Text 10993, 79 rader
Skriven 2014-03-13 22:52:38 av Stephen Haffly (1:396/45.27)
  Kommentar till text 10755 av Nancy Backus (1:261/1381.0)
Ärende: status update
=====================
Hello Nancy,

On (10 Mar 14) Nancy Backus wrote to Stephen Haffly...

 SH> The bad is that there is no approved device to close a patent
 SH> foramen ovale (the hole in the heart that is supposed to close when
 SH> we are born which in my case, is open). This opening is not uncommon,
 SH> and it does not seem to cause problems with most people. However, in
 SH> my case, it appears to have now been associated with two strokes.

 NB> Not so good.  I take it it can't (or is unwise to) be surgically
 NB> closed?

I don't think I want them cracking my chest open for surgical closure.
It would have to be done though the heart wall with the risk that
entails.

 SH> Since there is no approved device to close it, I will be on some
 SH> form of anti-clotting medication, whether the low-dose aspirin I am
 SH> now taking or something else, for the indefinite future.

 NB> As long as those meds don't give you problems, that isn't all that
 NB> bad.

So far, so good. I have problems with NSAIDS when taken for long term
Aspirin does not seem to affect me as bad as pyroxicam or meloxicam did
when I tried them for longer term use. After about a month, my mouth
started breaking out with chancre sores and food started to taste bad.
The only thing that fixed it was to discontinue use of those
medications. When I tried again after things cleared up, the chancre
sores came back. I am not talking about just one or two either. I have
not noticed this problem with the 83 mg Aspirin. Hopefully, it is
different enough that it will not cause the problems.

 NB> Kinda a Catch-22...  But friends are a very good thing... :)  One
 NB> hopes that the DMV will move more efficiently than normal, and that
 NB> you won't be kept in limbo for too much longer...

I have verification on the medical form getting to the DMV. That is a
step forward.

 SH> Otherwise, I have been feeling okay. I am waiting now on an
 SH> appointment with a neurologist to discuss whether to continue with the
 SH> aspirin or to use some other form of medication. Because these increase
 SH> the risk of bleeding, the neurologist would need to evaluate whether
 SH> the stroke area is stable enough that I would not be put at risk of a
 SH> hemorrhagic stroke on top of the ischemic stroke I had.

 NB> Quite the balancing act, isn't it... :)   I'm glad that you are
 NB> feeling ok, despite the circumstances... has the back finished
 NB> healing, btw...?

Yes it is. At least I do not have to deal with Warfarin.

The back is doing well. I still have some numbness in my leg and
periodic tingling in my foot. However, my leg regained the strength it
was losing, so I am happy with the outcome.


 NB> I've been passing updates to my church family... they are glad to be
 NB> able to help by continuing with their prayers... and are even more
 NB> glad to hear of progress and praises... ;)

Please relay my thanks. I appreciate their prayer support. While I am
unlikely to regain more of the vision that was lost, I am thankful to
have what eyesight I do have. Things could have been much worse, in
which case, I would not be even able to think about getting back on the
road in the driver's seat.


Regards,

Stephen
Professional Point in DOSBox running on Linux.

... Proverbs 3:13 | Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

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