"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."--Psalm 145:18
After a family vacation that was wonderful, but a nightmare overnight airport mess (thank you, Spirit Airlines, may no one be chumped into flying with you!), I started having issues with my left leg again. Thinking that the stress of cancelled flights and staying up 29 hours exasperated my symptoms, I gave it a few days. I continued to have quite a bit of nerve pain and was endlessly fatigued.
I had a neurologist appointment scheduled, and wanted to plead my case for having another round of plasma pheresis (exchange), which I knew that the good doctor wasn't too keen, especially with my very low white blood count. I prayed that he would change his mind, which he seemed to do in mid-conversation--Wa-hooo!
I was scheduled for later in July, but my symptoms were increasing daily, and the pain/numbness combo pack was creeping higher and higher, which signals a flair. (Dadgum it! Didn't I just have one of those in March?!) I was able to be admitted to Blodgett Hospital (not Butterworth this time) on the afternoon of July 1st. Blodgett, BTW, has be-a-uuuuu-tiful new private rooms that are at least twice the size of Butterworth. Very impressive!
8:00 am July 2, I had a Vascular-Cap port inserted in my jugular like last time with a pick line close to my heart; about 6 inches or so. By 9:30 am, nice Nurse Mary hooked me up to the machine and began my first of five treatments. Mary gave me my very first plasma exchange in March after the high doses of steroids didn't do anything but make my face super puffy.
Plasma exchange treatments are done every other day to give my body a change to "catch up;" treatments kind of take the starch out of my shorts. So, my next treatment is tomorrow, July 4th. Now, I last went into the hospital on St. Patty's Day through Easter, and now Independence Day. Sheesh! I sure know how to spend the holidays! I'm just afraid what might happen on Labor Day! :-)
I don't have any improvements yet, but I don't expect any until the third or fourth treatment like last time. Because it is the holidays, this wing is sparsely populated, which means it is q-u-i-e-t and I can actually get some rest, which rarely happens in my hospital experiences--what a blessing!
I'll keep all y'all updated and appreciate the prayers because I know they are heard and answered by our loving Father, who wants only good things for his children.
Blessings,
James
I had a neurologist appointment scheduled, and wanted to plead my case for having another round of plasma pheresis (exchange), which I knew that the good doctor wasn't too keen, especially with my very low white blood count. I prayed that he would change his mind, which he seemed to do in mid-conversation--Wa-hooo!
I was scheduled for later in July, but my symptoms were increasing daily, and the pain/numbness combo pack was creeping higher and higher, which signals a flair. (Dadgum it! Didn't I just have one of those in March?!) I was able to be admitted to Blodgett Hospital (not Butterworth this time) on the afternoon of July 1st. Blodgett, BTW, has be-a-uuuuu-tiful new private rooms that are at least twice the size of Butterworth. Very impressive!
8:00 am July 2, I had a Vascular-Cap port inserted in my jugular like last time with a pick line close to my heart; about 6 inches or so. By 9:30 am, nice Nurse Mary hooked me up to the machine and began my first of five treatments. Mary gave me my very first plasma exchange in March after the high doses of steroids didn't do anything but make my face super puffy.
Plasma exchange treatments are done every other day to give my body a change to "catch up;" treatments kind of take the starch out of my shorts. So, my next treatment is tomorrow, July 4th. Now, I last went into the hospital on St. Patty's Day through Easter, and now Independence Day. Sheesh! I sure know how to spend the holidays! I'm just afraid what might happen on Labor Day! :-)
I don't have any improvements yet, but I don't expect any until the third or fourth treatment like last time. Because it is the holidays, this wing is sparsely populated, which means it is q-u-i-e-t and I can actually get some rest, which rarely happens in my hospital experiences--what a blessing!
I'll keep all y'all updated and appreciate the prayers because I know they are heard and answered by our loving Father, who wants only good things for his children.
Blessings,
James