It has been a pretty relaxing afternoon. Coop has slept a great deal and has even calmed himself once without medication. He had a big increase in Neurontin (from 15mg to 50mg tid) and an increase in Tranxene, so that could be a big factor in his calmness. 
Dr. Brockmeyer came and talked to me about the ventricles this morning because I was so concerned. I don't think it was an expected finding but I guess it is far better than the alternative. From what I understand, the reason he is not concerned is because when the shunt was put in the pressure in Charlie's brain was not significantly increased. Also the CT scan showed there is room between the brain and skull so the enlarged ventricles are not pushing the brain out against the skull. The bad part is that the enlargement is probably due to atrophy (tissue loss/brain damage) instead. :( Above is brain CT pictures- The left is from the night we came in (Jan 27th-normal) and the right is from the day after the drain was put in (Feb 13th-abnormal). I don't have the most recent scan but the report reveal they were even bigger than Feb 13th. The ventricles (the reservoir where the spinal fluid is stored) are the dark bean shaped images in the middle of the brain. It's easy to see the difference in size.
I went to watch physical therapy today with Janine to watch the workout. I love watching him try different positions. He was so relaxed that he fell asleep in each position. We stretched his neck legs and arms
Janine stretched Coops neck out while having some tummy time. He opened his eyes for quite a while. His pupils don't really focus but I loved thinking he was looking at me.
I went to watch physical therapy today with Janine to watch the workout. I love watching him try different positions. He was so relaxed that he fell asleep in each position. We stretched his neck legs and armsJanine stretched Coops neck out while having some tummy time. He opened his eyes for quite a while. His pupils don't really focus but I loved thinking he was looking at me.
Today's workout was so different than before. He used to get mad every time any of his body was moved. Today he was OK with movement as long as it was very, very slow. 
10 comments:
Rob good to have you back. looking good little guy sleep well tonight.
hooray that daddy is home - for everyone's sake. i am glad the day was chill. i am so sad about the atrophy, but we sort of expected it and who knows what it will mean to your little champ. i loved the gym pics. even more i love that he fell asleep there - i think the gym is a dozer too - he must have learned that from me.
whew, what a workout! i am glad charlie was relaxed today and enjoyed some extra slow movements. hang in there rob and ang.
Well........a big fat BOO on the dain bramage. Hopefully once things calm down in that skull of his the gray matter remaining will step it up and work some magic. Luckily, Christensen's have ENORMOUS heads so I am betting that he started out with much more than the average human. I am glad to hear that he is relaxing a bit.....even if it is a result of the meds.
We love you and are thinking, hoping, and praying constantly!
So good and bad but at least some answers. Are you getting to hold him more often or was that Rob's Welcome Home present? Love his big belly (Charlie's not Rob's).
Wouldn't it be awesome to go to the gym, and have someone else work up a sweat for you! I would love to sleep while someone helped stretch me! He looks so good. Hang in there you guys.
Me no likey the picture of big ventricles. Do the docs say if there is any chance of reversal--can the ventricles get smaller and brain tissue expand over time?
Marilee, the ventricles may shrink but that isn't a concern of theirs. So long as the pressure doesn't increase they don't seem to be woried about size so much. Weird.
Are they 100% sure that the shunt is in the right place? It seems like there is a lot of fluid in the ventricles for what is draining out... I love the pictures in the gym- CCC's little face is so cute, especially during the tummy time!
I AM SO GLAD THAT YOUR BACK ROB. I KNOW THAT YOUR FAM MISSED YOU. LOVE THE GYM PHOTOS. TAKE CARE LOVE YOU ALL LOTS
KIPPI & RICHARD
Post a Comment