Showing posts with label Health-Weslee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health-Weslee. Show all posts

Dec 9: Overwhelmed. Again.

I keep trying to carve out time up write here, work on projects, deal with my health issues, finish writing books, help Weslee, etc, but I am struggling. (Oh, and my computer died. Arghh!)

Finally healed from my 3 hospital visits (3 in 6 weeks!) so now I need to turn my focus to my super-low platelets and uterine cancer.

Weslee has been having drop seizures (sometimes followed by gelastic) almost every night. When not in his safe space (bed), either I catch him as he falls (nearby by accident / fate/ luck) or he falls backward into walls, floors, doors, and one time, into the tub/shower. He hits his head every time, and often gets scratches or cuts on his back.

He crushed a little shelf (pic to left) set in the bathroom as he fell onto it. Luckily, it had held only his "night-timies" ... overnight disposable underwear, extra tp, etc.  Sooo glad he doesn't close the bathroom door because his body would have blocked me from getting to him. (As a reminder, we hung a long blackout curtain over the doorway so <1> he can have privacy, and <2> I can get to him.)

And I have either the flu or a nasty cold. Cough, fever, migraine, nausea/vomiting. Either way, I am laid up. Mostly.

Will post more when I can. 

Thanks. Vikki

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#ThatPurpleMomcom 

#gelasticseizures

#uterinecancer

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share... PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... AND please visit my etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/VikkiLawrenceShop .. 

For Weslee's regular and daily needs, please visit: Weslee Lawrence's Needs (WalMart) List.  Thank you.

OCT 11: Glioblastoma Tumor

I was going through some papers that I hadn't looked at fir a while, including , my first bare-bones seizure tracker.

It gave details about the very beginning of Weslee's seizure journey, and his first surgeries.

First recognizable seizure (will discuss SIMPLE PARTIAL - DE JA VU seizures another time) was a tonic clonic (grand mal) that happened March of 2010. After quite a few tonic clonics/drops/and absense, EMU stays, and experimenting with meds, we decided to do surgery.

This is when Make-a-Wish gifted him a giant tv.  We weren't sure of his outcome.

2013: A 'WADA' test was performed to determine where his speech was... ... a highly invasive surgery. I began to prepare for the possibility of blindness, inability to talk or walk, and other side effects.

They did a Two-Step surgery in 2013. I did NOT expect a diagnosis of a brain tumor called a 'glioblastoma'. (Fatal and aggressive, but not. Confused.). He survived but not without lifelong consequences.

  • Walks with a limp.
  • Picked up a stutter.
  • Partially blind in both eyes.
  • Memory has more holes than a pasta strainer.
  •  ... ... Seizure-free (kinda) by Jan 2014 until my breast cancer diagnosis May 2016. Stress, we think. Now nothing at all helps the seizures to disappear. Everything we try seems to make it worse.

Most of this is in my book 'Epilepsy: One Mother's Perspective' plus a whole lot more.

Note: Weslee has had multiple seizures every night for the last 3 nites. We are both sooo over this!!


Vikki

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share... PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... AND please visit my etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/VikkiLawrenceShop .. 

For Weslee's regular and daily needs, please visit: Weslee Lawrence's Needs (WalMart) List.  Thank you.

Sept 16: W Doc Appt




Took Weslee to see our PCP to discuss his weight loss.  (He had lost another 10 pounds).

There are a few reasons:

  • Looks like W just doesn't feel like eating. 
  • Not much sounds good. 
  • He wanted to change things up. Sooo bored.
  • And in the video... my health concerns were scaring him
PCP says keep up with the multivitamin, and get at least protein and calories in him, even if it is ice cream. He says he will eat again.. and he is, a little.

I guess he has a lot of ice cream in his future Chocolate Chop Cookie Dough.

He did eat a a bowl of cereal today (Wednesdsy)

As a side note, I now have a diagnosis, and isn't good. Referred to specialist, with 1st appointment next week.



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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to oPaypal ... and our etsy shop is www.etsy/shop/VikkiLawrenceshop .. Thank you

Sept 15: Struggle

TRIGGER WARNING

I have been putting off writing this. I didn't want to open up our lives up completely to anyone, and never promised to.


But I need to (kinda) now, because I am struggling. Major big-time "I am so lost" outta-options struggle.

I am quite ill. I had exploratory surgery this past Friday. They nearly postponed it again because my platelets are still quite low. We discussed the pros and cons, and decided the need to get a diagnosis was greater than waiting for my platelets to come up another 19 points, or the possibility of me bleeding out. Am waiting for results of biopsies.

That is me. In pain. Still bleeding from surgery. Dizzy. Overwhelmed.

On to Weslee. His weight is still plummeting. He won't eat barely at all... not even his fave foods. He gets super angry when I even suggest he grab something. Says he feels out of fuel, and then gets pissed off when I logically explain fuel comes from food. I made him a doc appt for tomorrow; will tell him tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, it is possible that this is his way of self-ending his life. Maybe the constant seizures are taking a toll. Maybe he doesn't want to see me die. Maybe he needs more control over .. anything. Maybe he just doesn't care anymore.

I don't know. 

And I am struggling to not give in to my own demons.

Aug 29: LAUNCH POSTPONED

Ever had a migraine so bad that you just want to stay still and not even blink? But you have to because someone is counting on you, so you do what you can.

Between that and my bleeding situation (low platelets, iron and white blood cell count), and little chest pains, well, I feel for my kiddo. Mostly alone today.

Thankfully he isnt having too many of the bigger seizures. Glad he is feeling much better, breathing-wise. Weslee is doing his thing... writing a story and watching vids. Will try to get him dinner in a little bit.

So ... I haven't had the wherewithall to get the store ready for a specific launch (to raise money for medical bills and Weslee's next brain surgeries). Will post items on etsy when I can.

(Pic shows earrings, journals, dinosaur egg, and shaker paperclips.)




www.etsy.com/shop/VikkiLawrenceShop

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

Aug 26: Weslee's Health

Whatever illness Weslee woke up with yesterday was mostly gone today. The chest pain. The trouble breathing. Maybe just a 24 hours thing? So I didn't take him to the Emergency Dept. (ER) but will keep a close eye.

(The pic is NOT him!)

If the illness or whatever from yesterday had been serious, not sure if his shrinking body could have fought it off.

Am glad his seizures didn't increase because of all his body is going through. Praying it stays that way.

Pic of 'my girls'
He still really isn't eating and looks skeletal. Reminds me of just after his first brain surgery. Couldn't get him to eat or drink. By then, our goats had started producing milk, so he got to a healthy weight with raw goat milk, eggs from our quail and chickens, and produce from our garden and the local farmer's market.

(Note: I raised the goats, kept them healthy, and did the milking. The raw milk was absolutely safe .. .. I trust me!! Too bad we don't have the farm anymore.)

Anyhoo... need to order him some size Medium shorts (clothes in general) when I get some money. Even 8-9 months ago, he was in X and XL. Now, he could fit two of himself in each item. Can't walk without holding up his shorts.

(I refuse to consider getting him size Small. Nope. Not gonna happen.)

Meanwhile, my platelet, iron, bleeding and bruising problem is getting worse. If tomorrow is as bad as today was, the trip to the ER will be for me.

Vikki, mom of Weslee


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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

Aug 25: Weslee Might be Sick

Weslee woke up this morning feeling weird. Pain but not pain, in the heart area. Like fist over fist, squeezing. That was the best he could describe it.

But also ... he has a slight problem breathing / taking in air. I had him use an inhaler.

No cough. no fever but does have a slight headache.

If he doesn't feel better in the morning, will take him to E.R.

(He is still losing weight. Looks positively skeletal. I am absolutely concerned. His clothes look like tents; like he could fit two of him in them. The smallest shorts I have for him is large; now needs a medium. Will try to get a pic later.)

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

Aug 2: Overall Update

I know, I know. It's been a while so thought I would do a little update about several topics.

Temperature Too Hot: (See July 28 posting). We got the little a/c units but they only work half the time. Trying to return them thru Amazon but frustratingly, not getting a response. Will keep on trying.


I have an electric cooler that I bought last year to use as a fridge during hospital stays. It is insulated (see 2nd pic) so I figured plugged in would be too cold. I experimented. Satisfied with the results, I started keeping ALL of his meds in it. It's a tight squeeze but necessary.

My Surgery: Still waiting on getting approval for the special medicine to bring up my iron and platelet levels. They won't do my exploratory surgery without my levels increased so I don't bleed out on the table. Medicine and insurance move slower than snails!

Weslee and an Overall Physical: (See Jul 23 posting). He had been having some minor complaints about various things, so I took him to his GP. No diabetes, platelets and other various blood components all look good. Gotta watch his headaches (still has a shunt [I call it a brain drain] and it is still working and in the right place.)

Oh, and get this. His last appointment was December 2024. Between then and now, he lost 40 pounds.  FORTY!!

Weslee and His Epilepsy: He continues to have both good days and bad. Clusters of the various types of seizures. Aggrevation leading to tantrums leading to outbursts of seizures.

He does seem to have a lot more of those little seizures even before he opens his eyes in the morning.  He is taking a rescue drug nearly every morning (doc okayed it).

His next epileptologist appointment isn't until November. That is a WHOLE LOT of seizure-filled mornings.

I really wish the VNS (vagus nerve stimulator) worked on him.

The Cleveland Clinic is keeping Weslee's file open for if when we find funding for a vehicle to get us there and back.

Plan for the Nearby Future:  Because of my increasing medical situations, I need to plan for "just in case" but am having some difficulties. While I do have 2 and a half sisters, no one can take on Weslee. My best friend is in her 70s (I think) and can't do it either.

My husband doesn't get along with my son (they are not bio related).

I **am** his POA (Power of Attorney). I can legally make decisions for him but this doesn't work regarding long term plans, and/or what I want to happen when I am gone.

Seriously, no one I know can and is willing to become Weslee's guardian. I have no extra money to put towards a group home, and our combined income is $60 over the requirement. That same $60 prevents Medicaid and other things that could help.

So what do other people do when they have a special needs adult kid who is mentally preteen and there is no one in the family to help?


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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

Jul 23: Checkup at PCP

I scheduled today's doctor appointment last week when Weslee had another episode of severe abdominal pain. Glad I did, because I also wanted him to check out W's back from last night's fall after seizure number ... 3 (?). [Just a scratch .. plus maybe some bone bruising .. keeping an eye on it.]

His BMI looks good for now .. but .. less than a year ago, W weighed 188. A bit chunky but not nearly as bad as me. Today ... 149 pounds!!! A massive drop of 40 pounds. Why? He just doesn't feel like eating. 

He left a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream sit in the freezer for over 4 days before eating. If you know him at all...that is nearly impossible. His longest stretch of saying no to ice cream prior to that was maybe 48 hours.

When I cook, I try to make his favorites. Sometimes he will even turn those down.

Weslee even said no to carrots, strawberry/banana juice, and pasta alfredo!

The PCP asked all kinds of questions to try to ascertain if he is depressed. Nope, not that.

The weight loss is just one more thing to watch. 

He has also developed headaches. The seizures are mutating...half the time I can't figure out what kind they are. And the sudden fits of anger and tantrumy behavior is overwhelming.


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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

Jul 13: Heat vs Seizures

We had a pretty mild winter here in Kentucky. Snow only a few times. Below freezing less than a handful. Weslee and I thought maybe we will have a mild summer as well.

Yeah.

No.

We had high 80s low 90s before summer even officially started. Here we are, just 3 weeks later, and Friday temp was 97! 

Unfortunately, I had two errands that I absolutely needed to do on Friday. I took a bottle of water with me so I thought I would be fine. By the time I got home, I had mild heat exhaustion. Had it before 5 or 6 times in my life, so I recognized it. Did what I could do, and finally made it upstairs to check on Weslee, and to lay down.

With the temp being so high INSIDE this place, he felt a bit fried too. Also had been having seizures for hours. No tonic clonics, thank goodness, but a mass of his smaller ones, like absense, gelastic, and tonic without the clonic.

Since his safe space is his bed, and he is supposed to stay there while I am gone, he didn't fall during any of them.

But these seizures, especially the absense, lasted all through Saturday. As Sunday's dawn approaches, I hope the seizures will be back to normal today.

He can't handle the heat any more than I can.  Really hope the little a/c units get here this coming week. Having downstairs be 15-20 degrees cooler than upstairs is ridiculous.

Will keep you posted.

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.




June 9: Health

I wish I had the energy to write here more often, but today at my oncologist appointment, I found out ONE of the causes for my fatigue and other symptoms: severe iron deficiency.

For most people, it wouldn't be a big deal but combine that with very low platelets and white blood cell count, other disturbing symptoms PLUS a surgical procedure next week.

I won't bore you with details, but the next couple of weeks are filled with special RXs, infusions, more blood draws, etc. 

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My broken rib is really inconvenient and makes sleeping difficult. I can't stay on only one side for an entire night, but my back and right side are not options. The cough makes it worse. Still can't put Weslee's new bed together. Maybe I will be healed enough next week.

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As far as Weslee goes, he discovered several loose pills on the floor and in his bed linen. They must have missed his mouth. Unfortunately, they were seizure meds. Might explain why he has been so up and down lately.

Yesterday was rough as was the day before. Not sure exactly what the trigger was but I don't tolerate from anyone being yelled at with multiple "F*** OFF"s and doors slamming.

Then came the clusters of seizures. 

NOT fun.

Well... need to put his meds for the week into his pill case.  Almost time for his evening meds.

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.


June 4: The Nice Side Showed Up

Last night I was painting a bookmark, hoping to list it along with others on Etsy by Sunday.

As usual, I dropped a couple of things. Yes, I am a big‐ole clutz!


I was sitting in my office chair that has armrests, and I didn't give it another thought. 

I reached over to pick up ehat I had dropped, and heard and felt a horrendous pop and snap. Sudden burst of pain. I do believe I have broken a rib on the armrest. 

Why do I think that? Because I did the exact same thing about a year ago, but on my left side. Same way .. on the armrest. It took weeks to heal.

This time, I have a bad cough, which does NOT help. I actually think this time is a bit more severe because I couldn't even sleep on that side last night. Each movement caused pain.

But this is a post about Weslee, right? Right. So... when it happened, I screamed a short little scream when I popped the rib. He immediately paid attention and checked on me. Made sure I wasn't dying, etc.

As somone with autism, he often can't feel compassion for others. He tries, and in some instances, like what happened on 9/11/2001, he can cry buckets.  So when he feels concern for anyone else, it shows the true Weslee that is deep inside.

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

June 1: Complications

Weslee has had a few difficult days. Not just a bad cold and cough plus seizures, but he doesn't feel like eating so his weight is quickly dropping. Sudden bursts of anger pepper the days which, it appears, is a prelude to more frequent and intense seizures like a tonic clonic, and a "night time" embarassing event.


I only put it together when I noticed that 4 out of 7 days had those rage days. I noted those outbursts on my personal calendar (no pic) and not in his seizure diary (pic included).

This past Friday night was a doozy, involving a bedroom door slam and the whole building shaking. I watched him more closely after that.

Saturday afternoon, he confessed a situation had happened overnight (I dont want to embarrass him but you can guess), and he felt he had 'passed out' and thinks he had a tc (tonic clonic) while he slept.

Oh, and his bed is completely broken now. Too many times falling on it during seizures. I ordered a cheapo super duper sturdy metal frame from Amazon. Should be here on Tuesday. Paid with a credit card so I really need to get my June products listed on Etsy to pay it off.

Last night before bed he said he doesn't think the meds are working any more. Great. Just great.

I will call his epileptologist on Monday. Tell her all of this.

That is it for now. Have a good day.

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please like, follow and share .. PLUS .. please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

May 28: Sleepyhead


This is what I woke up to ... Weslee sound asleep.  I know he had gotten up earlier to take his pills and a few other things. I wonder if he had a tonic clonic seizure to make him so sleepy. Perhaps he was just tired.

I admit that I wanted to go back to bed myself but ... errands. Seems like I am at the pharmacy at least once a week, no matter how hard I try to get all of our meds to the same day a week (prefer same day per month).

Oh, and I found out last night that a credit card number was stolen. Again. My bank caught it but now I have to go to the bank for a new card. 

So frustrating.

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Weslee needs more brain surgeries for his seizures.  To help, please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.


May 26: Too Much Time

I briefly came out of my fog to realize it has been nearly 2 weeks since I posted. Two weeks?!? Sorry about that.

Weslee and I have been trading back and forth illnesses. Nothing doctor or hospital worthy but nonetheless significant to our little family.

A lot of mine have to do with the stomach, and massive migraines. Have a rager right now. Nearly blind from light and pain.

Weslee seems to be ok right now. No change to his seizures: all day every day, but no drops, paralysis or convulsing. Thankfully.

Will get back to biz when I can. Meanwhile, have a great day.


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Weslee needs more brain surgery for his seizures.  Please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.

Apr 6: Cough

Weslee's bad cough is back. He always has a little cough, so I only get concerned when it becomes more intense and/or frequent. Gave medicine last night, today and tonight. 

Hope it goes away soon. I have written before about how a person who stops breathing during a seizure means high alert when a cough or other breathing problems enter the equation.

Thinking .. in a few, I will soak a cotton ball in lavender and eucalyptus essential oils, and place it near his pillow. Maybe it will help with his breathing overall.


Re his seizures... not too many clusters yesterday or today.  Hope it keeps going. Fingers crossed.

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Tomorrow's post should be about Weslee's depression. Don't miss it:

( www.thatpurplemom.com )

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Weslee needs more brain surgery for his seizures.  Please go to his Medical GoFundMe or to our Paypal ... Thank you.


Mar 31: Sickness and Storms

Turns out that not only did Weslee come down with a cold, but I did too. My health is a mess, so I wasn't surprised when a 'fever headache' reared its ugly head. We both took cold medicine, and slept a lot. Glad it didn't last long. We are feeling a bit better.

As to the storms portion of our program, we were hit first with the tornado warning signal. The siren is located pretty close to home, so we expect to hear it every Tuesday at noon; this one was NOT scheduled. Lasted about 20 minutes with no rain even. 

By the time I gave up puzzling over it, the wind galed in. Massive raindrops (or hail) pummelled us for about 30 minutes, then the faucet turned off. That is what it felt like. Somebody playing around up there.

Will check the patio and car tomorrow. 

Stay safe.

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Please help with Weslee's medical expenses. Click here.  Thank you.

Mar 30: Caught a Cold

Weslee is immuno-compromised, a condition attributed to a very bad side effect to a med he had been on for years. Gave him a stroke, and threw him into a coma. When the CoVid vaccine came out, I was concerned.

Tried to speak with CDC, WHO, doctors and pharmacists. Not even ONE would commit to answering my question. Not even when I offered to send Weslee's files.

So we took precautions. For the most part, he stays at home, except for doc appointments. When **I** leave home, which is more often, I always wear nitrile gloves and a mask, as does Weslee. We also use my homemade antibacterial spray all over.

All this to say ... how on Earth did Weslee get sick?? Maybe on groceries I brought home the other day. Or ... I don't know.

But he went to bed last night coughing and saying how tired and hot he was. Gave nighttime cold medicine.

He is beginning to stir in his room. Hope he is feeling better. People like Weslee, who have breathing problems anyway (can't breathe during tonic clonic seizures), we need to be extra careful.

Stay safe, people.


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Please help with Weslee's medical expenses. Click here.  Thank you.

A Couple of Sleepyheads

Last week was rough on both Weslee and me, his Mom.  So many seizures. Major concerns about soaring grocery, utility and rent prices. Seizure meds difficult to obtain in time.

So what did we do?  We didn't plan it. Just happened. Something I am quite sure we haven't done before: we slept off and on all weekend. Weslee even passed out Saturday night before turning on his many nightlights, which we use so I can easily check on him at night, or get to him during a seizure.

Should I have done laundry?  Yep.  Or painted. Or edited a book, answered emails, or caught up with one of my sisters or a good friend.  Yup.

But I prioritized our mental and body health. Hoping to face this new week with energy, clarity and mega-loads of patience and resilience.

Here's my handsome fella. I am thinking: wow! My boy needs a shave!




Vid of Seizures and Aftermath

This is what happens when he gets sick, or otherwise have breathing/coughing jags.

The first is his 'wiggle worm/pretzel', which I still dont know what type of seizure it is. The 2nd shows his attempt to talk after a cluster of the above seizures.

I hate epilepsy!!!

(www.ThatPurpleMom.com)


Let's hope the vids can be loaded in. Fingers crossed.


1st vid: To see on YouTube, click here



2nd Vid: To see this video #2 on YouTube, click here