Lisa's thoughts about Love, Life, Lyme, and Liver disease

Well, as I reported earlier, the gallbladder was successfully removed. However, two days later she start having excessive swelling in her abdomen, back, legs and excruciating pain. Then she started experiencing a sharp pain when breathing in. Poor baby, such a trooper. She spent ten hours in the ER on Monday, then was admitted to hospital. Lots of tests to see if any problems with gallbladder removal - and everything checked out OK. During her hospital stay we finally received the results on her liver biopsy. Before I talk about the liver biopsy, I need to give you a backstory on Heather's health.   When Heather was in middle school she became ill and was lethargic, had high fevers, hives all over, joint pain, sensitivity to light, and no appetite. After many doctor visits and blood work, it was determined that she had an elevated ANA. These numbers were high, but not high enough for Lupus and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (which they thought she might have). ...

Flowers in front of Heather's bedroom Heather's surgeon said that her gallbladder was extremely enlarged and had pretty much stopped functioning.  He cleaned up adhesions and says that she did great during surgery.  Surgery was laparoscopic with three tiny incisions - yippee for minimally invasive surgery. She spent a few hours in recovery and now we are home.  As expected, she is in pain, but we are relieved that surgery went so well.   Whew.....I am a less anxious and happy Mom. Xo Lisa

 Sadly, this isn't the first time Heather has had surgery.  In 1982 I  gave birth to a healthy beautiful baby girl and three days later I took this sweet baby home.   At home she became very ill and was readmitted back to the hospital when she was one week old. She had a duodenal web (intestinal obstruction) which required surgery and two weeks in the ICU.  Then when Heather was 15 months old she began vomiting (similar to when she was infant). She was admitted to the hospital and they realized that adhesion's (scar tissue) from her earlier surgery were causing another intestinal obstruction. Another surgery was performed and she was sent home after two weeks. Well, fast forward to June 22nd and now, because of this insidious Lyme disease, Heather's medical team feels that it is best to remove her gallbladder. They are optimistic that they can do it laparoscopically however, her incisions from her first surgery may require a different a...

SUP??? - Well this means two things.  First, Heather has a new stand up paddle board (SUP).   Of course it is lime green - gotta keep spreading awareness.   This picture sums up how peaceful and perfect this is for Heather.  Added bonus, she will build up strength and muscles while cruising the lake. Second, urban dictionary defines SUP as "A term that cool people use because they are too damn lazy to say What's up."   Well, just to let you know what's up with Heather, she is having her gallbladder removed on June 22nd.   Yes, we can blame Lyme disease on this one too.  Damn ticks.  Fortunately, it is an outpatient procedure, then recovery at home for a few weeks.   I will update everyone after surgery.   xo Lisa

This is MY understanding of Lyme Disease - remember these are just my thoughts and opinions.  Shall we begin?  Lyme disease sucks.......begin rant....... A person is bitten by a deer tick. The longer the damn tick stays attached, the more likely it will transmit the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and other pathogens into your bloodstream. If you are lucky and see the rash AND get immediate treatment, chances are pretty good that you may be able put the Lyme into remission.     Whether  you see the rash or you think you have Lyme (based on the symptoms), the testing for Lyme is inaccurate and unreliable.  Standard Lyme tests measure the antibodies that are being produced after the insect bite occurs. Since Lyme wreaks havoc on your immune system, your body stops producing antibodies just a couple weeks after getting bitten, therefore making the test wildly inaccurate for any time a week after the bite.  However there are a few labs tha...

Happy birthday to my beautiful Heather.  I love you and hope that every day is filled with love,  laughter, and puppy kisses.   You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.              

When Heather was little, it was always fun to see what she wanted to be when she grew up.  Well, as with all children, her jobs were varied .  I wanted to be a V eterinarian, but the fear of some one bringing a snake in for treatment stopped this dream .  Truth b e told, I never liked sc ience, so the snake was my excuse.  I recently found a school paper that I wrote in thir d gr a de. The subject was When I g row up...... .  Here was my response: When I gro w up , I want to be a housewife. I don't want to work in a store all day. I would be bored. I w ant to live in a pleas ant home. Class ic right ?  I got an A-.     When Heather was nine she wanted to be a cheerleade r.  It made we wonder if our trips to the museums were so boring that she would rather wear sneakers and a cute short skirt and yell out "first and ten - do it again"?"  Don't get me started on the politics behind a few of the cheerleader moms.  Some ...