Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Treatment 20, Post-op Day 1
Elliot slept like a rock last night. He's usually awake mid-way through my shift (I teach ESL online) and today he slept through all of my classes until 10am! He woke up extremely swollen, which we were prepared for. He's currently holding a bag of frozen corn on his eye to open it a little more. This is another solid treatment by Dr. Orringer, and I'm pleased to see that he went heavy on his lower cheek. That's always been the most stubborn area. Oh, and we're still rocking that pony spout. ;)
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Laser Treatment #20!
TWENTY!!!!!!
That's the number of treatments Elliot has had since he was born. I remember talking to other moms going through this and when they'd tell me a high number I'd gasp! "Woah, we'll never need that many!" I'd tell myself.
It's amazing to look back over the years and see the progress, the regression, and more progress. A port wine stain is always a work in progress when treating since the body is a self-healing machine and PWS is vascular. Summertime is a PWS's worse enemy, and without fail we miss many days of sunblock. This year we put a pool in so we tried extra hard to remember that sunblock.
Ten days ago Elliot started counting down the days to his treatment like it was Christmas morning. This was a first. He's always great about it, but it's usually a "ugh, here we go" type of attitude. This time was different. Last night he got his stuffy ready to take, made sure he had clothes and that I packed the things he needed. He woke up excited to get on the road to head to Ann Arbor. My heart was happy.
We were checked in and he was in the OR within 30 minutes. We were released and heading home after spending 90 minutes in the hospital. We basically get drive thru service these days. ;) Since we're now on once yearly maintenance treatments we opted for a full-power treatment as opposed to blending. The downside is more recovery time, the upside is less treatments. I can always tell when our progress is regressing because his little horseshoe mark above his brow makes its appearance. Elliot spent the few minutes we were in the recovery room gushing about how kind everyone was there. It's always a top-notch experience and I'm so thankful to have this hospital and their staff so close to home.
xoxo
That's the number of treatments Elliot has had since he was born. I remember talking to other moms going through this and when they'd tell me a high number I'd gasp! "Woah, we'll never need that many!" I'd tell myself.
It's amazing to look back over the years and see the progress, the regression, and more progress. A port wine stain is always a work in progress when treating since the body is a self-healing machine and PWS is vascular. Summertime is a PWS's worse enemy, and without fail we miss many days of sunblock. This year we put a pool in so we tried extra hard to remember that sunblock.
Ten days ago Elliot started counting down the days to his treatment like it was Christmas morning. This was a first. He's always great about it, but it's usually a "ugh, here we go" type of attitude. This time was different. Last night he got his stuffy ready to take, made sure he had clothes and that I packed the things he needed. He woke up excited to get on the road to head to Ann Arbor. My heart was happy.
We were checked in and he was in the OR within 30 minutes. We were released and heading home after spending 90 minutes in the hospital. We basically get drive thru service these days. ;) Since we're now on once yearly maintenance treatments we opted for a full-power treatment as opposed to blending. The downside is more recovery time, the upside is less treatments. I can always tell when our progress is regressing because his little horseshoe mark above his brow makes its appearance. Elliot spent the few minutes we were in the recovery room gushing about how kind everyone was there. It's always a top-notch experience and I'm so thankful to have this hospital and their staff so close to home.
xoxo
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| Checking in to Pre-op |
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| Ready to head back! |
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| Spots complete :) |
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| His hair was making his spots itch, so we problem solved. ;) hahaha |
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Post treatment #17 Healing
Hi all! It will be one week tomorrow since Elliot's treatment. It's healing pretty nicely, though there were about 10 that scabbed (some very light, some heavier). We have been keeping Eucerin cream and a non-petroleum natural jelly on them to prevent them from scarring badly.
Elliot is about a year older than he was when he received his last full treatment. He has expressed that it does hurt when I rub cream on it (though he didn't today). I've been told by many people that it feels like a sunburn. It definitely hasn't slowed him down any LOL. He and his big brother, Ethan, love to wrestle and Elliot hasn't mentioned any pain other than when I am applying the cream. He also said the Lavender oil was burning when I attempted the first 2 days so we've stopped that. I think I will attempt it again on Friday once it's had more time to heal.
The first picture is from Monday night (5 days post-op) and the second is from tonight (6 days post op). The full treatments do take longer to heal.
*The deeper purple spots are where there are scabs.*
Elliot is about a year older than he was when he received his last full treatment. He has expressed that it does hurt when I rub cream on it (though he didn't today). I've been told by many people that it feels like a sunburn. It definitely hasn't slowed him down any LOL. He and his big brother, Ethan, love to wrestle and Elliot hasn't mentioned any pain other than when I am applying the cream. He also said the Lavender oil was burning when I attempted the first 2 days so we've stopped that. I think I will attempt it again on Friday once it's had more time to heal.
The first picture is from Monday night (5 days post-op) and the second is from tonight (6 days post op). The full treatments do take longer to heal.
*The deeper purple spots are where there are scabs.*
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
We're home! Treatment #15 is in the books!
I have to say that even after 15 treatments it is still not an easy experience for us. Anytime general anesthesia is involved it is stressful. However, today was definitely the most pleasant and quick experience we have had.
Typically after Elliot is checked into pre-op he is given Versed. This helps him relax and not really remember what is happening. It allows the doctors to take him from my arms to the operating room with no tears. Today the hospital was ahead of schedule and the anesthesiologist said we could either give him the Versed nasally (which burns and is unpleasant) or I could just walk back with him. I've done that once before and swore I'd never do it again. It was terribly uneasy to watch my son be "put to sleep." Instead, I talked to Elliot and told him that this man would take him down to get his "spots" and that mommy would be waiting when he was finished. I waited for the hysteria to ensue......but it didn't! He laid on the bed and they wheeled him away (and the nurse even came back and said he was giggling about the fish on the walls).
Once we got back to recovery when he was finished I expected tears since that's normally what we walk into. But nope! The nurse said "well he woke up chatty so we've just been talking." Not a single tear was shed today. Typically the Versed induces a type of hysteria in him for the 2 hour drive home but today it was all smiles. We will definitely be taking this route in the future! :) I am so proud of our brave boy.
Today Dr. Orringer did a blending treatment. This is a larger laser at a lower setting to help blend out the lines created from previous fading. We were in and out within 1 1/2 hours, and off to Chipotle Mexican Grill!
Now on to the adorable pics!
**Also a huge shout out to my best friend and sister by choice, Alisha, for going with me to nearly all of Elliot's treatments. :) **
Typically after Elliot is checked into pre-op he is given Versed. This helps him relax and not really remember what is happening. It allows the doctors to take him from my arms to the operating room with no tears. Today the hospital was ahead of schedule and the anesthesiologist said we could either give him the Versed nasally (which burns and is unpleasant) or I could just walk back with him. I've done that once before and swore I'd never do it again. It was terribly uneasy to watch my son be "put to sleep." Instead, I talked to Elliot and told him that this man would take him down to get his "spots" and that mommy would be waiting when he was finished. I waited for the hysteria to ensue......but it didn't! He laid on the bed and they wheeled him away (and the nurse even came back and said he was giggling about the fish on the walls).
Once we got back to recovery when he was finished I expected tears since that's normally what we walk into. But nope! The nurse said "well he woke up chatty so we've just been talking." Not a single tear was shed today. Typically the Versed induces a type of hysteria in him for the 2 hour drive home but today it was all smiles. We will definitely be taking this route in the future! :) I am so proud of our brave boy.
Today Dr. Orringer did a blending treatment. This is a larger laser at a lower setting to help blend out the lines created from previous fading. We were in and out within 1 1/2 hours, and off to Chipotle Mexican Grill!
Now on to the adorable pics!
**Also a huge shout out to my best friend and sister by choice, Alisha, for going with me to nearly all of Elliot's treatments. :) **
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| Listening to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse |
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| All smiles in Pre-Op |
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| Smiles in recovery! |
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| Look at that handsome, smiley boy! |
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| Spots up close :) |
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| Chipotle for lunch! |
Friday, September 30, 2011
One more week
Just a quick update. Elliot's next laser treatment is next Friday. That will be treatment #3. I'm so anxious about it I can't stand it. It's bothering me because he's older this time, and I don't want him to be afraid. I know he won't want to go with the anesthesiologist but I'm not allowed to go back. I just pray that he isn't scared. If he doesn't react well then we will have to do the "amnesia cocktail" next time, something I don't want to have to do. Hopefully all goes well and he doesn't swell to badly.
Also, he went to the eye doctor last week. His pressures were in the normal range but just barely. We go back in three months for a recheck. Hopefully it's lower next time.
I'll be back next weekend!
Also, he went to the eye doctor last week. His pressures were in the normal range but just barely. We go back in three months for a recheck. Hopefully it's lower next time.
I'll be back next weekend!
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