January CO Trip Part I

Hi Family and Friends!

How is everyone? Are we finally catching our breath after the holidays went by too quickly?! Well Mark and I just got back from a good trip to CO! I'll start by mentioning that we were taking a very early morning flight - 5:30 am! I have to back track already and tell you that my left knee had been bothering me and it was really painful over the weekend! So Monday afternoon, I went to see my Primary Care Physician that told me I had arthritis and ok'd me to get a steroid shot! Unfortunately, that meant me hobbling around the airport! My knee was stiff and sensitive and I didn't feel better until the next day!

As we put our e-ticket information on the computer screen @ the airport, one of the questions asked is whether you would mind being bumped to a later fight in case of overbooking. Mark said no problem, so when we arrived in Houston, we were asked to take a later flight (which we pretty much would have had to do, because for whatever reason, I had a seat, but not Mark!) - with the promise of each getting a $200 voucher and they upped it even more, by telling us the flight from Houston to Denver would be first class! That was such a nice luxury, especially w/me limping around - those seats in first class recline and Mark had plenty of leg room too! What a difference from flying coach! In the back they may throw you a peanut and serve you a soda, and in first class it sure was nice to be treated so well and offered yogurt, a fruit cup, juice and coffee for breakfast. I think there was a choice of an egg sandwich. Anyway, we arrived in Denver a little over an hour later - had no problems getting the car rental or anything. We checked in to the hotel, then went to see Dr. Reed - Head of Voice & Swallow Inst. @ his new office location. He feels I still have an infection and is concerned that it may affect my hearing in my left ear. So, gotta follow through w/a few things there, to make sure that doesn't happen.

Meanwhile, I'm pretty close to getting everything approved needed for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment here in Corpus Christi, to help the wound on my face heal! I had scheduled an appt. for that on Monday, but rescheduled for the following Monday - don't want to miss so much work right after I've just gotten back, you know?

Ok! Back to the trip - after seeing Dr. Reed @ his new location - we noticed several places to have dinner, and I wanted to try Mimi's since we don't have one here and I had heard they serve good food! So after a nice dinner we headed back to the hotel and that was pretty much our first day on this trip!

The next morning, I had to be @ Swedish @ 7am to pre-register. Did that and then headed upstairs to a waiting room until the nurses are ready for you! Of course I always ask the nurse if they majored in "IV" installing. Don't like when they can't get that IV in - ouch! The nurse did well - got it on her first try! See photo!

As Mark and I sat around waiting for me to be taken in for my embolization - I could see a lady sitting across from me in her bed! Wendy came over to talk - she also has a facial avm and has been coming to see Dr. Yakes for 6 years and is from Canada! See photo. I've exchanged e-mail addresses w/Wendy, so we'll be keeping in touch!

I was surprised to be taken in early - it was almost noon - but most times I don't get taken back for my embolization until almost 2pm! I barely remember talking to the anesthesiologist and the surgical nurse before I was in LaLa Land! I woke up to find my favorite Recovery Room Nurse Rick Smith making sure I was comfortable! I believe he was "training" a male nurse - Rick is awesome though - he makes sure you have no pain and is on top of everything! Of course there was no room @ the Inn, so I had to spend the night in Ambulatory Care. It isn't too bad, but it's always nice to have a room!

Meanwhile, some fellow avm'ers were all trying to hook up - so Shalon and her husband Josh had already met up w/Arie and her family and they all came over to say hello! See photo! Dr. Yakes had done an angiogram, so I couldn't get up for a bit and I had gotten hit w/18cc's of alcohol, so I wasn't exactly feeling my best! After talking a while, I just had to get some rest - luckily Shalon sensed that and the group started heading out. Mark had a good idea before everyone left - he wanted a photo of the three of us, Shalon, Arie and myself! Look how pretty Shalon looks! She is always sweet and cheerful! Arie is a doll too! This would be her last treatment according to her mom Jody, and then she'll have to come back for a check up in 6 months!

Mark stayed a bit longer, then headed back to the hotel. Showed up in the morning w/some White Chocolate Mochas from Starbucks and a big muffin. This time I had some swelling inside my mouth, so I had not been chowing down right away as usual - I had been on juices and pudding!

Finally, I was able to get into a shower and wash all the dried up blood from my hair! Felt so much better after that! Got all our stuff and we headed out to find Shalon, as her embolization and Arie's were the day I was discharged! On the way to find them, we ran across Dave - another of my favorite RN's! He was part of what I call The Dream Team that took care of me after my very first embolization! So, I had to pose for a photo w/Dave (he is one of those people that really enjoy what they do and they are good at it!) - then went on to look for the group of nurses that took care of me while I was stuck a week @ Swedish in November, but most of them worked evenings, darn!

Ok, we do have an opportunity to spend a little more time w/Shalon and Josh, so that is where we were headed! Also met up w/Arie's grandparents! It's always nice to meet w/the families of the patients too - we are all blessed to have great support teams!

After leaving the hospital, went back to our hotel room to repack and then head out to return the car rental and head to the airport!

Unfortunately my left eye is swollen shut right now, but it should hopefully be open by tomorrow with the Prednisone I'm taking! Ok! I think I'll end this chapter and just add photos on the next! Thanks for all your love, support and prayers!

Mark & Cyndi