Following the first hospital stay was a series of doctors visits. Needless to say we have learned the shortest way to get to the doctor from any given point in this city.
From April to about early June Kaylah was on high high doses of birth control - both orally & the patch. It actually felt like life could have the possiblity of getting better. However this was not the case, her hormones were tweaking with her emotions. Let's just say I was on the brunt end of those intense mood swings. Finally we called the doctor and asked for something to be done.
Well now our only option was to take a shot once a month called Lupron. Let me interject right here - this medicine has sever side affects for young gals - think really good before taking!!! So once again Kaylah started taking these drugs once a month. At first they seem to work really well - then the side affects came. The immediate ones we noticed were weight gain, heart palpitations, and fatigue. So once the heart issues came, Kaylah was now seeing a cardiologist in her office. Sweet old man who even went to Israel and took his whole family to the Wailing Wall for her - so somewhere out there is Kaylah's name on the Wailing Wall.
The heart problems were so bad at one point I did take her to the ER, just because seh works with these kinds of patients on a daily basis and she was quite concerned. They did determine that she does indeed have an iregular heart beat. This was sometime around the end of May/first of June.
*the story will continue*
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Friday, December 26, 2008
Dr. Michelle DeVera
April 24, 2008
Today we were introduced to Dr. Michelle DeVera - an angel sent from Heaven.
The moment we walked into her office, Kaylah was at peace with her. I knew that we were on the right track. She began to examine Kaylah and once again she came up kicking and screaming ready to kill anyone within reach.
She finally determines that Kaylah does indeed have endomitriosis. However she feels like she can treat it with a fast acting birth control patch. So we walk out of the office with a bag full of birth control patches, a perscription for Vicodin, and strict orders of bed rest flat on her back.
Looking back I wish that it all would have been that simple, but no not at all! We were supposed to spend the night at Granny & Grampy Burk's so Kaylah could sleep and I could do laundry. That was not the case at all! Kaylah was in so much pain that she was taking Vicodin like candy - 1 every 1.5 hours. I had finally had enough and called the Dr's exchange and told them I was taking her to the hospital.
So this is the 3rd time we have been to the hospital in 4 days. Of course we had to wait AGAIN!!! Shauna Hord was so kind to come and sit with us in the waiting room. Then Aunt Paula showed up. I think it was around 1 in the morning when Kaylah finally got a room in the ER.
Of course it was the same regime as before - hook her up to an IV, do an ultra sound, wait for the results, then call the doctor. Well this time the ER doctor decided to wait ALL stinking night before she was going to admit Kaylah. So in between that time, Aunt Paula and I were getting tickled at Kaylah who was mumbling randomness, laughing at the sign that read "please undress all patients appropriately", of course I took a picture of it on my phone and was sending it all over the world at 3 a.m.
Finally at 6 a.m. they decide to admit Kaylah for the weekend just to help her get past the worst part of the pain. We were walking with Kaylah to her room, and there at the top of the elevator waiting on us was Dr. deVera herself. We were so grateful to see her. This of course would keep us in the hospital all weekend.
It was quite eventful weekend needless to say. Kaylah started getting sick due to all the medicine that had been pumped into her system. I was so thankful that Neny & PawPaw Richardson left the Veteran Missionary Retreat early so I could have a break.
I wish I could say that this was the end of the saga. However it is still an ongoing adventure. I admire my sister so much for all that she has had to endure. The story will continue.
Today we were introduced to Dr. Michelle DeVera - an angel sent from Heaven.
The moment we walked into her office, Kaylah was at peace with her. I knew that we were on the right track. She began to examine Kaylah and once again she came up kicking and screaming ready to kill anyone within reach.
She finally determines that Kaylah does indeed have endomitriosis. However she feels like she can treat it with a fast acting birth control patch. So we walk out of the office with a bag full of birth control patches, a perscription for Vicodin, and strict orders of bed rest flat on her back.
Looking back I wish that it all would have been that simple, but no not at all! We were supposed to spend the night at Granny & Grampy Burk's so Kaylah could sleep and I could do laundry. That was not the case at all! Kaylah was in so much pain that she was taking Vicodin like candy - 1 every 1.5 hours. I had finally had enough and called the Dr's exchange and told them I was taking her to the hospital.
So this is the 3rd time we have been to the hospital in 4 days. Of course we had to wait AGAIN!!! Shauna Hord was so kind to come and sit with us in the waiting room. Then Aunt Paula showed up. I think it was around 1 in the morning when Kaylah finally got a room in the ER.
Of course it was the same regime as before - hook her up to an IV, do an ultra sound, wait for the results, then call the doctor. Well this time the ER doctor decided to wait ALL stinking night before she was going to admit Kaylah. So in between that time, Aunt Paula and I were getting tickled at Kaylah who was mumbling randomness, laughing at the sign that read "please undress all patients appropriately", of course I took a picture of it on my phone and was sending it all over the world at 3 a.m.
Finally at 6 a.m. they decide to admit Kaylah for the weekend just to help her get past the worst part of the pain. We were walking with Kaylah to her room, and there at the top of the elevator waiting on us was Dr. deVera herself. We were so grateful to see her. This of course would keep us in the hospital all weekend.
It was quite eventful weekend needless to say. Kaylah started getting sick due to all the medicine that had been pumped into her system. I was so thankful that Neny & PawPaw Richardson left the Veteran Missionary Retreat early so I could have a break.
I wish I could say that this was the end of the saga. However it is still an ongoing adventure. I admire my sister so much for all that she has had to endure. The story will continue.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The First of Many Dr. Visits.
April 23, 2008
Today is Wednesday and we are finally visiting Kaylah's primary doctor. After what feels like an eternity of waiting she comes in and starts asking Kaylah all these weird questions - things that have absolutely NOTHING to do with Kaylah's sickness.
She examined Kaylah and when she pushed on Kaylah's stomach, I thought Kaylah was going to kill all 4 ft 9in of that poor doctor. Kaylah came up yelling, kicking and screaming! The doctor soon realized how serious the problem was and that Kaylah needed to see a specialist - like tomorrow. The only problem was that this specialist is literally one of the very best in the entire MO/IL area, and it was nearly impossible to get an emergency appointment with her. While the doctor slipped out of the room, Kaylah & I said a quick prayer. We had only been dealing with this situation for 3 days, but we were already tired of it - how we have made it seven months is nothing but the grace of God!
Calls were made to this specialist and they had nothing until the following month. We waited for a few minutes to see if the doctor would send us to a different specialist. However, I did not feel comfortable with this decision so I begged the secretary to try calling the first specialist one more time. So he was gracious enough to comply, and come to find out there was instantly a cancelation - for the very next day! I said we will take it!!!! Nothing like my God to take care of His children at the most crucial moments in time.
Of course Kaylah does not remember much of this as she was off in lah-lah land due to the pain medicine. She has said some pretty interesting things because of it all - ask her about it & she denies every last word.
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Journey of Bed Rest
*So the last post started Kaylah's story. I will do my best to continue and remember the events as they happened.
We left Barnes - St. Peters on Sunday night under strict orders for Kaylah to be on bed rest until she could visit her primary. If only she could have followed those orders, but no her body decided it was going to make her sick!
April 21, 2008
Today was supposed to be a typical day of work, and then coming home to take care of Kaylah - who was supposed to be in bed. It started out that way but unfortunately it did not end that way. I came home around 1 o'clock, walked in the door and found Kaylah passed out in the middle of the floor, not knowing how long she had been there. I was finally able to rouse her and asked her if she knew what happened and why she was in the floor. Come to find out she was in so much pain that she literally passed out. So I did what any person would do, I scooped her up and back to the hospital we go.
This time I take her to Missouri Baptist becasue that is the hospital her doctor is based out of. We arrive there, and the place is packed. There was literally no where for me to sit and I had to fight a lady for a wheel chair. While we were waiting I called our second set of mothers (those who take care of us while mom is in Africa) and inform them what is going on. We are still waiting to be seen by the triage doctor, and by this time Kaylah is rocking back and forth in pain. All of a sudden I hear someone asking for us and I look up to see Mama Howell. Thank goodness for a familiar face, even if she was upset. She looked at Kaylah for a split second, turned around and began to speak Spanish to the girl behind the desk. Poor thing did not know what hit her. Needless to say we were next in line to see the triage doctor. As we were coming out of triage to wait for our turn in for an actual bed, in walks Sis Rodenbush - another familiar face. She sat with Kaylah and I, along with Mama Howell.
By this time a good 4 hours has gone by and still no bed. So finally they take us back to a lounge that Kaylah could at least sit in a recliner to go to sleep (they gave her pain meds in triage). While I was sitting there trying to explain to everyone gathered what was going to happen, in walks Granny & Grampy Burk, and I start explaining all over again. During this time they take Kaylah back for an ultra sound and I stay behind to eat. Mama Howell went and bought me some lunch and dinner all combined into one. As I was eating this meal, I did not realize that this would be the first of many lunches and dinners in the hospital. I must say they make mean waffles!!!!
Once Kaylah came back from the ultra sound, they had a bed ready for her. We still haven't seen a real doctor yet, only nurses who think we are crazy. Everyone finally left and it was just Kaylah and I. Bless her heart she was so worn out already and the battle was just beginning. At last the doctor came in and said that the ultra sound showed a ruptured cyst and that her body would absorb the fluid. While we were speaking with the doctor, she asked for more pain medicine. They were gracious enough to give her another small dose of morphine. Almost instantly we discovered that Kaylah is highly alergic to this pain medicine. Her arms from her wrists to her shoulders looked like a toddler had drawn on her arms with bright a bright red sharpie!!! Needless to say things were hopping and popping around that ER - doctors and nurses came running. Finally it was under control and at least we had some answers, and it wasn't as bad as we thought - at least for today. They sent her home at around midnight - we had only been there for eleven hours. Once again she was under strict orders to be on strict flat of her back bed rest, and to see her primary ASAP.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Encountering Endometriosis
*This blog is thoughts, concerns, prayer requests, praise reports, prayers, & everything else in between about my sister, Kaylah's journey of endometriosis. I am starting this as my perspective to her sickness, and she will be creating her own blog to give her side of the story. We know that this journey is for the Greater Good and one day this will be just a stepping stone to the path of great ministry. This blog contains material that is somewhat for women only.*
April 20, 2008.
This was normal Sunday. We had Youth Choir practice at 10:30 in the morning. We had been working on a new song for this month and Kaylah was totally pumped about it. She ventured out on a limb and incorporated some new aspects to our song. She felt like this was what was required for this particular Sunday. Little did we know that this song would change our lives 7 months later.
We woke up that morning, and she told me she had a bad pain on her right side. I asked her if she had her period, and of course in her sweet Kaylah humor rolled her eyes at me and said "Duh!"
We went to church and the Lord really moved. Youth Choir was so anointed and I know it was because of Kaylah's passion to see these kids be used of God. However I noticed that towards the end of the service Kaylah was not upstairs for the preaching, and she slipped in to play the organ for altar call. As it was tapering down, I looked over and she was talking to a man who is an EMT. I asked her what was going on and she began to explain to me that the pain had not subsided. Bro Peyton told me that it was probably her appendix and it would not hurt to take her in to the ER.
So we jet out of church and off the ER we go. We get to the hospital, and for whatever reason we went to a hospital that wasn't even close to our house. It was out past the church, but the Lord knew why. There was no waiting and the staff was so kind to Kaylah. They examined her and all opinions felt like yes it was her appendix. So we waited & we waited some more & we waited a little bit longer, finally they took her for a CT Scan. Oh guess what, we had to wait some more. The results finally came back and her appendix was fine. However, her ovaries looked a little inflamed, but that could be that her cycle just passed - keep an eye on and contact your primary.
During the time in the ER, Pastor Trimble and the Hords were so kind to come and pray. The family of God is so important, especially to 2 Mk's whose family is half way around the world, and your grandparents life on the other side of the U.S. It was during this time of visiting and praying that Pastor introduced the "hand of God" to Kaylah. He pulled a latex glove out of the box on the wall and laid it on Kaylah's shoulder while we were praying. When we were finished he said to her "Always know the hand of God is with you and upon you." Of course this lightened the mood, and made the waiting go by alot faster. Also Breshae - the Hord's youngest, could not understand why her Kaylah was in this weird bed with a "boo-boo". She loves Kaylah so much!!!!
We left the hospital exhausted but relieved that there would be no surgery. Looking back, I wish we could have been given a slip of paper as a warning of the days to come. Oh well life doesn't work that way, and we are making the best of this journey.
The following is the song that Kaylah directed the Youth Choir on Sunday April 20th 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIxyD7iMN7c
Stay tuned for the rest of the story. This site will be updated as I remember all the details.
April 20, 2008.
This was normal Sunday. We had Youth Choir practice at 10:30 in the morning. We had been working on a new song for this month and Kaylah was totally pumped about it. She ventured out on a limb and incorporated some new aspects to our song. She felt like this was what was required for this particular Sunday. Little did we know that this song would change our lives 7 months later.
We woke up that morning, and she told me she had a bad pain on her right side. I asked her if she had her period, and of course in her sweet Kaylah humor rolled her eyes at me and said "Duh!"
We went to church and the Lord really moved. Youth Choir was so anointed and I know it was because of Kaylah's passion to see these kids be used of God. However I noticed that towards the end of the service Kaylah was not upstairs for the preaching, and she slipped in to play the organ for altar call. As it was tapering down, I looked over and she was talking to a man who is an EMT. I asked her what was going on and she began to explain to me that the pain had not subsided. Bro Peyton told me that it was probably her appendix and it would not hurt to take her in to the ER.
So we jet out of church and off the ER we go. We get to the hospital, and for whatever reason we went to a hospital that wasn't even close to our house. It was out past the church, but the Lord knew why. There was no waiting and the staff was so kind to Kaylah. They examined her and all opinions felt like yes it was her appendix. So we waited & we waited some more & we waited a little bit longer, finally they took her for a CT Scan. Oh guess what, we had to wait some more. The results finally came back and her appendix was fine. However, her ovaries looked a little inflamed, but that could be that her cycle just passed - keep an eye on and contact your primary.
During the time in the ER, Pastor Trimble and the Hords were so kind to come and pray. The family of God is so important, especially to 2 Mk's whose family is half way around the world, and your grandparents life on the other side of the U.S. It was during this time of visiting and praying that Pastor introduced the "hand of God" to Kaylah. He pulled a latex glove out of the box on the wall and laid it on Kaylah's shoulder while we were praying. When we were finished he said to her "Always know the hand of God is with you and upon you." Of course this lightened the mood, and made the waiting go by alot faster. Also Breshae - the Hord's youngest, could not understand why her Kaylah was in this weird bed with a "boo-boo". She loves Kaylah so much!!!!
We left the hospital exhausted but relieved that there would be no surgery. Looking back, I wish we could have been given a slip of paper as a warning of the days to come. Oh well life doesn't work that way, and we are making the best of this journey.
The following is the song that Kaylah directed the Youth Choir on Sunday April 20th 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIxyD7iMN7c
Stay tuned for the rest of the story. This site will be updated as I remember all the details.
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