Hello
How is Devon doing … not heard from him lately ?
Isn’t he still suffering with a swelled head?
He’s not so tubular anymore dude(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)
Gone to a new set of quacks …(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)
Double up our prayers.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)
I sure do hope he is OK. I miss him! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-frown.gif)
We all does. Due? Do.
He told me today that the sawbones drained 20 cc’s of cerebrospinal fluid out of him to try to take some of the pressure off, so he wouldnt pop the safety prior to seeing his new Neuro in Seattle at the U of WA (go Huskies!). He said that he feels some better, headache slightly improved, and is hopeful that a good night’s rest will help the situation. Keep him on your prayer list.
Still doing that…
Thanks Steve for giving them an update. I am still here. This thing is kicking my ass. So since my shunt has been removed I have been miserable and am right where I was last summer. All progress gained has been lost. On a positive note I have a new family doc that is very proactive and is helping me with pain management as best he can. As Steve said I have a new Neurosurgery team, at least in so much as they have agreed to give me a consultation on Nov 30th to reevaluate putting the shunt back in. In the meantime my old Neurologist and my new family doc agreed to give me a lumbar puncture and drain 15cc of fluid. The doc that did it ended up taking 20cc because of how fast it drained. Even though the pressure number wasn’t high, she said she didn’t care about that becasue the telltale sign was how fast the fluid squirted out under pressure. She said it can take 15 min to 30 minutes to drain 15cc of fluid and she had that in about a minute. So she took another 5. It started to help and I was getting a little relief. That was Friday. Its all back. So there is no point it trying again because its just a futile pursuit, bottom line I need the shunt.
Also good news is that I am pretty well healed up from the last surgery and the infection. I think that is behind me. So now its just looking forward to what the folks at the Swedish Hospital in Seattle have to say. I doubt very seriously that I will have any sort of surgery prior to the first of the year when my vacation is replenished and I can take the time off. I don’t really even want another surgery from the mental aspect. I am not in the game like I should be. But I also need to release this pressure before it drives me batty.
So at this point I am in a holding pattern for a month. Having to find a way to cope with the pain and make it through my work days so that I can keep the paychecks coming and the insurance intact. Thats about all I have in me.
As always thanks for thinking of me and praying for me. I haven’t forgotten this group but trains are not high on my list of priorities. Just can’t wait until the MIK 2019.
OMG! Its still alive!! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)
Devon, in all seriousness, I am glad that you are still on this side of the grass, and prying that soon you find relief for your condition.
Hang in there buddy. Tell your docs you need to get well so you can get your priorities back in order!
Trains promote health, at least mine keep me busy; if not building, then repairing… so that’s gotta be good!(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)
Be Blessed.
You are a very strong guy. I do not know how you can continue to go to work and do your job in your condition. I thought this pressure was effecting your vision. How can you drive to work? You are on my mind daily. I hope you can get some relief soon my friend! Fight on! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
**Devon Sinsley said:**Having to find a way to cope with the pain and make it through my work days so that I can keep the paychecks coming and the insurance intact. Thats about all I have in me.
That’s a bit of a grim and stressful place to be, (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-frown.gif)sorry you have to go through it.
Joe,
The vision is a weird thing to describe. First let me clarify. I have always had eagle eyes. 20/15. I am the guy who can see a white tail deer on a hillside a mile away with the naked eye. So I have to explain my vision loss from that perspective. First thing I noticed was blurred vision. I could still see but everything was fuzzy. Then I started to notice holes in my vision, spots where I couldn’t see anything. But only in one eye at s time. So the other eye filled the gap. Also your brain is amazing at filling in the gaps. And the blind spots moved ( a classic symptom of blindness caused by pressure on the nerve) also by field of vision was narrowing considerably. I almost hit a motorcycle that was in my blind spot, I could see, or at least I thought so until he just appeared. At the worst I still had 20/20 vision just blurry as heck and with big gaps and narrow field. The I got the shunt and it went back to normal. Now I am back to shitty 20/20. So my vision loss is relative and random. But the damage if left unchecked becomes permanent. Really it’s the vision that is the most serious symptom. So when I describe it remember I am coming from the perspective of superior vision. Many people would give anything to have my vision. Also there is nothing wrong with my eyeball. Its all nerve damage, so glasses wont help.
As for work, what can you do. I dont have a choice. It’s very difficult. If I cant get a shunt I will most certainly be looking into disability. It’s very hard to manage, I was out of work 8 weeks last year. Thank God I have great benefits and none of that was unpaid. I have 5 weeks vacation every year and had amassed 250 or so hours of sick leave.
Forrest Scott Wood said:
**Devon Sinsley said:**Having to find a way to cope with the pain and make it through my work days so that I can keep the paychecks coming and the insurance intact. Thats about all I have in me.
That’s a bit of a grim and stressful place to be, (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-frown.gif)sorry you have to go through it.
Ditto that. Hang in there buddy.
Devon is doing well thanks to his buddy … Pepper… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Devon
Thanks for explaining your vision problem. You are probably still a better driver than half the folks on the road! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Sean,
I don’t know about Pepper, I don’t think therapy dogs are supposed to bite their owners. We got in a fight last night. I did win, but only after I bit her ear. I am sure that the fight was caused by me. I kept pulling her stump and then when she snapped at me I blew in her nose. So that may have had a tad to do with her getting mad at me and biting me. All kidding aside, Pepper has been a great friend. She greats me at the door everyday very enthusiastically and dances on her hind legs trying to give me hugs til I pick her up then she nibbles on my face (she is a heeler thats their thing). When I am not at work she is by my side. Goes darn near everywhere with me. and at night we play fetch from the bed. She does keep a smile on my face. I have always had deep affection for my dogs; but Pepper is special at a time when no matter how many people are around me I feel lonely.
Speaking of lonely, I never understood loneliness from people that are surrounded by others. I had heard people say it but never understood it. This is one of the loneliest times of my life. I have friends and family around me near constantly, but the depression and pain has made me reclusive, a self imposed isolation. Most of it from necessity of sensory overload on the old noggin. The shunt gave me back my social life for the most part, not entirely but much better. Now without it again I pull away and want to be left alone to be quiet or sleep. It is a very lonely feeling for a guy who is normally very social.
Joe,
I never said anything about being a good driver.
Our thought and prayers are with you Devon …
Hmmm the term "Bite me " is now more respected!
Sean said:
Our thought and prayers are with you Devon …
Hmmm the term "Bite me " is now more respected!
Thanks for the Laugh Sean. She is like a second wife. We have our moments, but I will always love her.