It seems like time is flying by. Sunday was my eight month lung-a-versary. The results of my bronchoscopy came back on Monday. It had been just a little stressful waiting for the news these last two weeks. It was a nice lung-a-versary present to learn there were no signs of rejection!
Unfortunately, there’s a “but”. I’m rejection free, BUT I am growing a Staph infection in my lungs. Remember, the doctors had found Staph in my sinuses. Because of gravity, it drained into and is growing in my lungs. I have also had a persistent cough that has been progressively getting worse. My doctors scheduled an X-Ray for today. By tomorrow, we should know if we are going to do anything to treat this cough.
Yesterday, I had my angioplasty. We started off with the plan of going through the groin. As the doctor was trying to thread the wire up to the clot, she was having difficulty burrowing through. She injected dye through an I.V. in my forearm to diagnose the problem. She said, no wonder you were having symptoms in your arm, the vein is completely occluded. Over the past 8 months without the blood flow, the scar tissue had formed and hardened. It was a good decision to do the procedure.
Once we knew that this was a complete blockage, we had to go to plan B. She had to put another smaller catheter through my upper arm near my bicep. I think we used just about all the supplies in the hospital while trying to break through the clot. She kept sending the nurses out to get a different size catheter or a different size wire. She finally got through. Once the wire had penetrated the clot, she inflated a small balloon. Because of all the different catheters we used, the vein in my arm was starting to spasm. It was time for plan C.
It’s amazing to get the play by play directly from the doctors. Almost everybody gets sedated for this procedure, but not yours truly. I know, I’m crazy. I like that I can watch through the same monitor as the doctor. So plan C involved going back though the groin with a wire that had a lasso on the end of it and grabbed the other smaller wire from my arm. It was fascinating to watch.
We were having a conversation about our dogs when she said to me, you may be interested in knowing you have a wire going from your groin, through your heart and out your arm. In the operating room, we call that body floss! We all started to laugh. Medical technology is unbelievable.
Once she was able to thread the larger wire, she was able to blow up a larger balloon. It was quite painful as it needed to stay inflated for sixty seconds. After the balloon had deflated she rechecked the progress with dye and there was some movement. She blew up one more balloon that was even larger with the hopes of expanding the vein further. The minute it was expanded was very difficult. The pressure was so intense, my head and neck felt like they were going to explode. I just closed my eyes and squeezed the nurses fingers. She counted down the seconds and finally it was over. Once again, they rechecked with dye and confirmed we had blood flow!
In the first picture below, blood had to travel elsewhere since the main vein was blocked. You can see all the little veins filling because of the blockage. Notice the blood flow stops where it should continue downwards. The second photo shows the flow after the angioplasty. You can see how it is one flowing movement. No more little veins. The blood is flowing as it should. I included the last picture that shows the balloon when it was inflated.
Nikki's New Lungs 
That is FASCINATING! I would have loved to have seen it myself, but may have passed out with all that bold flow business. You are a nut, muchacha! I’m glad they got your juices flowing again. Bummer about the staph infection. What is there to do about that? Antibiotics?
I’m working for my old company this week so I’m out of town, but let’s get together when I’m back. Would love to see ya.
xo
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Of all people I know you would have appreciated seeing the screen during the procedure too!! Antibiotics are working for the Staph. Can’t wait to see you!
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Nikki you are one tough little gal! God bless your tenacity! The pictures are amazing – medical progress is nothing short of miracles! We’ll keep praying, specifically re the staff in your lungs. Thinking of you,
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Yes, medical technology is amazing! Thank you for the prayers!
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Wow Nik. It’s incredible what you go through. Modern medicine is amazing. You’re one tough cookie! : ) Praying for you Nik.
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Thanks Rob! Hope to see you soon!
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Nikki you are nothing short of AMAZING! You’re one tough chick who keeps on pushing forward thru anything that comes your way!!! You go girl!!!!! xoxo
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Laura, so awesome to hear from you!We should get together one of these days. Send me an email, nikkisnewlungs@gmail.com
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Can’t imagine the endless medical challenges that come your way Rocket. I’ll bet that YOU don’t take good health for granted! God Bless you!! GM.
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No I don’t Habib! Hope all is well with your family. Tell them hello!
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Wow! You can go to medical school with all the knowledge you are gaining in your treatment!! Obviously, a little blood or a needle would not intimidate you! You are one unique little package! No wonder Travis is crazy about you–you are NEVER BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HAHA, so true Marilyn. Hope you come in town for a visit soon. We will come say hi!
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You are a truly amazing person! All our love from Utah!
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Thanks Tina! I think you should take some vacation and come for a visit soon!!
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You cannot be human! You have the poise and strength of a god. I say that in only the most humble of ways. You remind us to all be better, Nik. Better to everyone else and better to ourselves. We each only get one miracle body. Thanks, again, for sharing it’s beautiful workings with us.
Huge, but gentle:), big hugs to you.
Mickey
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Thank you Mickey! I can’t wait to get a real hug from you!
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