Back Home... FINALLY

Dr. Dean finally arrived at the hospital at 8:00 pm this evening to release Scott. After an hour of processing the necessary paperwork and getting another dose of Depacon via IV, we were on our way home. (YEAH!!)

Dr. Dean prescribed Depakote Sprinkle (125 mg) capsules for Scott. He will be taking 2 capsules in the morning and 2 in the evening. Scott will also continue to take Keppra - although on a slightly different schedule. He will now take 1125 mg in the morning and evening as opposed to 750 mg three times a day.

Please pray that the Depakote Sprinkle and the Keppra are the correct meds, that the dosages prescribed are just the right amount and that Scott's increased seizure activity will finally come to an end.

Going Home and the Removal of Lyrica

I spoke with Dr. Dean a little while ago. I explained that the nurses here are terrified when Scott has a seizure and that they really aren't helpful to me or Scott. I told Dr. Dean that I thought it would be best to let Scott go home. I even explained that we would bring Scott in each day for blood work if she wanted.

I also told Dr. Dean that as soon as Scott received his Keppra and Lyrica this morning he again got very tired and started having some small seizures right after he laid down to rest. I told Dr. Dean that based on my observations I believe that Scott should be removed from Lyrica.

Dr. Dean agreed on both counts. So we're waiting on her to come up here so Scott can go home. Before releasing him, she wants to work with us to develop a plan. We are both of the opinion that the Depacon is working. At least he seems to be calm and able to rest once he's had it. Of course, it's through an IV so we need to figure out the correct equivalent of Depakote - the oral version.

Hopefully if we remove the Lyrica and get the correct amount of Depakote Scott won't suffer any more seizures.

We are going to re-schedule the brain mapping session for Scott. He's reacted oddly to some situations and we need to figure out if it's due to the frontal area of his brain where he had the growth removed. That will better help us develop a plan for dealing with Scott's epilepsy and the treatment of it. We also want to discuss our options with the nerosurgeon after the mapping session. He previously stated that scar tissue is "very tricky". Maybe we'll have some options once we better understand how it's affecting Scott. I'll continue to post here as I learn more.

Thanks again for your love, encouragement and support!
Christa

A Good Morning Thus Far

Scott has had a very good morning thus far. He has eaten breakfast, has taken TWO walks around the 9th floor here at the hospital and is anxious to speak with Dr. Dean about going home today. Keep your fingers crossed that Scott will get his wish!

Update

I just spoke with Dr. Dean. In light of Scott's recent seizure activity, she is going to start him back on a low dose of Depacon (125 mg) via IV. I explained Scott's lack of rest this morning and told Dr. Dean about how his eyes continued to move - even though his eyelids were closed. She explained that this was due to seizure activity. Hopefully this low dose of Depacon will be the answer... only time will tell. Needless to say, Scott will not be returning home this evening. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks everyone!
Christa

One Step Back?

Scott had a gran mal seizure at 3:25 this afternoon. The seizure only lasted 2 minutes or so. Scott is resting comfortably now.

We're not yet sure of what this will mean for his proposed return home tomorrow. Once we speak with Dr. Dean I will update everyone.

Homeward Bound...

Scott was able to get a very good night's sleep last night. He has been up since breakfast this morning and seems more like himself today. Dr. Dean just dropped by to check in on him. She told Scott that she was happy with his progress and wanted him to start walking around today to get his strength back. She has also taken him completely off of Depacon. (Today is his first day without it.) Dr. Dean stated that if Scott continues to do well today, she may let him go home tomorrow. (YIPEE!!) Hopefully tomorrow at this time I will be posting to let everyone know that we are on our way home.

Another Eventful Night But Still Seizure-Free

Scott had another eventful night last night but remains seizure-free. He has been quite tired today and has slept for most of the day. He is eating well though and drinking plenty of fluids... and dreaming of the day he can say goodbye to the hospital staff and return home to play with Otto and Katze.

An Eventful but Seizure-Free Night

Scott had an eventful but seizure-free night at the hospital last night. The poor thing has been poked and prodded today. He is on oxygen, has two IVs - one for fluids and one for meds, is hooked up to a heart monitor, and was just hooked up for a sleep EEG. Dr. Dean is continuing to reduce his Depakote ER intake. (While here in the hospital, Dr. Dean is giving Scott Depacon instead of Depakote ER.) Hopefully he can get some much needed rest this evening. I'll continue to post updates on his progress.

Thanks again for all of the phone calls, emails, visits and meals. It is wonderful to have such loving and supportive friends and family. We love and thank you all!

Christa

Back to the Hospital...

Scott and I have just returned from Dr. Dean's office. He was unable to meet with Dr. Robeson for the "mapping" session because he was so tired from the three seizures. However, Dr. Dean decided to have another EEG performed. The procedure ran for a little over two hours and Dr. Dean stated that it looked better than the one taken last week.

While at Dr. Dean's office this afternoon, Scott had several simple partial seizures. Based on the fact that Scott has had 7 seizures since being released from the hospital last Friday, Dr. Dean has decided to re-admit Scott into the hospital. She has also decided to take Scott off of Depakote ER.

So, we'll be heading back to hospital shortly. Please say a prayer that the removal of the Depakote ER will halt his seizures and that Scott can return home, seizure-free, soon.

Ready... and Waiting....

Scott had another restful night here at the hospital - despite the sleep study monitor. He has eaten breakfast and lunch, has completely dressed and is now sitting and waiting, as patiently as he can, to be released. Hopefully it won't be too much longer now. We'll continue to keep you posted.

As always, thank you for your love and support!
Christa

Update!

Still here in the hospital. Dr. Dean is going to start me on a new drug, Lyrica, tonight. Hopefully that works and they will let me out tommorow. :)

As for the PET scan, Dr. Dean reveiewed it and believes that the seizure activitiy is still eminating from the scar tissue left over from my brain surgery 15 years ago. She is going to review these results with the neurosurgeon that implanted my VNS to see what, if anything, can be done.

Dr. Dean is also performing a sleep study on me tonight to see how well I am sleeping. Hopefully I will know more tomorrow.

So far so good....

Scott had a restful, seizure-free night. He ate a full breakfast of french toast and sausage earlier this morning and is resting again now. We are still awaiting the results of the PET scan. I'll continue to keep everyone posted as I hear more.

Please also accept our sincerest thanks for all of your calls, emails, visits and especially the prayers that have been lifted up for Scott's speedy recovery. We are truly blessed to have such loving friends and family.

Christa

First Night in Hospital

Scott was able to rest pretty well last night even with the usual headaches of being hospitalized. Dr. Dean came by around midnight to check on him. Luckily, he was resting peacefully at that time. However, I quickly explained Scott's frustration at being woken up every few minutes and reiterated that one purpose of his hospitalization is to ensure that Scott is able to rest. Dr. Dean agreed and immediately instructed the staff to NOT disturb Scott for the rest of the evening. While the nurses did continue to check on him each hour, they never woke him.

While here last evening/this morning, Dr. Dean explained that Scott's EEG was normal. She also stated that she wanted him to have a PET scan today. I inquired as to whether or not Scott should have a sleep study - something we have discussed in the past - however, Dr. Dean stated that she first wanted to see what, if anything, the PET scan showed. When asked, Dr. Dean was not able to indicate how long Scott may be staying in the hospital. Keep your fingers crossed that Scott's stay will be short. I know that he longs to return home soon.

The staff arrived to take Scott down for his PET scan at 7:00 am this morning. He was a real trooper - thanking each and every one of them for their help. It is my sincere hope and prayer that the PET scan will reveal something - anything - that may enlighten us on the recent flury of seizure activity and allow us to start on a new course of action to help reduce it. I'll continue to update you as I hear more.

Christa