Day 85 - Thursday March 8, 2012

Today we got up and gave Bridgett Zofran in order to travel to Salt Lake to see the neurosurgeon.  When we got there they lined us up for x-ray of the neck (we were expecting this). We did not have to do the CT of the head, as we had the copy of the one done Feb. 24th.  I had talked to the nurse about this last week and she asked us to bring it up on Tuesday when we saw Dr. Speed and have it scanned in, which I did.  I called before we left to make sure it was scanned in.  Anyway, when we got there the girl up front told me that they would see her about her neck but not about the brain injury.  I had already talked extensively with the nurse so couldn't figure it out.  For a bit I was very frustrated, then the gal finally went back and talked to the nurse and it all got straightened out. After the x-ray Bridgett had to wait to see the PA.  She wasn't feeling well and Mark had gone downstairs to talk to Dr. Speed, so I found a very wide chair and helped Bridgett lay down with our coats for a pillow.  We had not been there long when the gal that checked us in came and said that she had found an empty room so that Bridgett could be comfortable.  That was so nice--I didn't even have to ask.  I really appreciate the people that are so helpful!   Anyway, the person we saw was the PA, Jean Hagerdorn.  She was very nice and thorough.  She said the x-rays of the neck looked great and that the fracture has healed very well.  I said but her neck hurts almost all the time.  I realized that lately she never wants to sit straight up--she always leans forward and rests her arms on her knees or reclines back.  I told the PA this and she said that the neck muscles are still VERY weak and that it is hurting for Bridgett to hold up her head all the time.  She wrote a prescription for the physical therapist to start working on her neck and to give her exercises to strengthen the neck.  We asked about massage and she said that we could let Jenn work on the trapezoid muscles just not right on the spine still.  We then asked her if she could recommend an endocrinologist up at the U of U and she said yes.  She said we definitely need to find out why she is passing out!   We also asked about the CT scan of the brain and she brought it up on the computer and looked at it with us.  It was SO GREAT to see it!  The ventricles have opened up so much and they look wonderful!  She couldn't even see at first where the hematoma was, but I knew and pointed it out.  Anyway, the brain has healed up so well.  Of course, we can't see what's happened with the shearing unless they do an MRI, which no one has mentioned doing but we have to assume that the rest of the brain has healed pretty much the same.  I asked if they could see the pituitary gland on the MRI already done, but she said it is old and wouldn't be accurate.  So, I think the endocrinologist will want to do a MRI and perhaps we will see that the shearing is healed as well.   I don't think I have mentioned again about the twitching that Bridgett has been having.  The first time I saw it was when they removed the IV for the contrast after the CT of the pelvis.  Then a couple of days ago her right foot twitched for a bit.  While we were at the doctor today her right foot again twitched.  I asked what she thought about that and she said it is just part of the healing process of the brain.  Mark asked how things are coming and if she could give us a more definite idea of how long for healing and she said nobody can.  Everybody's brain heals at its own speed.  After that she sat down by Bridgett and put her hand on her forehead and stroked it and told Bridgett that she had sustained a very serious brain injury but that she was doing very well already and that she is going to continue to do better and better and get well. She said you are just that kind of a person, I can tell. She told her to be patient but to know that things are going well.  It was very sweet and tender.  From time to time I have seen people care for Bridgett that seemed to really care and this was one of those times.  After that she said that she would see us in two months and she told Bridgett that she could get up when she wanted to.  Bridgett stood up and Jean said wow you are tall.  Jean is shorter than Arrianne by about 2-3 inches, so about 5 five tall.  Anyway, Bridgett said yes I feel very tall and Jean laughed and said yes compared to me especially.  We had told her about how Bridgett was in training when she had her accident and about how she had done a half marathon.  She told Bridgett that when she was ready for another half marathon to call her and she would do it with her!  She is about our age if you are wondering about that.  We stopped at Chuck-a Rama hoping to get Bridgett something to eat before returning home.  We thought that there would be all kinds of choices and that she would find something to eat.  Mark got her mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese (which she normally will eat) but she didn't want that.  He also tried a chicken breast but she said no so he ate it.  She said she'd eat a donut!  They didn't have that but they did have scones with honey butter and she ate two.  Then I got her a little apple crisp, mostly apples with a little of the crisp and she ate the apple part.  I tried some pumpkin bread because she normally likes that but she said no.  She drank some water and put her head on the table to rest.  Not a particularly nutritious meal, but something in her stomach.  When we got home she ate some yogurt so she got some protein.  She actually did really well the whole day and I can see she is getting much stronger.  We will start back to rehab next week and I think she will be fine.  We are hoping that by then she will be cleared for rehab in Provo, but we have an appointment with the low vision clinic on Tuesday and we will continue going up there for that.  Once a week for one appointment is about our speed right now!  Oh, when Mark ran down to Dr. Speed's office he got a written note clearing her for the dental work!!  Yeah!  He said quote "Bridgett has had a TBI and should be able to tolerate standard anesthesia for dental work; I would avoid Ketamine however".  So I called the dentists office and got an appointment for Monday for the exam and now we can get the dental work scheduled.  I told the office manager what the note said about the anesthesia so that they would be aware now.  Afterwards I told Bridgett yeah we are going to get your teeth fixed soon!  Woohoo she said!  They won't hurt anymore!  And you can eat cold stuff like ice cream.  I don't want ice cream she said.  Maybe you will want frozen yogurt I said and she said yes that does sound good.  She will then be able to bite into things without pain and that's very good!  Lately she has been complaining more often about her teeth, so it's definitely time!  All in all a very good day!  We did some flash cards and Bridgett is amazing at her language these days.  She almost always knows the names of things and actions and usually remembers the words right away!  Some things must just get better with time--because we haven't had speech therapy for two weeks.  Of course, we are working with her here at home. The brain is an amazing thing--I must say it again even though I have many times!