Katie's 2 month post-op checkup........

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gijanet

Well-known member
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
1,767
Location
Arlington, Tx.
okay, a week late, but still considered her 2 month post-op! (Has it really only been two months..........that surreal world of Michigan seems like a lifetime ago). For Katie fans, you know I haven't updated her carepage in forever. That is going to be quite a formidable task when I get around to it, but, anyway, I just had to share with y'all.

Katie's sats were 99%!!!!! :eek: Can you believe it???? Katie has never had oxygen sats of 99! She was 92 at birth and continued spiraling down from there. Even with the BT shunt and glenn, she was at 77% prior to her fontan and valve replacement. I hope this continues for a long, long, long time. She is a bundle of energy - yes, even more so than before, if you can believe it! :eek:

Now not all of it was great news, but most was. Her EKG looked fine - no more arrythmia problems for now............and we hope that also holds for a very long time. Echo looked good. X-ray looked good. Valve function looked good. Heart pressures were supposedly good, but her captopril was increased by her new PC. Don, being forever male, did not ask why it was being increased, since everything looked great. I, forever being anal-retentive me, want to know why her captopril is being increased if everything "is great." Obviously, there is a reason why the PC felt a need to increase the dosage. Maybe just growth, maybe not! Needless to say, I was working and didn't go to the checkup. Don did...............sigh! I'm trying to hand the reins over, but it is hard, since I usually write everything down and ask two hundred questions, and Don just sits and absorbs and writes down nothing...............argh!

And Katie's INR has dropped. The blood draw last week was 2.0, which I don't like at all..............especially after Tommy's valve clotted shut. We upped her dosage to 2.5 on alternating days with 2.0. (We were on a straight 2.0, which had been holding her at 2.5, but I thought that was too close for comfort, anyway.) It was 2.4 this week, so now we are going to do 2.5, 2.5, 2, etc., to see if that works................so weekly blood draws until we get a handle on this..............no more of the monster blood tech, though. Don just goes ahead and takes her to Cook's in Fort Worth now because they always manage to get blood on the first poke.

Speaking of, we kind of got fed up with going through Cook's to get the home test unit, so Don just went ahead and called QAS. Spent about thirty minutes on the phone with them while they got all of the PC and insurance info. They are going to process all of this and fight the insurance battle for us. Rep said it would take about six weeks, but he would get a unit for us............famous last words, but I am going to hold him to it. I am sure they are usually sympathetic - part of their job - but this guy really seemed like he was.......for Don to say so, I know he had to have been ...........guess because it's for a kiddo so young.

Well, that's us for now. Katie is ...............well, Katie, just non-stop now! We can't take our eyes off of her for a minute. Today, my mom and dad stopped by. Since my dad chain smokes, we all were outside. Katie got hot and wanted to go in. Next thing we know, she is at the door butt "nekkid." Says her clothes were wet, giggled, and slammed the door. Well, the little imp locked it. Soooooooo, we have to ring on the doorbell until Trip finally breaks away from his Gamecube long enough to come answer the door and let us in. I go inside and discover why Katie was nekkid. She had tried to fill one of her medicine syringes with water from the automatic water dispenser on the fridge. Her soaking wet clothes littered the floor into the kitchen and the kitchen floor was soaked for a 6 foot square area. Needless to say, she had not been very successful at filling her syringe because she was "thirsty."

Sigh.............we have managed to survive two weeks of pre-K two days a week. The director offered us three days a week at no additional charge since Katie is the only one going for only two days...............but Katie is not one bit interested in going three days a week because school is "boooooorring!" They didn't like her fingerpainting the table with her pudding at lunch..............imagine that! Sigh! I think we have a very long fourteen years ahead of us.

Much love to you all. Janet
 
Happy to hear from you!

Happy to hear from you!

Dear Janet, reading your post has brought a lot of old memories back from my own recovery when I was ten. VICTORY, what a great feeling!! Especially when it comes to health issues!! I'm sure once Katie has finished making up for lost time, she'll settle down a bit, but that should take a good while still!!LOL!! A lot of catching up to do here!!LOL!! Anyway%2, I know what you mean by Don not asking any questions, Robert's exactly the same!!LOL!! Whenever he has to see a doctor and I ask him how things went and what he said, he just answers that he was told to take such and such medicine. But when I pressure him into telling me why, he gives me a very brief answer and says that there was no point in asking questions to the doctor since he wouldn't understand his explanation anyway!!LOL!! If Katie doesn't feel up to going to her school, it's normal, but she'd soon get bored to tears in the house and end up asking to go back! I was wondeing how you were after I'd heard about Hurricane Rita, and I'm really relieved to see you around! Give wee Katie a big hug for me!! Take care and God bless!
Débora :)
 
So glad to read this post, Janet- sounds like Katie is up to all her old tricks and then some! Reminds me of the time I heard my 7 and 5 year old granddaughters giggling behind the bathroom door. They found my lipstick in a drawer and were having a grand time. Little girls can be delightful. Keep up the great recovery and high spirits, Katie- Mom and Dad will survive.
 
Just keep in mind, while you are chasing Katie, that the energy is so very precious. Much, much better than having her lying in bed. NOW, if we could just get you an energy boost, all would be perfect. :D ;)

Her antics sound hilarious but I am sure they are a bit wearing at times, especially when you have to clean (or mop) up after Katie.

Fingerpainting with pudding? Isn't that what it's for?

Thanks for sharing this update. My love to you all.
 
Great report Janet! I had to chuckle at Don not asking about the reason for the increase in the med. That would be my husband.

As I'm sure you know, with Katie's increase in recovery and physical abilities her dose of coumadin will continue to go up. That's just another good sign, along with her sats.

Congratulations!

PS - if anyone can get your insurance to cover a home tester, QAS will. That was a smart move to give them a call.
 
Karlynn said:
I had to chuckle at Don not asking about the reason for the increase in the med. That would be my husband.

That's why my wife gives me a tape recorder to take to doctor's appointments when she can't be there. When she ask me "what he said" I hand her the recorder.

Janet,

Glad to hear such a great report. We have all walked with you on this ordeal and prayers will continue for Katie, you, Don and the rest of the family. Hopefully Katie will one day write a book about her experiences after she graduates from College.

May God Bless,

Danny
 
Katie with 99% oxygen sat! That must push her energy levels to new heights!
Her trick with the syringe and water dispenser sounds like something our granddaughter would try. Luckily, she can't reach the dispenser yet!

Give her a hug for us :)
Mary
 
EXCELLENT NEWS!!!!

So glad to know Katie is up to her old tricks again ;).

Janet, my dear, you need to write a book ... and then hire me to travel around the country to market it for you....

*grins devilishly*


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"I kept my heart hidden" ... Bryan White ... 'So Much For Pretending'
 
Oh, shucks, thanks guys.........

Oh, shucks, thanks guys.........

for the good wishes. I am still amazed when anyone finds the time to read my book length posts on here. I never intend for them to be, but they just somehow or other end up that way. And, Cort, as far as writing a real book.......well, I'm at a loss for words............... :D

Katie decided today that she wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up, so she had to immediately start "practicing." I had to be her horse for three trips around the house. Then she made a noose out of her jump rope, and I had to be her "cow" while she practiced her roping skills on me. This lasted until her noose came loose and she whapped me in the head with one of the jump rope handles. :eek: Her aspirations of becoming a cowgirl came to a screeching halt - although I was the one doing the screeching.............sigh!

Much love to you all. J.
 
Hi Janet !
So glad to read how well Katie is doing !!
We had a good laugh at all the things that she is getting up to !
Very best wishes
Ernie & Wendy
 
It sounds like you

It sounds like you

have your daughter back! Congratulations on her successful surgery and recovery. Enjoy every moment with her. May she continue to thrive, grow and be such a happy girl!

Christina L
 
I remember when I got my first 99% O2 reading... I thought surely it was a mistake... Amazingly, it's lasted 8 years now! No more blue lips for Katie (unless she's eating blue ice cream ;) )!

You know, I laugh a little less now when I read about Katie's antics. Working with elementary students makes me cringe to think they might pull the same on me. ;) But I do smile a mile to know she's got the energy to be back full swing. And I'm amazed you have the energy to be her horse!

As for Don, he'll never learn. My dad didn't, no matter how many times my mom griped at him for not "asking the right questions". ;)

Glad to hear all the good news...

Love and hugs,
 
Well, I jinxed us.........

Well, I jinxed us.........

shouldn't have been bragging about how well things were going.........sigh! Katie's sick. Been running a low fever since 4 AM this morning. I just posted under the "anti-coag" thread since I am a tad bit nervous - first real illness with our new valve and on warfarin. Whelp........had to get initiated sometime, and with this being our first time to really be around other kids with the pre-K, I figure we will be sick lots this year.........another big sigh!
Here's hoping and praying that this doesn't last too long. Katie, by the way, says she can't have a bug in her tummy as she hasn't eaten any bugs.........well, that's good to know, too. heehee!

Thank you all so much for the kind words of support.
And, Niki, who said I had energy............her "horse" was destined for the glue factory, I think............. :D
And, Cort..........

knightfan2691 said:
Janet at a loss for words?
Blasphemy!
;)

it has happened you know.........I had strep throat once........... :D

Lots of love. Janet
 
So sorry to hear that Katie is sick and hope she recovers quickly, Janet. Unfortunately, that's what happens with school and it always tends to hit the whole family! :( Hope she is on the mend soon.
 
*chuckles*

Just because you have strep throat doesn't mean you're at a loss for words ... just have no way of expressing them, per se ;).


Thoughts/prayers for Katie ... hope she feels better SOON!
 
knightfan2691 said:
*chuckles*

Just because you have strep throat doesn't mean you're at a loss for words ... just have no way of expressing them, per se

Well, I still have my fingers............and one likes to speak a lot louder than the others........... :D :D Sorry, Cort, I am so wicked. I couldn't resist that one.

Seriously, you guys, thank you so much for the prayers. Miss K seems slightly better today.............course I think she is giving it back to me now............ :mad: ............but I am sure that she will be back to her spunky little self soon. Many hugs. J.
 
Thinking of Katie.

Thinking of Katie.

Dear Janet, little Katie has won so many other battles before that this one will be a piece of cake to her! It's probably because her immune system got a bit weak due to everything that was done and given to her so, it's very important now that you get her to eat really well. Please, keep us posted on her recovery and by the way, it was nice to hear that Bruna's photo is stuck on your fridge!!LOL!! Is she not talking too much though??!LOL!!
Débora
 

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