Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo went to the ENT today, and received some bad news. He wants her to continue not to eat or drink for another 3 weeks. This will allow time for her to be off the Predizone, along will additional packing of the wound, and possible healing. If this does not work, he is proposing another surgery, that will take mussel from her chest to graph to the wound in her neck. Neither of us are quite sure of the particulars of this, and we are hopeful that we will never know what they are.

Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo went to the Ortho today, and was told that the area between the disks is starting to fill in with bone, which is good. However, she will need to remain in the Miami J collar for another 3 weeks. Ironically, her next appointment with the Ortho is exactly 6 months from the date that she had the first surgery.

We have begun to reduce the predizone, 1 mg at a time. She is now down to 4mg and will go to 3mg on Thursday. The reason for the reduction is that the ENT feels that it is inhibiting the healing of the esophagus. This is allowing her Rheumatoid Arthritis to come back to full strength, and she is in a lot of pain as a result. Now, I am not sure if the pain medication she is taking, is more for the surgery related items, or for the arthritis. Either way it is not good.

Please pray that the pain will subside, and that the esophagus will finally heal, and that the disks will fuse properly.

Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo went to the ENT last Thursday, and he stated that he thought the predizone she is on is keeping the esophagus from healing. So....she will be stepping the predizone down for the next four weeks. After that it may be another 3 or 4 weeks to completely heal. We are looking at another 6 to 8 weeks on the feeding tube. Not exactly what we wanted to hear.

Maybe when she goes to the Ortho she can take the collar off.

Swallow Test Results

Bettyjo got a swallow test done Wednesday, and water came out the wound in her neck. She talked to the Doctor on Thursday, and he want to see her in two weeks. So.....we'll see what course of action we will take then.

Bettyjo is getting very discouraged.

Please pray for patience for all of us, and that she would be encouraged.

Bad News/Good News

Bettyjo had been eating some soft foods, and drinking some water. Earlier today she began leaking from her neck again. She will be having a swallow test tomorrow and will see the ENT later this week.

Bettyjo went to the Ortho today, and it appears that she may be out of the collar in 4 more weeks. Originally it was to be 8 more weeks.

Please pray for total healing, and mental strength, for all of us.

Good News

Bettyjo went to the ENT yesterday. He was very pleased with the healing that has taken place with the open neck wound. It is almost completely healed. He has allowed her to begin drinking water, and on Monday she can start eating some very soft foods. In two weeks she is to start eating ground meat etc. Please pray that the esophagus will not leak and that she will have an easy time getting back on food, and that she does not develop an infection.

She is still having pretty substantial pain from the rod in her neck, and will be going back to the Ortho next week, hopefully we will have good news from him as well.

Updates

Bettyjo is still in considerable pain as a result of the rod being placed in her neck. The good news is that her incisions are healing well and with out infection. Se will be going to the ENT next Friday, so please pray that she will be able to swallow something (even water would be progress) after that visit.

Please pray for my dad who had rotator surgery this week. The damage was more extensive than originally expected, and he is in considerable pain. The worst thing is that he is not supposed to drive for two weeks and will be stuck at home while my mom works. However, I expect he will be driving before then.

Lastly, please pray for my grandmother as she has had some serious vision problems, and will be having an MRI and CT scan to diagnose the problem.