Last Wednesday Tessa had her third round of sclerotherapy. The night before the first round we had an ice storm, and basically slid the entire way to Rochester. The night before the second round a tornado touched down close by and we had excessive winds which knocked our power out. This time, there was a blizzard warning with the worst travel times expected exactly when I needed to be traveling. I guess we prepare for floods next time?
Ben and I weren’t too crazy about me driving during the worst conditions, so I booked a hotel room right across the street from Mayo and Tess and I headed up the night before.
She thought being in a hotel room with just Mom was a pretty cool experience, even if we only slept.
She was feeling nervous about what was to come, but still easily distracted.
She did a tiny bit better with sedation, thanks to the fantastic anesthesia team putting Bluey on the big screen for her. She still put up a fight, but not quite as bad as the previous time. In addition to using alcohol and the sclerosant medication, her radiologist decided to look at her lymph nodes for any leaks. She found two, and used glue on one and the sclerosant medication on the other (the second one was too close to her drain for glue). Tess also received heavy pain medication before she woke up to help her tolerate the medication in her cysts.
One pain medication needed to be taken orally. Even in her post-sedation stupor she still managed to put her hand by her mouth to prevent me from giving her the medicine. She did take it once she finally came to, but not without letting me know her displeasure.
The pain meds allowed us to keep the sclerosant inside her cysts for the full 6 hour time period, but they also made her sick to her stomach and feeling lousy the rest of the day. 😢
But after a good night’s sleep and a restful day, she was back to her usual self by the following evening.
The good news: her output numbers were both below 100 for the first time in 6 weeks. The bad news: her insertion sites have been leaking a lot since her procedure. Usually this would mean the drains are clogged, but we don’t see how they could have clogged so quickly after her procedure. I’ll be talking with her doctor today to see what she thinks, but I do really think this last round of sclerotherapy made a big difference. Her next round isn’t scheduled until the 21st (which is, oddly enough, my 40th birthday) as her radiologist is gone for most of next week and the following week. I’ve been telling Tessa for weeks that all I wanted for my birthday was for her tubies to come out, so maybe I’ll get my wish. 😊 Thanks again for your prayers and words of encouragement- they are so needed and forever appreciated!
That would be the best birthday gift of ALL TIME!
It sure would!!
Crazy life right now! Lots of prayers coming your way🙏. Tubies out would be one of the best 40th birthday gifts❣️
Amen!
Praying you will get your birthday wish!