Stan drove me to Hays this morning to meet with my neurologist. It was determined that my healing has been wonderful so I could have my device turned on which means that the magnets could begin transmitting. I admit that I was scared at first. My doctor had explained to me that it would not be a painful experience but that I would have a multitude of other sensations. She was right.
The generator is installed in my upper left handed portion of my chest. Wires run from it to my neck where they have been wound around my Vegas Nerve. Once the device was turned on today. I felt a feeling of something in my throat. At first, I was concerned that I might choke. I never did. My neurologist was quite impressed with how well I was taking pulses. As a matter-of-fact, she was shocked by it. She gave me the option to "shock" my generator with the magnet that I now where on my wrist. I thought it would be a good deal to do it in her office so she could talk me through it. Again, I felt nothing. Again, my doctor was stumped. She began to raise the amount of voltage. Eventually, it was high enough for me to feel the extra stimulation. And, BOY, did I feel it! LOL!! It was not a painful ensation but definitely not anything I would enjoy. Ha! Ha! That is the pulse I will feel anytime my magnets are used to abort a seizure. That pulse lasts for a full minute--a minute that eems to be endless but once it's over, its gone. (The regular and automatic pulses just last for 7 seconds each.)
My doctors are happy that I am able to have my wattage already set at 25%. It is a good start. I will return in April to have the voltage increased even more. As minutes and hours have passed today, I am noticing that I barely notice the sensation now. Fantastic!!! I was concerned that there might be a constant buzzing or pain. Nada. Thank You, Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From Hays, we drove to Russell where I met my surgeon in an outreach clinic. He was quite impressed with how both incisions had healed. He had had one of our local doctors remove the stitches from my neck last Thursday. The stitches in my chest and underarm needed to remain in place for a few days longer. They were ready to be taken out today.The swelling in my neck is still there but it is much better. Soon, it will be completely gone. I am noticing a lot less numbness in my neck also. I am doing so well now, that he should not need to see me again until I need new batteries installed which hopefullly will be in 8 years or so.
I am happy to tell you that my last seizure was just before I was wheeled into the operating room on February 17th. That is a great stretch of time in my case. My neurologist believes that she will begin to take me off of my older seizure medicine very soon. Wonderful!!! It makes me very sleepy 24 hours a day. My new med does not. I complained of extra fatigue. My doctor told me that my mechanical heart valve not woking right right now, is responsible for that. For now, I will continue to take afternoon naps as needed.
Today is a day I will never forget anytime soon. After almost 32 years, I am on the road to a new and much healthier life. My family and I are excited about that. What's next? The automatic waves of powerful stimulation will continue to heal my brain as time goes on. This is NOT a cure all but it is an awesome treatment which I believe brings epileptics aound the world a big step closer to a cure--possibly in our own lifetimes. My depression should be completely gone by the end of August.
One funny thing that happened thi afternoon is this. After both appointments were behind us, we drove to a restaurant in Hays for lunch. While the waitress wa taking our order, I noticed that, all of a sudden, my arm was heavy and felt like it was stuck to the table. When I looked at my arm, I discovered that all of my silverware was stuck to my arm magnet! I was not expecting that. The waitress was a bit shocked also. Ha! Most waiters and waitesses never see something like that. LOL!!!
Again, my family and I want to thank all of you who have been praying for my recovery. Without your prayers, love, support and God, I would not be doing this well.
VLE-B
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Tribune--Movie--of--the--Weekend
ONE FOR THE MONEY, an Action/Adaptation/Comedy/Crime, will be playing at 8:00 CST, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 2nd, 3rd and 4th, at the Star Theatre. It is rated PG-13 for violence, sexual references, language, some drug material and partial nudity. Stars include Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguizama, Sherri Shepherd. Debbie Reynolds, etc.
Adults, 13 and older) $5.00
Children, 4 through 12: $4.00
Babies through 3-year-olds: F--R--E--E
VLE-B
VLE-B
Adults, 13 and older) $5.00
Children, 4 through 12: $4.00
Babies through 3-year-olds: F--R--E--E
VLE-B
VLE-B
Upcoming Star Theatre Movies
March 2nd, 3rd and 4th at 8:00 CST: ONE FOR THE MONEY
March 9th, 10th and 11th at 8:00 CST: TBA
March 16th, 17th and 18th at 8:00 CST: Customer Appreciation Weekend Movie will be TBA.
April 28th: Free lunch will be offered for the Bike Ride. Lunch is at noon, CST.
May 2nd: Tacos for the Theatre from 5:00 to 7:30 Mountain Standard Time. This will be held at the 4-H Building in Tribune.
June 2nd: Picnic in the Park for June Jaunt FREE picnic begins at 6:00 CST followed by an outdoor movie in the park.
Many more things including Comedy Night are on the agenda so please keep updated on what is happening!!! Keep those calendars handy!
VLE-B
March 9th, 10th and 11th at 8:00 CST: TBA
March 16th, 17th and 18th at 8:00 CST: Customer Appreciation Weekend Movie will be TBA.
April 28th: Free lunch will be offered for the Bike Ride. Lunch is at noon, CST.
May 2nd: Tacos for the Theatre from 5:00 to 7:30 Mountain Standard Time. This will be held at the 4-H Building in Tribune.
June 2nd: Picnic in the Park for June Jaunt FREE picnic begins at 6:00 CST followed by an outdoor movie in the park.
Many more things including Comedy Night are on the agenda so please keep updated on what is happening!!! Keep those calendars handy!
VLE-B
Exciting News for the Star Theatre
For the past few years, the fine people of Tribune's Star Theatre, the community and the rest of us fans of this historic theatre have joined hands in bringing the much needed digital projector to town. The money has been raised and the projector is on its way! It will go into operation the weekend of March 9th through the 11th. Even more exciting news? This will be the Star's Customer Appreciation Weekend which means we can all view the movie FREE-OF-CHARGE!!! AND this movie to be shown, TBA, will be shown in 3-D! WOW!!! The theatre has available seating for 118. The first 118 customers will be allowed to watch the movie each evening. Showtime is 8:00 CST. DON'T FORGET TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!! Your ticket will cost you nothing. Concessions will be available at regular price. Come on out and have a great time!!! If you have not already made your way to the newly renovated theatre, there may never be a better time to do it than Customer Appreciation Weekend!
VLE-B
VLE-B
Monday, February 27th
This post-surgery time has really proven something to me--I'm not nearly as tough as I once thought I was. LOL! Surgery was done on Friday, February 17th. This is now the 10th day. Until Friday, I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever come out of the surgical effects. Friday and Saturday were better but yesterday was by far the best day since surgery. Thank You, Lord and everyone who have been praying for my family and I!!! I managed to actually do laundry and a variety of other household cleaning chores that I have not been able to do for so long now. Thank goodness, I have a husband and two daughters who are always so willing to help!
I know that my heart surgery was no picnic but I have learned that this surgery is much tougher than I had expected. The important thing is that it is now 10 days behind me. The first set of stitches from my neck were removed last week. Healing was great. Tomorrow morning, Stan will take me to Hays where my neurologist will turn the electricity on to my device. We came to find that it was best to let the healing get finished before the transmission of electricity was allowed to begin. The major pain, etc is now out of the way and now we can get the show on the road. Stitches from my breast and underarm area will be removed after the electric charges have begun tomorrow. Before long, this surgery will be doing just what it was supposed to do--stopping more of my seizures and promoting the total removal of my long-lasting depression. God, I can hardly wait for that!!!
As for my seisures, I am happy to say that the last daytime seizure that I had was on the way to the operating room. None since then. How do I explain the multitude of them during the last couple of weeks before surgery? The stress. I was nervous and excited about the operation. Nothing from the surgery is responsible for this improvement yet. God, your prayers and my loving family and friends are responsible for me getting this far. Thank you!!!
Since surgery, I have discovered that many more people care about me than I had known before. Because of that, the pain that I have felt from the loss of the two couples of friends we once were so close to, has begun to heal. It still bothers me how they dropped their support for me when I probably needed it the most. I may not ever understand why they felt that they could not continue to be our friends but, life goes on.
I am a bit nervous about the beginning of the electricity tomorrow but I know that this is what God had planned on for me all along. I choose to follow Him and He will not lead me astray...
VLE-B
I know that my heart surgery was no picnic but I have learned that this surgery is much tougher than I had expected. The important thing is that it is now 10 days behind me. The first set of stitches from my neck were removed last week. Healing was great. Tomorrow morning, Stan will take me to Hays where my neurologist will turn the electricity on to my device. We came to find that it was best to let the healing get finished before the transmission of electricity was allowed to begin. The major pain, etc is now out of the way and now we can get the show on the road. Stitches from my breast and underarm area will be removed after the electric charges have begun tomorrow. Before long, this surgery will be doing just what it was supposed to do--stopping more of my seizures and promoting the total removal of my long-lasting depression. God, I can hardly wait for that!!!
As for my seisures, I am happy to say that the last daytime seizure that I had was on the way to the operating room. None since then. How do I explain the multitude of them during the last couple of weeks before surgery? The stress. I was nervous and excited about the operation. Nothing from the surgery is responsible for this improvement yet. God, your prayers and my loving family and friends are responsible for me getting this far. Thank you!!!
Since surgery, I have discovered that many more people care about me than I had known before. Because of that, the pain that I have felt from the loss of the two couples of friends we once were so close to, has begun to heal. It still bothers me how they dropped their support for me when I probably needed it the most. I may not ever understand why they felt that they could not continue to be our friends but, life goes on.
I am a bit nervous about the beginning of the electricity tomorrow but I know that this is what God had planned on for me all along. I choose to follow Him and He will not lead me astray...
VLE-B
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A One and a Two and a Three...
That's the countdown I feel that my family and I have been through the past few months. The never-ending depression. The traumatic surgery and post surgery. THEN we met with cardiologist yesterday morning. Earlier this month, several tests were performed on me. I thought that I would receive a clean bill of cardiac health yesterday. Part of that was true. Doc was very impressed with how I endured the stress test. He was surprised at that outcome. Thats where the good news ended and the bad news began.
On May 23rd, 2002, I had open heart surgery. A mechanical heart valve was placed into my heart. Without it, I would have died...soon there after. At that time, we were told to expect the new valve to last for the next 15 to 30 years. Maybe even longer. Given the fact that surgery took so much out of me for the next year, I was relieved that it would not have to be redone anytime too soon. At the earliest, we were not expecting new valve surgery until AT LEAST 2017. This is barely 2012. Tests showed that my new valve is no longer closing like it needs to. What now? We return to the cardiologist in 5 months. Until then, instead of checking my pro time every month, I now have to have it checked every 2 weeks. When we return in the Spring, we will determine if we can put surgery off for awhile longer or not.
Please keep my family and me in your prayers. Thank you!
VLE-B
On May 23rd, 2002, I had open heart surgery. A mechanical heart valve was placed into my heart. Without it, I would have died...soon there after. At that time, we were told to expect the new valve to last for the next 15 to 30 years. Maybe even longer. Given the fact that surgery took so much out of me for the next year, I was relieved that it would not have to be redone anytime too soon. At the earliest, we were not expecting new valve surgery until AT LEAST 2017. This is barely 2012. Tests showed that my new valve is no longer closing like it needs to. What now? We return to the cardiologist in 5 months. Until then, instead of checking my pro time every month, I now have to have it checked every 2 weeks. When we return in the Spring, we will determine if we can put surgery off for awhile longer or not.
Please keep my family and me in your prayers. Thank you!
VLE-B
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