It has been a couple weeks since the last of the Ketamine treatments that my wife has had to endure, and she has come out the other side, and the fog from the medication has cleared. Under Dr. recommendations we contacted the closest person (St. Pete) that works in a form of hydrotherapy called Watsu. Sounds strange in and of itself, but it holds some merit. Watsu is the combination of Water & Shiatsu. Ta-Daaa. . . Watsu.
Now, weird as that may sound, the methodology behind it seems normal. A pool is heated to approximately the bodies internal temperature (95°-97° F), and the body responds favorably to the temperature by relaxing and increasing blood flow throughout the body system. Next you have floats placed around your calves that suspend your legs in the water, and the Watsu therapist holds the head just above the water until the ears are submerged. At this stage you have the feeling of weightlessness and the stillness of quiet submersion.
Once the eyes are closed, there is a silent water ballet that transpires and each of the movements stretch and expand the spine and muscle structure. The positives are that gravity is not a factor as the water makes you weightless and the relaxation of the water temp and sound suppression puts you in such a relaxed state that people often fall asleep halfway through the hour of treatment.
Internally : The stress free environment allows your muscles to fully relax and circulation to increase cellular repair.
Externally : The pulling and stretching allows the muscles to be moved and twisted far beyond that of a chiropractor or anti-gravity machines and far safer.
A time frame of 6 months was given until we revisit the Dr. and see if pain thresholds have increased or decreased. While in the pool, after the therapy, Michelle has been able to walk around so her feet can adjust to walking as a normal persons and the lower weight placed on the toe joint should help increase pain tolerance.
We will still be blogging with any new and interesting information on Michelle's quest for normalcy in the land of RSD.
UPDATE : While writing this posting, we just heard from the Watsu therapist, and while painting a floor she slipped and has broken her elbow. The next closest Watsu therapist is in Naples, so we will be figuring out the game plan for the coming weeks. As you send out prayers for Michelle, please pray the therapist has a rapid recovery to in turn help Michelle with hers.
...and Who Watsu's the Watsuer?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The ship of hope hit by a tsunami...
Many of you are asking how Michelle is doing, and I wanted to let everyone know that life can truly be cruel. Today is the 4th day of not just her feet hurting almost precisely as they did prior to the Ketamine infusion treatment, but there has been a heaping helping of charley horses all around her shoulders, back, and neck. This does not a happy Michelle make. I am writing on her behalf to let you know that she is in another tough spot. We will be posting more blog updates or posting on facebook when she has something more encouraging to report. Sadly, the insult to injury scenario that is playing out is wreaking havoc on her psyche and we only pray for your patience during this trying time.
She loves you all and appreciates your support, and feels bad that she hasn't been in the frame of mind to respond to all the messages of encouragement from last week or recent texts and phone calls asking how she is doing. I hope to have a more positive report very soon.
She loves you all and appreciates your support, and feels bad that she hasn't been in the frame of mind to respond to all the messages of encouragement from last week or recent texts and phone calls asking how she is doing. I hope to have a more positive report very soon.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Day Four ... Roll the Credits
As with every story, the ending must give way to a new beginning. First I will start with the ending of the Ketamine therapy. Today ( 4-8-2011 ) we had been called into the office after the first breakfast Michelle has had since Sunday morning. Today was Evaluation day! Dr. Kirkpatrick had taken her pain thresholds from 4 specific areas and laid out the pain threshold papers from the days prior, and allowed everyone to see that there have been increases from the 1st treatment. Although she is still to be very ginger on her feet, it showed that if she can continue with his next requests of exercise, there should be a consistent increase of pain tolerance over time.
The Dr. used a great analogy of the Splint. We know that when a bone is broken in half, the two parts are realigned and a splint is used to hold the two together. You cannot immediately start using the bone for support as it needs to heal the connections. Only when all the connections have healed to form the two pieces into 1 supporting unit will it work properly. The Ketamine is the splint. The nerves from brain, and the nerves from the foot need to be separated and then the ketamine lets the brain restart and put the two ends together, but it isn't so simple that everything is miraculously better. The nerves need to be re-blunted and learn again all of the pain and stimulation receptor signals.
That is where the new beginning starts. There is the necessity for hydrotherapy and water exercise called Watsu. Strange name, but it holds the ability for the bottom of the feet to be walked on where the body has almost no weight. The water also holds a lot of healing properties as everyone knows, and now it holds the key to my lovely wife to walking on her foot under the buoyancy of water.
I would love to say that everything has ended, and this Blog was the final stages of Hell that is RSD, for Michelle . We are already looking to Hydrotherapy options for the continuation of increasing her pain threshold and let her mind remember what it was like to walk as normal as it was the many years before.
We were instructed that this should be done for 6 months and since there are ups and downs, we were told to document how long exercise was done for, and anticipate the " exercise hangover " to prove the muscles were being worked and strengthened. One more evaluation after that will determine if the the mind / foot nerves need to be " re-splinted " with another infusion. Another infusion would only be determined after the Dr. sees the improvement made and observes that it would be of benefit.
The Dr. used a great analogy of the Splint. We know that when a bone is broken in half, the two parts are realigned and a splint is used to hold the two together. You cannot immediately start using the bone for support as it needs to heal the connections. Only when all the connections have healed to form the two pieces into 1 supporting unit will it work properly. The Ketamine is the splint. The nerves from brain, and the nerves from the foot need to be separated and then the ketamine lets the brain restart and put the two ends together, but it isn't so simple that everything is miraculously better. The nerves need to be re-blunted and learn again all of the pain and stimulation receptor signals.
That is where the new beginning starts. There is the necessity for hydrotherapy and water exercise called Watsu. Strange name, but it holds the ability for the bottom of the feet to be walked on where the body has almost no weight. The water also holds a lot of healing properties as everyone knows, and now it holds the key to my lovely wife to walking on her foot under the buoyancy of water.
I would love to say that everything has ended, and this Blog was the final stages of Hell that is RSD, for Michelle . We are already looking to Hydrotherapy options for the continuation of increasing her pain threshold and let her mind remember what it was like to walk as normal as it was the many years before.
We were instructed that this should be done for 6 months and since there are ups and downs, we were told to document how long exercise was done for, and anticipate the " exercise hangover " to prove the muscles were being worked and strengthened. One more evaluation after that will determine if the the mind / foot nerves need to be " re-splinted " with another infusion. Another infusion would only be determined after the Dr. sees the improvement made and observes that it would be of benefit.
We would love to say
a special thanks
to all of you
who have read this blog
and either sent
facebook messages
text messages
or voice messages of
encouragement or support
in this time of trial...
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Day Three... The Home Stretch
Three days of legalized Ketamine, very little sleep, and unfamiliar surroundings do not a vacation make.
The Third day started the evening before when the ceiling tiles of the bathroom decided to rain. The last thing we needed was to slip and fall in the restroom late at night so a 10:30 PM call to the front desk yielded only a room change. The room was clean, but sadly that was all it had going for it. The new room was an adjoining room so we could not help but hear the TV and conversation as if it were actually in the room. Now this wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the person in it locking himself out and spending the next few minutes cursing loudly in the hallway and pounding on the door. His luck changed when he was able to get inside and offer a lighter to a neighboring female, then watch TV at a very high decibel level. Luckily it shut off at about midnight...but then started back up at 5:45 AM. . . .RISE AND SHINE !
That leads us to the start of getting ready for the 3rd installment of Infusions. We were happy to see the young girl that has been side by side sharing this horrible experience in the lobby, and her Dr. from her home state of Colorado had actually come to see her. We shared a caring and empathetic smile to her and her parents, and wished them luck and prayers for the day. We filled out the same paperwork, walked into the same room, and hooked up to the same mechanisms. Here we go again.
Michelle was started at 90mg of Ketamine, then went up quickly to 135mg. That seemed to be the max without putting her into danger of choking on her own saliva. My wonderful wife came through with very elevated blood pressure, but came through nonetheless. Today's movie menu was Couples Retreat for humor and then Bee Movie for light hearted comedy. (who would have thought I would use Seinfeld and Comedy in the same sentence?)
Once the therapy was over, Michelle's emotions ran very high. Raw tears streamed down her face as her confusion overran her sense of reality. After about 1 hour and 30 mins of coming out of the infusion, she was able to get out to the car and back to the hotel.... just in time to move to the new room!
Tonight my brave little woman is resting like crazy and the fog has not cleared from her head yet. Please be patient for her calls back and text messages telling you how much she loves you and thanks you for your prayers.
Tomorrows agenda is a video evaluation to document any objective evidence that things are working and I will be letting everyone know the future path and the view of the finish line for Michelle.
If you have a minute to say a final prayer for her, it will be more than appreciated.
The Third day started the evening before when the ceiling tiles of the bathroom decided to rain. The last thing we needed was to slip and fall in the restroom late at night so a 10:30 PM call to the front desk yielded only a room change. The room was clean, but sadly that was all it had going for it. The new room was an adjoining room so we could not help but hear the TV and conversation as if it were actually in the room. Now this wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the person in it locking himself out and spending the next few minutes cursing loudly in the hallway and pounding on the door. His luck changed when he was able to get inside and offer a lighter to a neighboring female, then watch TV at a very high decibel level. Luckily it shut off at about midnight...but then started back up at 5:45 AM. . . .RISE AND SHINE !
That leads us to the start of getting ready for the 3rd installment of Infusions. We were happy to see the young girl that has been side by side sharing this horrible experience in the lobby, and her Dr. from her home state of Colorado had actually come to see her. We shared a caring and empathetic smile to her and her parents, and wished them luck and prayers for the day. We filled out the same paperwork, walked into the same room, and hooked up to the same mechanisms. Here we go again.Michelle was started at 90mg of Ketamine, then went up quickly to 135mg. That seemed to be the max without putting her into danger of choking on her own saliva. My wonderful wife came through with very elevated blood pressure, but came through nonetheless. Today's movie menu was Couples Retreat for humor and then Bee Movie for light hearted comedy. (who would have thought I would use Seinfeld and Comedy in the same sentence?)
Once the therapy was over, Michelle's emotions ran very high. Raw tears streamed down her face as her confusion overran her sense of reality. After about 1 hour and 30 mins of coming out of the infusion, she was able to get out to the car and back to the hotel.... just in time to move to the new room!Tonight my brave little woman is resting like crazy and the fog has not cleared from her head yet. Please be patient for her calls back and text messages telling you how much she loves you and thanks you for your prayers.
Tomorrows agenda is a video evaluation to document any objective evidence that things are working and I will be letting everyone know the future path and the view of the finish line for Michelle.
If you have a minute to say a final prayer for her, it will be more than appreciated.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Day Two... What The Shrek?
It was another 9:30 AM appointment, and another round of being plugged into monitoring devices that beep with every heartbeat, and give everyone around you a first hand look at your vital signs.
As with yesterday, there were the typical pain threshold tests, and explanations of the process Michelle was about to succumb to. Today's menu featured all 3 Shrek movies and of course 3D glasses would not be necessary. It was nice to see My mother in law smile at the crazy green ogres and their adventures.
The increased dosage of 136mg of Ketamine had Michelle reeling a little more than normal, and she said she actually felt like she was inside the movies. She was frightened due to her inability to comprehend reality and it had her questioning everything inside her head unable to ask what was real and what was not. The other changes made besides dosages, were the fact that she was able to swish water in her mouth to prevent dry mouth, and a cherry RingPop that she used to stimulate her salivary glands. All of this led to her mouth being much more comfortable, but she said that upon coming out of the treatment, her hands felt like Shrek hands (oversized and heavy).
Currently my little woman is still feeling like everything is moving in slow motion, but she is thanking everyone for their thoughts of love, and she is anxious to head back tomorrow for her final infusion and to get the darn IV out of her arm.
As with yesterday, there were the typical pain threshold tests, and explanations of the process Michelle was about to succumb to. Today's menu featured all 3 Shrek movies and of course 3D glasses would not be necessary. It was nice to see My mother in law smile at the crazy green ogres and their adventures.
Currently my little woman is still feeling like everything is moving in slow motion, but she is thanking everyone for their thoughts of love, and she is anxious to head back tomorrow for her final infusion and to get the darn IV out of her arm.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Day one... The Wine Tasting!
This is the husbands eye view for the next few days as my lovely wife tries to endure her first day of ketamine infusion.
Today was considered a "Wine Tasting", and the reason is to get her familiar with the effects during the treatment and what to expect when coming back out of it.
The set up was uneventful and the doctor was able to put in the IV flawlessly and smooth. Then came the Ketamine, and my wife slipped into a sleepy state where every 15 minutes she answered simple and predetermined questions, yet everything else was completely confusing. Her body felt as if it was completely numb and she could hear everything going on around her, yet could not formulate words enough to ask for lip balm. Only the simplest of tasks could be done, and I do envy her as we watched "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" but I saw it just like every time before, and she saw it on acid!
While Michelle was still under the effects we put the BluRay of "UP" on the 50" inch HD screen and although trapped in her body, her mind new that she had only a couple hours left to go.
Being put under?...Cake!
The feeling of coming out of the influence?...Cake...slammed into your face by a very mean Clown!
Waves of grogginess and nausea hit her very hard, and at a time when her body was so very exhausted she hardly could keep her eyes focused and hold them still. My poor scared wife was wheelchair bound in the lobby, in tears and confusion. Ginger Ale and Crackers were the comfort foods to help her regain strength but not peace of mind.
We returned to the Holiday Inn and after chicken noodle soup and a 2 hour nap, the color has returned to her cheeks and her appetite is reaffirming that this is something that she can get through.
The prayers of her Family and Friends remain the best medicine to counteract her medication.
Thankfully, Love has NO bad side effects.
Michelles Loco Husbando signing off until tomorrow.
Today was considered a "Wine Tasting", and the reason is to get her familiar with the effects during the treatment and what to expect when coming back out of it.
The set up was uneventful and the doctor was able to put in the IV flawlessly and smooth. Then came the Ketamine, and my wife slipped into a sleepy state where every 15 minutes she answered simple and predetermined questions, yet everything else was completely confusing. Her body felt as if it was completely numb and she could hear everything going on around her, yet could not formulate words enough to ask for lip balm. Only the simplest of tasks could be done, and I do envy her as we watched "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" but I saw it just like every time before, and she saw it on acid!While Michelle was still under the effects we put the BluRay of "UP" on the 50" inch HD screen and although trapped in her body, her mind new that she had only a couple hours left to go.
Being put under?...Cake!
The feeling of coming out of the influence?...Cake...slammed into your face by a very mean Clown!
Waves of grogginess and nausea hit her very hard, and at a time when her body was so very exhausted she hardly could keep her eyes focused and hold them still. My poor scared wife was wheelchair bound in the lobby, in tears and confusion. Ginger Ale and Crackers were the comfort foods to help her regain strength but not peace of mind.
We returned to the Holiday Inn and after chicken noodle soup and a 2 hour nap, the color has returned to her cheeks and her appetite is reaffirming that this is something that she can get through.
The prayers of her Family and Friends remain the best medicine to counteract her medication.
Thankfully, Love has NO bad side effects.
Michelles Loco Husbando signing off until tomorrow.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Today the Ketamine journey begins...Tampa here we come!!
Today is evaluation day with Dr. Kirkpatrick and tomorrow we start treatment! I am feeling very nervous and a lot excited for the outcome! It is sure to be a very long and tiresome week but it will all be worth it in the end! Wish me luck and please send us healing vibes and prayers!
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