Followers

12 February 2009

Unbelievable!


Where do I begin?
First of all, the consulting neurosurgeon was very nice, very professional and gave us the answers we needed.
Kiereney is not a candidate for a ventral peritoneal shunt(in the head). Her ventricles are very small where the shunt would have to go in her head. He said snaking a shunt through the ventricles in her head would likely end up in a brain bleed and this option should only be used in a life and death situation.
He said that when she was in the hospital in November having a cisternogram(running radioactive dye through her lumbar peritoneal shunt to see if it was blocked) and they went to load the dye into her spine and they got three dry taps(three times they entered her spinal canal to obtain fluid to load the dye into and found no fluid) AND the lumbar peritoneal shunt was determined to be open and free, something should have raised red flags that there was a problem...
He said that a programmable shunt SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN DURING THE ORIGINAL SURGERY. He also said that the neurosurgeon DID NOT SEND THE FIRST PAGE TO HER OPERATIVE REPORT SO HE COULD ONLY GO ON WHAT WE WERE TELLING HIM AS TO WHAT KIND OF SURGERY SHE HAD.
As far as overhydrating her and over caffeinating her(the original neurosurgeon's solution to her headaches after surgery) he said it would be like trying to fill up a balloon with air that had a large hole in it. Her current shunt is draining her dry of spinal fluid and no matter how much we hydrate her, it isn't going to help.
So...he is sending a letter to the original neurosurgeon and telling him he needs to go back in and add a programmable shunt to Kiereney's lumbar peritoneal shunt so the pressure and how much spinal fluid drains from her can be controlled.
The neurosurgeon we saw today only does VP shunts.
So the minute we stepped out of the office I had the original neurosurgeon's office on the phone telling them that they referred us and we were being sent back to fix the problem. She argued me up and down that Kiereney HAD a programmable shunt to which I said, "Then why did he refer me to this 2nd neurosurgeon?" and suggested she pull Kiereney's chart to which she came back to the phone and said, "Oh, I thought she had a VP shunt..." I told her we needed an apt. to let him know what the 2nd opinion neurosurgeon said and that something would be done and she said, "How about Monday at 2?" Usually it takes 6 weeks to get in to him. I think she realizes that they royally screwed up and wants to get this taken care of quickly before I hire a lawyer.
No amount of money can compensate Kiereney for the 5 months of pain because the programmable shunt was not put in in the first place and I'm not a sue-happy person. But I've been TELLING him for THREE months that there is a problem and I think she's draining out too much spinal fluid causing the headaches...
Today there is no glory in being right.
Thank you for all of your support and prayers. The words seem to jump in my mouth that I needed to ask the neurosurgeon and the neurosurgeon was so kind to Kiereney saying, "My intern has already talked with her and I'm not going to repeat what he did because she is in so much pain, I just want to talk about her condition and let's get her out of here and home." I know you had angels there with us today.
Will follow up on Monday after we see Neurosurgeon #1 again. I hope they can get her into surgery this coming week so she can recover and get on with her life. She interviewed for the CNA training yesterday for 1.5 hours and feels she has a good chance at one of the 10 slots open. We will find out on Monday.
Grandpa is at a new nursing home...he thought he was going home. It just breaks my heart that he is having to go through this mental abuse. She had him sign over all his stuff to her so she could get Medicaid to pay his nursing home bills. How does she sleep at night?

9 comments:

Tonjia said...

I am not a sue happy person either, but If I were you, I would be finding myself a good lawyer. This is incorrigible. Kierney has had to endure severe pain and discomfort for months because the wrong shunt was inserted!! Thats just not right.

Ness, I am so thankful that you guys got to talk to a second doctor and it sounds like finally this is going to be resolved. as always, my prayers are with you and KJ. you guys are 2 of the strongest women I have ever seen.

dlyn said...

It just about has me in tears - I don't know how I could stand it Ness and you keeo right in there fighting away for her! You are a strong and remarkable woman - prayers going up that they will finally get K to where she needs to be in terms of the right treament.

joanne said...

If I ever need angels by my side I want you there to call on them for me...you are one super mom and as I am finding out, friend. Stay strong Ness, your baby girl will finally get the help she needs. God Bless you...

joanne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

{{{Ness & family}}} I so hope that all of this gets resolved soon!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

how long ago did he sign everything over? many states laws say it has to be several YEARS before they are admitted into the nursing home... might be worth the check to see and perhaps get some of his money back to him...

KJ hang in there and I hope next week things get done correctly... I am not sue happy but I think time has come to talk to a lawyer, if nothign else to get her medical bills paid so she and you do not have those monsters to deal with.

Love n hugs
laura

Alice said...

Ness, I am so happy you are making some headway with KJ's illness. I'm not sue-happy either, but, damn, they ought to atleast fix it for free. Their mistake.

I know you are in momma bear mode right now--and that's what KJ needs. Just hang in there and know that we are all here to love and support you in any way we can.

Lots of love. Call me if you need a shoulder this weekend...we're around.

xooxox

Debbie said...

I wish you were my Mommy!! I know you'd had to be a 1 yr old mom...LOL. Kiereney is so lucky to have you as a mom. I so hope and pray, this is the answer and she will be good as new soon!! I love ya Ness and your family!! Hang in there, we are there for you!!

God Bless~
Debbie

Debra said...

Nessie, you are a dynamo of a mother! KJ is so lucky to have you on her side because, as you know, when we are in pain, the last thing we want to do is fight. I know that you will accomplish everything that needs to be done(without doing the surgery yourself, of course!) because you a a determined Mother Bear! Hang on, KJ, things are going to get better for you very, very soon.

I am so sorry about what is happening to grandpa. How terrible it is for someone to lose control over their own life in the way that he has. It just isn't right!!!!

Be well, my dear friend.

Love and hugs, Debbie