentioned before the first image.
This is a diagram of Erik's Right Eye. There is a hole in the optic roof. The fat is pushing up, therefore not creating the pressure that is needed for the eye to be in its correct location. The eye is pushing back and up. If you look directly into Erik's eyes...you can actually see less of the colored part of Eriks eye. His there is about 5mm of white that continues under his colored area of his eye. His whole eye area is actually set back a bit.
The plastic surgeon said that this type of repair is done by the neurosurgeon. This DOES mean another surgery. We have an appointment with the neurosurgeon tomorrow regarding the CSF leak...We will also try to find out more about the optic roof. I am not sure if this is something that they will be able to repair at the same time.
As you can see in the following picture. There is a bunch of yellow in the optical floor of his left eye (shown on the right side). That yellow is the titanium mesh that was used to lift up his left eye. There was a hole in this area prior to the plastic surgery.
This image shows a hole in the side area of Erik's head, above the temple. That is a drill hole that the surgeons used to cut Erik's skull open. The cut is shown at the line of the square plate. Dr. Meuller said that the hole will heal itself.
This is the most shocking image. This is the left side of Erik's head. YES there is a giant hole in Erik's skull. We had no clue. I can't get over it. When you look at Erik ... you can actually see a concave indention in Eriks head. I guess that Erik did not realize the indention until I mentioned it to him about 5 minutes before Dr. Meuller walked into the room. This hole seems very strange to me. I am not sure why there is no solid material in this area. The plastic surgeon said that later he can 'pop it back out' with a titanium mesh...I am unsure why it was not done to begin with. It seems a little dangerous to me. We don't have another appointment with Doctor Mueller for another 3 months, so I guess that if Erik wants to 'pop it out' then the surgeon wants to wait to do it.
The next picture shows the big issue with Erik's face. Notice that when you look into the right eye socket, there is nothing there (see the difference between the left socket) This is an issue. There is a hole in Erik's optic roof.
I have re-created a couple diagrams the doctor showed us in order to make it a little easier to understand. This is a normal eye socket in profile view. There is fat behind the eye with an optic roof and floor containing it. Erik's left eye had a hole in the optic floor, which was repaired by that titanium mesh that I mentioned before the first image.
This is a diagram of Erik's Right Eye. There is a hole in the optic roof. The fat is pushing up, therefore not creating the pressure that is needed for the eye to be in its correct location. The eye is pushing back and up. If you look directly into Erik's eyes...you can actually see less of the colored part of Eriks eye. His there is about 5mm of white that continues under his colored area of his eye. His whole eye area is actually set back a bit.
The plastic surgeon said that this type of repair is done by the neurosurgeon. This DOES mean another surgery. We have an appointment with the neurosurgeon tomorrow regarding the CSF leak...We will also try to find out more about the optic roof. I am not sure if this is something that they will be able to repair at the same time.
Friday, May 9, 2008
CSF leak
Erik does have a CSF leak (cerebral spinal fluid - see previous blog entry for more info). We have an appointment next Wednesday AM with the neurologist to see what his next step is. It looks like he will have to have a shunt put in. The resident neurologist said that this is a 'minor' surgery in the neurosurgery field. If you are an internet researcher - you will find out that shunts fail frequently. This is not an issue for Erik because it will only be used until Eriks Dura heals itself. I will post more info. on the next surgery after our Wednesday appointment. Hopefully we will know more at that time.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Cisternogram
Erik had a Cisternogram today to find out if he is having CSF (cerebral Spinal Fluid) leaking out of his nose. To explain it easier. You've got a brain, and around the brain is the "dura" which is a layer of tissue that holds in the cerebral spinal fluid...CSF is the same stuff that travels all the way down your spine. The CSF acts as a cushion for the brain. He may have a tear in his dura, which means that he has CSF leaking out of his nose and his eyes.
Today we showed up at OHSU at 7am (way too early for comfort). About 8ish they shoved flat packing that had strings hanging off it; up his nostrils. They are kind of like a very flat tampon. They put two up each nostril with these VERY huge tweezers. Pretty uncomfortable for Erik, he thought the guy was going to poke him in the brain.
Then we got ushered off to radiology. I stood there and held Eriks hand while the Radiologist gave erik a spinal tap. He numbed the spot first with a needle that was a couple inches long. While watching x-rays of Eriks spine, he put a very long needle between his vertebrae. He injected a dye and then a radioactive fluid. The numbing shot hurt a little, the spinal tap shot was only pressure, but the dye hurt very bad. Erik's hips were killing him - but it only lasted a few minutes. This kind of pain is very common...but Erik still hated it.
Erik then got a CT (the big long tube that takes x-rays of his body). Then we went to another building (thru a skybridge) and they took a 'picture' of the radioactive fluid in his brain/spine. They took the packing out of his nose and are testing it for radioactive fluid (this is the best test).
We then went back to Eriks 'room' and waited. The doctor ordered a second CT Scan (which we have no clue why) so we had to go back to do that. So we left the hospital about 4:15.
So, as of now we don't know anything. The lab has to 'spin' the nose packing in order to find out if CSF is in it. The neurologist will review the results from the CT scans and the pictures of the radioactive fluid. We will call in the morning to see if they have the results. Who knows when we will actually find anything out. So..it was a long day and we are both glad its over.
I just want to warn you guys...Erik probably does have CSF leaking out of his nose (and possibly eyes). I will be pretty shocked if the test comes out negative...actually if it is negative, I will think that the test is wrong. The radiologist said that these tests can be/and are frequently inaccurate. Erik had CSF leaking out of his nose in the ICU but it stopped after a few days. We did some research and Erik has 10 out of 12 of the symptoms of CSF leakage (yes, they are most of the same symptoms as brain injury). But finally, Erik is NOT sick...he does not have a cold...and his nose & eyes are leaking a lot during the day...they leak more when he sits up quickly or moves his head around a lot. We will know more tomorrow and I hope that the doc's prove us wrong. If its spinal fluid, then it's likely that Erik will have another surgery to correct the problem - We'll cross that path when we come to it.
Wish us luck and we'll keep you posted. ~Melissa
Today we showed up at OHSU at 7am (way too early for comfort). About 8ish they shoved flat packing that had strings hanging off it; up his nostrils. They are kind of like a very flat tampon. They put two up each nostril with these VERY huge tweezers. Pretty uncomfortable for Erik, he thought the guy was going to poke him in the brain.
Then we got ushered off to radiology. I stood there and held Eriks hand while the Radiologist gave erik a spinal tap. He numbed the spot first with a needle that was a couple inches long. While watching x-rays of Eriks spine, he put a very long needle between his vertebrae. He injected a dye and then a radioactive fluid. The numbing shot hurt a little, the spinal tap shot was only pressure, but the dye hurt very bad. Erik's hips were killing him - but it only lasted a few minutes. This kind of pain is very common...but Erik still hated it.
Erik then got a CT (the big long tube that takes x-rays of his body). Then we went to another building (thru a skybridge) and they took a 'picture' of the radioactive fluid in his brain/spine. They took the packing out of his nose and are testing it for radioactive fluid (this is the best test).
We then went back to Eriks 'room' and waited. The doctor ordered a second CT Scan (which we have no clue why) so we had to go back to do that. So we left the hospital about 4:15.
So, as of now we don't know anything. The lab has to 'spin' the nose packing in order to find out if CSF is in it. The neurologist will review the results from the CT scans and the pictures of the radioactive fluid. We will call in the morning to see if they have the results. Who knows when we will actually find anything out. So..it was a long day and we are both glad its over.
I just want to warn you guys...Erik probably does have CSF leaking out of his nose (and possibly eyes). I will be pretty shocked if the test comes out negative...actually if it is negative, I will think that the test is wrong. The radiologist said that these tests can be/and are frequently inaccurate. Erik had CSF leaking out of his nose in the ICU but it stopped after a few days. We did some research and Erik has 10 out of 12 of the symptoms of CSF leakage (yes, they are most of the same symptoms as brain injury). But finally, Erik is NOT sick...he does not have a cold...and his nose & eyes are leaking a lot during the day...they leak more when he sits up quickly or moves his head around a lot. We will know more tomorrow and I hope that the doc's prove us wrong. If its spinal fluid, then it's likely that Erik will have another surgery to correct the problem - We'll cross that path when we come to it.
Wish us luck and we'll keep you posted. ~Melissa
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