jnel921 Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 I remember you also Hokey, I will add my prayers as well. Please dont give up on life. God only gives us those things he knows we can handle. Stay strong and enjoy every minute you have with your husband.
whichwayisup Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 I'm really hoping no news is good news and your husband is in recovery after his surgery..Please update soon Hokey.
freestyle Posted February 14, 2012 Posted February 14, 2012 Sending positive thoughts your direction.
quankanne Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 prayers going up for you and John ... and know that while you might not be able to borrow a cup of sugar from any of us, you've got a lot of friends who love you here, chica *hugs*
whichwayisup Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 Hokey, I noticed under your username (and I tried to send you a PM, but it wouldn't let me) it says unconfirmed account. Not sure what that means, if there was a glitch in the system during new software updates..Or something else.. Anyway, I really hope the surgery went well and that you're okay.. Please update soon, we all do care.
Author HokeyReligions Posted March 7, 2012 Author Posted March 7, 2012 THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE! This is the first time I've been able to get back here. I read my first post and I sound so whiney! I was sooo very scared. Hubby is recovering. He's still at risk and I watch him like a hawk. We had a couple of scares, but so far so good. They still can't get his BP under control and he doesn't feel good most of the time - but we are both so thrilled and so Grateful that he is still here to feel! He's going to speech therapy and PT and is home. He was in the hospital nearly a week. It seemed like forever. He couldn't have the main surgery because one artery in his neck is 100% blocked (can't do anything for that) and the other is less than 70% blocked so they treat that with meds. He was sedated, but awake and had an angiogram to determine the extent of the blockage. They were prepared to knock him out and put in stents if necessary and that is what they were unsure he would survive. Thankfully he did not have to do that. The doctors keep changing his meds trying to find the right combination now to keep him going and get him feeling better. It's odd that when he feels the best is when his BP & Pulse are too high. When his BP is in the normal range he feels tired and really slurs his words and has slow reflexes. His body just doesn't know what to do yet. I had a job interview 2 weeks ago and they offered me the job, but it was contract and the medical insurance was expensive so I turned it down. It was a difficult decision because I thought I would lose my job by the end of February -- but more work has come in and I'm busy. I also have a job interview tomorrow and one on Thursday and both of those are direct-hire. One is even closer to home. I'm going to both, but I'm also more optimistic about my current job for a while as new work has come in. I'm near Houston TX and the Rodeo is in town. We splurged and bought Chute Seats for the ZZ Top concert on Thursday when they first started selling tickets (before the stroke) and we are going to that Thursday. The Chute seats come with a season pass and we went to the livestock show last Saturday for a few hours. I pushed hubby around in his new (& very heavy) wheelchair for a while and he handled that well. We enjoyed ourselves and are looking forward to Thursday. We bring his BP cuff so we can check his vitals and know if he needs to take an emergency pill or if we need to get him to the hospital. The rodeo is close to the medical center and that is a comfort too. The seats we have are right down on the ground by the stage and I'm sure its going to be very 'rowdy' - ZZ Top always has a great show. I'll probably be watching him more than the show! LOL! Right now we are just enjoying our time - we are closer now than ever. Everyone's prayers for us and for the doctors and nurses that care for him DO work. And I am humbled and thankful for all of you. I include you all in my prayers too. Thank you for letting me vent here too. Peace. 8
carhill Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 Life's about living. It ain't over 'till one's gone. Good on ya. Enjoy the concert. Thanks for the update
quankanne Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 (edited) so glad to hear from you, Hokey, and even happier that things are on a more even keel for your husband. Will PM you something I found in your area that you might find interesting, job-wise (yes, also searching down there for work). hugs to you both, quank :love: crap ... just realized you don't get PM's, so here goes: go to the Work in Texas website and plug in "public outreach manager/Houston" ... job's with Harris County Institute Forensic Sciences! Edited March 7, 2012 by quankanne 1
jnel921 Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 So happy to hear that the power of prayer works. I agree you make the best and most of your time together. Often times we don't realize what we have until it is gone. We may not all have the best situations...but we have something...which is why we always should be grateful. Warts and all!
whichwayisup Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 Hey Hokey, you're allowed to whine and be scared! Don't ever be sorry for that! OMG, jealous here! ZZ Top?! Love it! Have a fantastic time.. Glad your H is better and good luck with the job interviews. 1
Author HokeyReligions Posted October 29, 2012 Author Posted October 29, 2012 Hi All, Just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone again and give you an update (& me an outlet). John had another stroke a few weeks ago. Worse this time. He's been in the hospital and then in a rehab hospital. They want to release him on Thursday to a different facility. There are so many complications this time. He does not want to go - he just wants to come home. He would be OK if someone were with him, but I am going 12 - 14 hours a day. I go to the hospital every day. It's easier now that he's closer by, but when he was in the medical center it was a 2-3 hour drive each way. Today is his birthday. He is getting some of his voice back, but still cannot swallow liquid and has to use a thickener which he complains about. He never used to be a complainer - the stroke has changed his personality quite a bit. I nearly did myself in the first week or so. I don't think I consumed 1000 calories the first week and hardly drank anything and became seriously dehydrated. I'm taking better care of myself now, but I know that when/if I lose him, I will shut down. At one point I called my brother - we are not really close, but I asked him to come and take my dogs to the vet and have them put to sleep if something happened to me; and I let my vet know my brother's name and that he may be bringing in my dogs. Not that I was going to kill myself, but my eyesight is so bad and I was so out of it that I thought I would probably have an accident or heart attack and be killed. My boss was super thru this - even though I'm contract now and no work = no pay, I took half a week off. I was offered a full-time position and had to do all the pre-employment stuff during this time too. Tomorrow is supposed to be my first day as a direct employee, plus I have a new person starting tomorrow so I need to be able to work with her and not be maudlin at work. I'll do my best because I do still have my beloved husband. This is soooo hard. It is a TOTALLY different feeling and reaction when it's your spouse that is suffering, and doctors are telling you to consider a nursing home, etc. Totally totally different. It's too soon for this to be happening. We've only been together a little over 28 years - its just too soon. Thank you for letting me vent here and thank you thank you thank you for your prayers and well wishes.
johan Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Sad update, Hokey. While things may not ever get back to normal, I hope you can adjust and find value in your life, independent from him. And I hope you can get at least as much good news as frightening news as you make your way through this. And whatever happens I hope you can be strong. You just have to what is best for him, and I hope the hard dilemmas are kept to a minimum for you. Something similar recently happened in my family, so I have fresh memories and understand how hard it can be. 1
quankanne Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 hokey ~ so sorry to hear about this new complication with John, and will keep the both of you in my prayers. as for the other, not being maudlin around the new employee, if this person is a good-hearted person, she'll respond to you in a way that helps boost your spirits and help you feel less stressed or worried about what's going on. At least this is my hope! muchos abrazos, my friend, jo anne
CarboniteCammy Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 I remember you, Hokey. I was on this board several years ago as well, but changed my name this time around. I'm so sorry for you and your husband. I hate that you're going through this and I'll be sending good vibes your way.
JamesM Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 So sorry for all that you are going through. Just saw this thread. I am back after a hiatus. I will be thinking of you and your husband. I do hope he gets well even if the prognosis is discouraging right now. Please take care of yourself. We do wish you well here. While it isn't the same as having real life friends, you can count us as your friends even if we have never met. Hugs to you.
whichwayisup Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Thoughts and prayer to your husband, John and to you as well. I do hope his recovery goes well. Hokey, i'm glad to read that you called your brother. I know you say you two aren't close, but he is family and is someone you can rely on. Call him again and keep him updated. Now is the time you need all the help you can get. He does love you! Congrats on the job.
KathyM Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 I'll certainly pray for your husband's recovery. He got through the surgery, and that is great news. If you have a church you attend, you may want to see what support services they could offer you. Some churchs have benevolent funds if you are having a financial crisis. Some offer prayer chains and emotional and physical support when people are going through crisis times. 1
Art_Critic Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Hi Hokey... you both are in my thoughts and prayers... 1
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