There is a faint insecure wireless network that I can reach from my hospital bed. The signal is very weak and the connection drops a lot, but it means that I can get some sporadic Internet access from my bed.
The muscle biopsy happened first thing Thursday morning, and it is still very tender and painful if I or someone else touches the spot it was taken from. It will probably take a week or two before that goes away. The doctor used a local anaesthetic and I was awake for the procedure. He only froze the skin and a bit of muscle, because the sample is supposed to be better if it's not frozen when removed. I felt the scalpel when he cut away at my muscle and it was not pleasant. The result will be back some time next week. Rheumatology also got involved, and they ordered an MRI scan. It normally takes about six months to get one as an outpatient, and I got it in a day because I'm now an inpatient.
They are diagnosing me with polymyositis. Even though they don't have the pathology results back from the muscle biopsy, they are going ahead and treating me anyway because of how weak I'm getting. The treatment is a very high dose of steroids through an IV to kill the autoimmune disease that is causing my muscles to weaken. After a few days, they will reduce the dose and switch to an oral medication. If the treatment works, I am supposed to see improvement in a short period of time, something like 5 days. Nevertheless, it won't be an instant recovery and the summer of 2006 is going to be a write-off for me. At least future summers won't be if I get better.
I will be in the hospital for at least another week, maybe longer. The doctors need to see signs the treatment is working. After that, I get transferred under the care of a rehab specialist, and I might get transferred to GF Strong for rehabilitation exercises. It's too early to really predict what will happen that far in the future.
Next week will be very boring because all the tests have been done and it's a matter of waiting to see if the treatment works. As I mentioned before, visitors are very welcome and will help me pass the time.
5 comments:
You hang in there! The fact they have a direction to head in and have a possible name for this is sooo good! Hang in there and keep positive.
We will be by to see you soon. Know we're thinking of you ok? Many of my on-line ladies have been sending prayers and blessing to you you know. I asked them to think of you when they did their meditations and prayers and they have been keeping you in mind. Close your eyes and feel their shared energy.
Dan, this weekend when I went to Dae-won-sa, a tibetan-buddist temple here in Korea, I lit a candle for you in a shrine in front of a statue of Buddha and the Dali Lama.
I'm not exactly Buddhist, but I don't think anyone will mind! Anything's worth a shot.
I'll see you in September! Get well!
Dan,
It's awesome to see that you got enough of a signal to post! (either that or got strong enough to sneak out)
Get yourself healthy, and I'm going to try to bring people by... For some reason, I'm discovering that people are afraid to visit alone.
People are afraid to visit on their own for fear of saying the wrong thing and upsetting Dan. I know he's tougher than that but no one want's to be the one who upsets him in any way. That and hospitals are very intimdating places.
Sending hugs to Dan. I hope the treatment is starting to work and that you're on the path to recovery. Summer 2006 may not be too active but there are many many years to follow.
Hi Dan,
Greetings from afar. I am very happy to hear the news and my best wishes go with you for a speedy recovery. As soon as money and time allow, I'll be back to see how you're doing. Till then keep us updated.
-Sean
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