PRAYERS NEEDED FOR MEL AND GAYLE

[borninok]

UPDATE....

Well, folks, I don't know how to say this, but Gayle has had a setback.....a bad one. They discharged her today from the hospital....which was great news. She hadn't had any new problems with her legs overnight.....and it looked like her kidney situation was doing great. Well, as I was driving up to the hospital ramp to pick her up, she walked out to the car......and her legs gave out. She fell down against the car....while it was still in motion...and I heard her scream. All I could think about was that I had run over her.....but as I ran around the car, I found I hadn't. She was ok, except that her knees were really scraped up bad......she had also twisted her right ankle.......and she couldn't get up because her legs wouldn't work...which is what has been happening lately. I tried to get her to let me get medical help for her, but she refused saying that she just wanted to go home. As we were heading home, I convinced her to call our doctor's office to get an appointment. While she was talking on the phone, I headed towards the doctor's office. As Gayle was about to hang up, telling me that we needed to head towards the doctor's office.....she realized that I was pulling into the building's driveway.

Long story short...........they are trying to figure out why her legs aren't working. She has feeling in them....but they won't work! At this point, they think they may have found the cause, but they are still running tests tomorrow. Don't know if you have heard or read about the cholesterol drug Vytorin...produced by Merk Pharm. Corp....but they recently found that it has serious side effects....leg muscle cramps, leg debilitation, etc. So....what has Gayle's doctor been prescribing for her cholesterol problem........Vytorin. And, we just discovered today, that one of the other meds she is on...........if it is taken with Vytorin, it has extremely serious side effects.

They are still running tests tomorrow. My question at this point is...IF they find out that this is the cause... #1: Is her condition permanent? #2 If her condition is permanent, who is to blame?.....Merk Corp? The doctor?

At this point, we are trying to be positive. Stoney....those obstacles you mentioned....they sure do seem to be getting bigger lately.

Sooooooooooo close...........sooooooooo dang close ............. to being the end of all of this....and now...?

Sorry this is such a downer tonight, Folks. I had hoped for better news. And I'm still hoping...............and I'm still praying.
Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers. I mean it.
--Mel and Gayle

borninok

 

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[Cynangyl]

Gracious! How frightening! You and Gayle are still in my prayers sweet friend! Hang in there and know you are loved and prayed for! ~hugsnprayers~ Cyndi

 

[Timberwolf]

Mel,

Sorry to hear about the setback.
You know what they say about doctors.....they only "practice" medicine, they aren't necessarily "good" at it.

We will continue to keep you in our prayers

Tom and Ragenna

 

[Mental Granny]

Gayle I was so sorry to read of the new set back! I am sending prayers as always to you both. if the meds are the cause I pray it is not permenat and it can be taken care of quickly!

Mel prayers for you to! Let us know !

Love Evy

 

[borninok]

Fellow TNETTERS,

Where do I begin? Things are beginning to calm down a tad.....don't want to jinx it. Hey, MasterEagle, if you are out there....I may tease you a lot about your profession, but I am here to say......caring for others is a God-given talent....some have it, some don't. Right now I sit here totally exhausted. I don't know you do it. For the last week...since last Wed...I have been caring for Gayle....literally in the sense of "total care". I probably get 1 hour of sleep each night...and that is with one eye and ear open.

Gayle seems to be improving more and more each day. As of last Wed, she literally had no strength in her legs. And......as I feared.....I was trying to get her up.......deadlift.....and hurt my back once again......real bad. I hurt my back 14 years ago, and my health provider has basically told me I needed to learn to live with it. HMO...what do you expect. Anyway....anytime that she needed to get up....I had no option...I needed to be the lift for her.

Took her for an MRI a couple of days ago. We will know more tomorrow, we hope. Like I said, she is improving as each day goes by. As of today, she can finally lift herself off of the couch...and walk with her walker. I have had to do a lot of heart-to-heart talks with her ....... she was having a tough time dealing with the concept of not being able to do things like she used to....like take a shower, walk to the kitchen and fix herself a snack, etc.

I take her tomorrow to see the doctor....and for her to get another B12 shot. They have found that she is significantly deficient in B12 and Folic Acid. Have had to do a lot of midnight cramming on the internet about this................really never knew about these deficiencies, and how they could cause problems with your muscles. They still are not ruling out Vitoryn as the cause, but they seem to be grasping at straws right now.

As I said, I take her tomorrow to see the doctor. While she seems to feel the B12 and Folic Acid deficiencies are the problems................................they seem to shy away every time that I try to voice my opinion about the recently published dangers of Vytorin. Gayle and I have agreed to go into the office tomorrow and tell the doctor that if she can't provide an alternative drug to Vytorin...which they can.....then we are history from her services.

So....bottom line.....she is still having problems, but is improving considerably as each day goes by.

We don't know whether these leg muscle problems are permanent....but by virtue of the fact that she can walk a little bit.....we are praying that God hears not only our prayers, but the needs on prayers of thers here on TNET.

God bless you all.

I love you all.

Ok....Stoney, Burdie, Evy, RR, ME.....and the rest of the Chisholm Trail Hunt..........and Gypsy............my heartfelt thanks and love go out to you. And to each of you TNET'rs.............................my heart goes out to you with total humbleness.

--Mel

borninok

 

[stoney56]

That's great to hear Mel. You watch that back though..I know it's hard to do it all yourself. It got to a point with my G-grandad where mom got one of those overhead bars w/the handle hanging over the bed. We'd take turns getting him up of a morning and during the night.

Even I get upset sometime when trying to get up after digging. Everything's much better but sometimes a twinge kicks in and I get so frustrated but keep on till the next hole. LOL

Take care and keep us updated. Prayers are continuing.
Jeff and Evy

 

[River Rat]

Mel,

You and Gayle will continue to be in my prayers. I pray they find out what's causing Gayle's leg problems.
What I don't understand is being discharged from the hospital, it's a policy at our hospital regardless of how well you feel, someone is going to push you out in a wheelchair. Take care of yourself too, Mel. Keep us informed.

RR

 

[Mental Granny]

That is the same policy here you have to be wheeled out even if the person pushing you is 70 yr old pink lady or pink man!

 

[Cynangyl]

Thanks so much for the update sweet man! Praying for strength for you and healing for Gayle. Sure love you guys! ~hugsnprayers~

 

[Bridge End Farm]

Thanks so much for the update sweet man! Praying for strength for you and healing for Gayle. Sure love you guys! ~hugsnprayers~

me too my brother hang in there God is with you and healing her

 

[Pepper2004]

The hospitals in my area always place a discharged patient in a wheelchair and roll them out to their waiting car. Do not understand why they didn't do this for Gayle! Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear she is improving. Take care of your back. Try to remember to ALWAYS bend your knees when lifting or picking up something!

God Bless,
Pepper

 

[imafishingnutt]

Hear at Treasurenet you have many friends,
Our hearts are open and our ears we lend.

For ever and true we all proudly stand
And reach out our arms and offer our hand

When you need more prayer and faith than one
You have strength in numbers
And we call to his son.

We pray for health and strength from above
And his promise he sends on the wings of a dove

Your in our prayers each day and each night
And With 23,000 members
We keep you in sight

Best wishes from all of us at Tnet

Wrote for Mel and Family By
Ima​

 

[Juanmoretime]

Well said !!!

 

[Mental Granny]

Beautiful Ima just absolutley Beautiful!

 

[borninok]

Update as of today...March 19, 2008.

Gee, where do I begin? First and foremost...I was deeply, deeply touched by all of the thoughts and prayers. And, Ima, I can only say.............nope, I can't even write it without tears. Thank you, my friend!

Gayle has continued to improve each day. It has been a real struggle, believe me. I know those of you out there...like Warsawdaddy...who have had to deal with caring for a mate or loved one.....and I mean caring 24/7 for them...I appreciate the words of encouragement and prayers.

They STILL don't know for positive the cause of her total muscular collapse. I mean, literally in a matter of a few hours, she went from a semi-healthy person to a total invalid....she couldn't sit, stand, or get up. Regarding the wheelchair question....this is the policy at this hospital....if the patient is able to walk and has a person responsible for them...i.e., the spouse or whatever....no hospital assistance is required. Apparently there have been court cases in which the "candy striper" person has tried to assist the person, and has been sued because they are not certified medical personnel. Even if there had been a "candy striper" there to assist, that person would not have been medically eligible to assist if something happened. I know....rules stink. But believe me, I saw it in black and white in the hospital's legal notice that is posted.

Right now, Gayle is taking Vitamin B12 shots on a weekly basis, and taking Folic Acid pills twice daily. I have insisted that they stop her dosage of Vytorin for her cholesterol problem......and they are not very happy with me. Tough! I have told them to put her on some other type of cholesterol control drug. I'm on Zocor. The only reason they were giving her Vytorin is that it is 2 drugs combined...and it's cheaper to take one versus two drugs. Not if it destroys the muscles! We are battling that....but they will soon learn, if my attorney gets involved. I also discovered that they gave her a prescription drug that is known to have a contraindication with Vytorin. We are still "talking" that situation through.

Gayle is doing more each day, and right now she is able to walk without my assistance.....but I still walk behind her with the walker...just in case. So...there is light at the end of the tunnel....thank God! But...she is still not out of the woods.

I have always said this...and this reinforces it.......................when two young kids decide they want to marry........they should spend 2 whole weeks in a nursing home. Believe me....in 31 years of marriage, I never imagined I would be doing some of the things that I have done. And....sometimes at the risk of my own health. As some of you already know, I hurt my back seriously while trying to pick her up from a sitting position....dead weight....and I have spent the last couple of weeks at the chiropractor, trying to mend...while still helping her.

I feel for those of you in similiar situations...caring for a loved one, or who have done so for extended periods of time.

So...I guess the good news is that she is getting better. Bad news is that she still has a long road to go.....and this has already been going on for almost 7 months already!

Thank you again for all of the thoughts and prayers. I hope to get back in the swing of TNET little by little. As you can imagine, I haven't been MDng anything...LOL....but my imagination has been out there.
Humbly,
Mel

borninok

 

[Mental Granny]

Mel you keep us posted or call, and you take care of yourself as well as Gayle, give her our love and prayers,
and deal with the dumb a$$ on the meds. Get her healthy and keep yourself that way I know you got stuff to do before CTH II!

Love and Hugs

Evy

 

[Juanmoretime]

Mel,

Keep hanging in there brother. It is improving instead of going backwards and that makes it all worthwhile! People should be so lucky to have a mate that is so caring, especially when it involves sickness and bad health. That separates the ones worth having and I am sure she knows how lucky she is to have you. You take care of that back, forget about trying out for pro football this year. You'll have more time for that later !!!!

You're in our prayers!
Steve

 

[borninok]

Thanks, Steve...and thanks, Evy & Jeff. Gayle just popped her head in the door of my "office"....i.e., my computer room....and said..."I knew it. I get better and you go back to TNET!".....and then she laughed.....that's a GOOD sign! She knows I have been trying....but a lot of times, we males have to shake the macho image....okay......OKAY...I admit it.....I WATCHED 30 MINUTES OF "DAYS OF OUR LIVES".....LOL....

Borrowing a California slang.............."Gag me with a spoon"....LOL

Worse yet............I watched 3 straight hours of "ER"................

Can someone save me? ROFL.........

---Mel

borninok

 

[Juanmoretime]

Mel,

It takes a REAL man to admit what you did in your post!!! You ARE " the man " !!!!

Steve

 

[Cynangyl]

So glad Gayle is feeling better. Glad you are back too....gracious we missed you! ~hugs~