Michele & Sherry Update Page

Now that's how a doctor's visit should be - 45 minutes in and out. All Michele's numbers looked good at today's visit. Her and Sherry are both doing great.
Now that things have settled down quite a bit. I will probably only be updating about once a week. Feel free to call or stop by any time and thanks again for all your prayers and support

Today Sherry took Michele to the doctor since they both had appointments. Sherry had her drain removed and is now done seeing the doctor till the 3 month anniversary at the end of April. Michele got her staples removed and actually put on a couple of pounds. Her levels were good and she doesn't return till Wednesday the 22nd

Michele may have dodged the knife! Only time will tell but her doctor is in no hurry. The one drain that he has been concerned with is making slow progress so he's waiting to see if he needs to go in and stick it up. Michele is wearing shoes for the 1st time in about 6 weeks and is looking forward to going shopping tonight. Since she tires easily I might even be able to keep up!
Sherry is also doing good. She worked half day every day this week. Both she and Michele we be going to see the doctor on Monday. Michele has the weekend off. No doctors or visiting nurses.

Michele went to the doctor today after enjoying her day off. The doctor was pleased with the change in her drain fluids since the last visit so he put off making a decision on surgery till Friday. All the levels of enzymes and stuff that they check in her blood are still coming back good.
Her weight is back down to the pre-surgery level; she still has some swelling in her cankles. The doctor is worried about dehydration so he let Michele know to drink more to avoid a 5 hour IV drip.
Sherry seems to be handling work good. I know she's tired after a half day of it but I think she's glad to go in the morning.
Michele went shopping for the 1st time since New Years day tonight a sign that she's feeling better - or the withdrawal was too much!!Another welcome day off on Thursday for Michele.

Back to the salt mines for Sherry. After spending the morning at the hospital with Michele she spent the afternoon back at work. She will be working half days (mornings) till she feels ready for a full day.
Michele had the stent removed today in preparation for Friday. What's Friday?? Friday is when Dr. Abecassis ( http://nmhphysicians.photobooks.com/profile.asp?pict_id=249 )& is going it go back in looking for a leak. It seems she her drain is not clearing quick enough. He says it is just a small procedure and nothing to worry about. It may require an overnite in the hospital. I'll let you know more when I know more.
They were good enough to give Michele Tuesday off. No doctor visits home or away. I imagine that means sleeping till noon!!

A short visit to the doctor today for Michele (just 4 hours). The infection cleared with the removal of the PIC line. The steroids seem to have helped her liver numbers as they are getting back in line. She had another shot of them at the office and the 3rd one coming to the house Saturday. Besides the regular Monday team of doctors Michele also has an appointment with the endocrainoligist (I can't spell but that's what it sounds like). The medicines that she takes cause a rise in the blood sugar but they have to have the specialist check anyway.

Today was another full day at the doctors for Michele. Her weight has returned to about 5 pounds more than before; she just has to get rid of the cankles and she'll be set.
They were concerned about an infection and believe that it was the PIC line in her next that she had needed for dialysis so they removed that. Which brought much joy to Michele. She now just has the PIC line in her arm that they use to get her blood to run her labs daily. They did take blood from her other arm today and were able to get it with out much of a problem; that is the first time since all this started that they could do this. Her liver enzymes are not quite in line yet so they are starting steroids for today for 3 days. Saturday they will send a nurse to the house to give them to her.
When the nurse gets her I think I will give her a magazine and tell her to have a seat and Michele will be right with her. Then make her wait a while - just to get even for all the waiting in doctors offices we have done.
Sherry had here drain checked but it's not ready to come out yet. She ran Michele down to the hospital today so she's pretty beat but still doing great.

Another fun day at the doctors today for Michele. Everything is going good but they had 2 concerns. One was the color of liquid from one of drains is still a little dark, Doc sez if it isn't cleared up by next week he will have to do a procedure to sew it up. He made it sound pretty simple and routine but Michele is using the power of positive thinking to heal her self and avoid the whole deal. The other concern is that her white blood cell count is up. They think it may be one of the PIC lines but will run some extra blood tests on Thursday.
Sherry will take Michele on Thursday; this will give her a chance to have her drain checked and see if it can be removed.

On Monday Sherry joined Michele at the doctors. She is recovering right on schedule with just a little pain and being a little tired.
Michele had another 2 hours of dialsys on Monday, today the doctor told us the kidneys appear to be waking up and doing their job so she probably is done with that. Also on Monday Michele had a procedure done to put a stent into a bile duct to keep it open. They knocked her out good so we where there till about 7pm. Tuesday was a quicker day(the way they should stay). She went in in the morning had the blood draw to measure the levels of here liver and kidneys then the doctors review the medication list and make any changes they need, check her out and send us home.

She is going back tomorrow and it should be the same way.

Over the past week Michele lost 45 of the 65 pounds of water she had retained from the surgary and is walking around pretty good. She can handle the steps and things around the house so I don't think it'll belong before she is back at the mall shopping.

thank everybody for everything!!

Well I try to keep up..
Saturday was a busy but good day. Michele started out with 2 hours of dialysis. She was much more comfortable this time. Though she (or I) didn't like looking at her blood being pumped in and out thru the clear hoses.
After dialysis we check out of the hotel and headed home!! We found a big banner along with balloons and streamers welcoming Michele and Sherry home. That and Snuggles brought Michele to tears of joy. Everybody slept good in their own beds and welcomed Sunday with no doctors appointments.
Monday they both have appointments but we don't know if it involves dialysis or not. Hopefully we won't have to spend the day there.

Sherry is off from the doctors till Monday and Jenny spent last night so today they did the mommy daughter "Mag Mile" thing then back to the burbs for the both of them. Sherry goes back to Lombard to spend some quality time with Snuggles and Jenny.
Michele had another tough day today. The doctors decide she needed the dialysis and got her started today for 2 hours. To be hooked up to the dialysis machine Michele had to have another PIC line installed - this one into her neck. A small surgical (to Michele) procedure that puts 2 ports on the outside of her neck and the other end a tube about 10 inches down towards her heart. She (of course) handled this with out blinking an eye. They had her on the machine for 2 hours and and cycled 18 liters of blood(I think that's like all her blood 6 times). During this process she lost about 5 pounds.
There is 3 hours of dialysis for planned for Saturday and nothing for Sunday so we're trying to talk her in to coming home for the night. She's a little worried being that far from the hospital but I think we can do it

Hi all,
Another great day for the girls! Sherry is doing so well that they gave her tomorrow off. Michele is getting noticeable stronger thru the day. She is getting about much better now. She can get up or in and out of the car with little help. Michele had an ultrasound today and everything is where it should be and appears to be working right. The doctors are still concerned about her kidneys and will probably decide after tomorrows blood tests if she needs a day or two of dialysis. Jenny is here and the girls are popping corn and watching the O.C. just like the good old days - last month.

The girls are doing great! Everyone had a good nights sleep. Michele will be back at the hospital today from 9 till sometime in the afternoon. Sherry's appointment is at 1:30 and should be pretty quick.
Michele's appointment should be a lot easier today. Yesterday she practically shut down the clinic she had so many people trying to find her vein to get blood. Fortunately (as opposed to Elmhurst Hospital) they don't just stick a needle in and wiggle. They all finally gave up and sent her to have a PIC line put in. This involves using x-rays to find the vein the putting a tube in it. The tube goes up her arm and towards the heart. they put a cap on it so they can get blood or give medicines with out sticking her again.
They will be (and have been) taking blood every day to monitor the levels of all liver and kidney functions. as well as the levels of her medication. They are happy with how the liver is functioning. The kidneys are doing pretty good so they haven't made a decision if she needs any dialysis. She is currently taking about 10 different medications. This will work down to about 2 that she will take forever.
Sherry's healing is going according to plan. She's taking a pain killer to stay comfortable. The hardest thing (it seems to me) is for her not to help Michele move and such. Sylvia joined us last night to help out.
Tonight Jenny will be joining us (YEA!) she'' take Friday off from school (YEA! From Jenny).
that's it for now

We are staying up on the Gold Coast courtesty of Northwestern Hospital and Michele's Insurance Company. We are at the Marriiot Residence Inn at 201 E. Walton. The phone is 312-943-9800. We are in rooms 207 & 603. For best luck try 603 first or my cell 630-202-1439.

Hi everyone!
A blog was suggested as a way to keep everyone updated on the girls so I'm gonna give it a try. I'll try to keep this current but I make no promises