Emergency Room x 2

My Yearly Physical was on Monday, April 13th; Barbara had mentioned the prior week that my left leg look swollen and Dr Morris (my GP) requested that I do an ultrasound. On Wednesday I had the ultrasound done and, while in the imaging site, Dr Morris requested that I go to the Emergency Room because they had found a clot on my left leg- DVT (Deep Venous thrombosis- possible cause by the long flights to Argentina + to Austin + my lack of mobility of my left leg.

Silver lining of the DVT: it accelerates the use of the second therapy to address the Brain Edema/Necrosis and provide me with a top team to manage the Warfarin.

Barbara took me to the Jefferson ER where they held me overnight (+ all day) waiting for the Vascular team to see me. I meet Dr Geno Merli- head of the Vascular group and was released Thursday evening, with intramuscular Blood Thinner and the plan to go on Warfarin. Dr Merli requested that I delay my HBOT until the following week. 

In the HBOT Chamber

Had to cancel Physical Therapy also.
Sunday afternoon had a significant seizure (17 days between seizures) which was different - did not start on the foot but started on the head. Both Barbara and I were scared and called the ambulance; The seizure turned out to be similar in duration and effect.
I was taken to the local hospital and when they decided that they wanted to keep me overnight so that the local neurologist would see me the following morning we decided to go back to Jefferson, to be seen by all my Doctors. 

My seat in the Chamber

Sunday and Monday @ Jefferson so lost the Monday's HBOT, was started in Warfarin for the DVT and was prescribed Steroids on taper. An MRI was done - I have not yet seen the results.
HBOT restarted on Tuesday morning and had my first Warfarin control same Tuesday.
Had my Physical Therapy and Rehab Sessions on Friday- I am very pleased because they are really focused on maintaining my functionality, working on my balance and thee skills that I need to be as functional as I possible.
As of today I feel I am back on track, on my routine - being able to focus on the things I have to do on an on-going basis.

Work is going well - trying to stay on top of my projects - old and new. 

Quite a week.

Passover 2015

Matter of fact update - nothing interesting to report.

Seizure on Thursday - similar to recent ones, 10 days after the prior one. 

Limping and arm weakness not getting any better. 

Steroid course down to 2 mg/ day - should be done by Wednesday. I will go on a maintenance course of the steroid after the completion of this cycle. Passover in Austin has been very enjoyable- saw Hailey and Jacob in Brenham yesterday. On Thursday I will be going for my evaluation re Physical Therapy and on on Friday Barbara has her  3 month cycle follow -up infusion.

Jacob, Olivia, Jeff, Haily, the wife and me in Brenham

April 3: can be skipped- very short update

Short update:
In Austin ready to celebrate the best holiday in the Jewish Calendar - Passover- tell the story again.

Yesterday had a seizure (10 days before  between seizures). Short and similar intensity.

HBOT scheduled to start April 14, a week from next Tuesday.

The tests required for HBOT (blood, Lung XRay, EKG and Vision) were all good - I am pleased with sugar results because I have been taking steroids; the A1C was 6.1, lower than the prior one I took about 1 year ago.

No clarity regarding work impact- going through the Corporate/Disability process.

Meet the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

My first appointment with the staff at Penn Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) was last Tuesday, March 24. It went extremely well.
They answered all the questions we had and were very open and clear about the whole process.

HBOT has demonstrated effectiveness in treating cancer damaged tissue and open wounds.
The estimate of success in my type of cases is about 50%, higher in children- age wise, not  mentally (what a pity). Success is measured by reducing the physical symptoms and also by either stopping the progression of the swelling or actually reducing it. The doctor did make the point that success in my case could be stopping the progression. Results should be expected within 20 or 30 sessions.

The current plan is to do 40 sessions,6 sessions per week (Monday through Saturday), each 2 1/2 hours; I will be starting April 13 and, based on the plan, should be done by the end of May.

The chamber at Upenn - built in 1961 for the Space Program

This is a multi-person chamber, with 100% oxygen given through a mask, with the chamber pressure @ 2.5 atmospheres. Because of the oxygen, no electronics are permitted in the chamber, so I will have to do real book reading!

Side effects are not significant. My concern regarding seizures (indicated in literature) is not an issue in that they do happen but are related to Oxygen saturation and not related to pre-existing seizure activity.

It seems that the insurance is a non-issue; the experience in Penn is that it is covered and, if there is a rejection, the Dr at Penn, as well as my Neurologist, stated that they would escalate and provide whatever was required to get it approved.

I spoke with my boss yesterday about the fact that I will only be available to work in the afternoons for almost 2 months. At this point I do not know if I will have to take  a medical leave. I am not sure what the company policies are on the subject.

That is it.

Limping along March 22

No seizures this week, and, as of today, its 16 days since the last one. This is the good news - the bad news is that a seizure is bound to happen soon (the average time between seizures since October is 7 days).
Paresis is, I feel, somewhat worst.

This was a busy week.

I saw Dr Skidmore on Wednesday and got an appointment for the initial assessment at Penn re Hyperbaric Oxigen Therapy (HBOT) for next Tuesday (March 24). Called Bryn Mawr Rehab to schedule an assessment for Physical Therapy, but I have not gotten an appointment - they are very busy.

The blue team !- between the 2 of us a left and a right leg fully functional! 

Dr Skidmore found that my left arm was weaker since the prior exam and wrote a script for physical therapy.

This week we had the pleasure of taking care of Sara- it was great. She went back to Baltimore this afternoon- she has her follow-up appointment on Tuesday. It was sooooo good having her home!

Next week is key- appointment at Penn for initial assessment HBOT and, hopefully, getting an appointment for Physical Therapy.