Cheryl Kerber's Blog (12)

I put off going to a recommended physical therapy place by a friend who helped me through my first surgery, because I did research online and found a pain clinic that sounded like a fit for me.  I'm still trying to deal with post surgery effects - especially my sciatic nerve and my legs.  I'm 12 weeks post, have cut down to 1 or 2 pain pills a day from the original 12 - back on the treadmill (granted not more than 2.4 at this point for a half hour) but it gets my blood flowing and helps me…

Do any of you, or did any of you remember having such tiring back/spinal chord pain after your surgery? 

I have reached that point in my healing process.

I know from having to sleep in a chair and such doesn't help, and the fact they cut thru my core muscles contributes, but I'm finding my pain meds do nothing to alleviate this issue.  I have tried icing my lower back and even tried lying slightly on my right side just to take the tension off my back.

Do any of you have…

I started looking through the paper work I have gotten since my surgery, so I started looking up what all the big words meant like Thrombocytosis, Leukocytosis, Mondor's disease and my list goes on.

I do know that I developed a blood clot in my upper chest post surgery (not any where near the incision and such) along with the 2 dvt's in my left leg and that is what led them to research my blood tests and that is when they found out that I had this factor 10 which is Lupus…

I'm not going to say that everything is wonderful and pain free and perfect as I think you all know that would be false but I have to say, I'm glad to be on this side of it.

I'm back home now - got home Saturday afternoon.  They got the Heparin level to a point where I don't have to give myself shots (there was no way - as is I got to the point of crying just seeing the lab people come in to draw more blood.  They all tried so hard to not hurt me using pediatric needles, warming the…

Cheryl thanks everyone for their support and good wishes.  She has asked that I send a brief update as she hasn't been able to work on a computer.  On 7/15 she was released from the hospital, 1 week after surgery.  7/20 she returned to manage 2 blood clots she has in a painful left calf (with Heparin) and Coumadin (scheduled for several months), and continue to monitor her kidneys, an elevated and puzzling white cell count, and 1 lung that is slightly shrunken due to immobility, etc.  She…

1 week out from surgery and she is scheduled to be released Friday 15th - AMAZING! - they feel she will heal

better from home.  Cheryl will post updates as soon as she is able. 

Carmen (sister)

Mon 7/11/11 - 4 days out from surgery - I told Cheryl I'd post something for her. Progressing well and everyone is amazed at how well she is doing - Doctor says much further than he expected.  Tubes out, spinal tap out, eating solids, walked first time Sunday evening and more today,  received some Occupational and Physical Therapy today. Cheryl is relieved  it doesn't hurt her ribs as much as initial surgery in 04.  Most trouble is feeling very tired and staying on top of pain. They are…

OKAY SO I    CA NT TYPE - BUGT i WANTED TO SAY I AM DOING OK - TIRED AND SORE, BUGT i MADE IT AND WILL WIRTED LATER.  MY SISTER WORTE A BIT BUT THEY REPLACED EVERYTHING INCLUDING MY ORIGINAL BECUASWE MY ANERUYSM WAS MUSH ACCORDINJG TO THE SURge0n;\

willcontact soon

Cher

Cheryl is finally out of surgery (7:30 a.m.- @ 4:35 pm) and is heading up to ICU soon.  The doctors said they felt the surgery went well and that the organs needing reattachment seemed to be okay.  They had to repair more than they had suspected.  Doctors feel she may wake later tonight, at which point they will be able to better assess any impact on her spinal cord. 

Thanks again for your positive thoughts and wishes her way!

Carmen, her sister

Cheryl is still in surgery (since 7:30 a.m.) -it is now 4:15 pm.  Most recent was that they were just finishing up.  Family  is hoping to hear from doctors soon.  Will post update then. Thanks everyone for your support and healing thoughts.

Cheryl's sister Carmen 

With my upcoming surgery on Thursday, I'm hoping to have as much "support" as possible and I appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and wishes for me and I thank you dearly for them.

My sister requested a healing energy affirmation/prayer for me and if you are willing, could you please just read the words - Wednesday/Thursday as I could use all the positive energy I can get to get through the pre-surgery anxiety/sadness/fears and then through the actual surgery and on to the…

There is no such thing as a long story short when it comes to an aortic dissection is there?

Just before Thanksgiving 2004, I couldn't seem to shake a cough that mainly felt like pressure in my chest.  Being a preschool teacher, I was not a stranger to bronchitis and pneumonia.  After talking with my sister, she convinced me to go to urgent care where they did a chest xray just to make sure it wasn't pneumonia.  I left with a prescription and what he thought "most likely" was a…