Today was my last (hopefully) follow-up doctor's visit related to the Sept/Oct. issues. I met with a GI specialist to review my liver enzyme numbers and the ultrasound. It went very well. He didn't believe there was any reason to schedule any intrusive tests at this time, and only had blood drawn to recheck the numbers. If they're good, he says I probably don't need to see him again for 2 years.
The abrupt spike in my enzyme numbers cannot be accounted for with certainty, however he is leaning toward the presence of a PE setting them off, which is adding to the building evidence that I indeed may have had a PE that set off everything, even though we couldn't confirm it with absolute certainty. The liver has a wrappng around it (think of cellophane) and a PE blocking the blood supply could have caused it to become inflamed, which would have spike the enzyme numbers. My TSH numbers were also wonky during those early blood tests, and this makes it difficult to analyze the liver enzyme numbers. But a PE could also have accounted for the wonky TSH numbers.
I began blood thinner protocol back in Sept., right when the numbers came in, and those numbers were all normal within 9 days. As long as they look good now, the GI doc is going to assume the problem was a singular event, which is now over. The story is beginning to look pretty cohesive, at any rate.
So long story short, no more tests needed unless the numbers are unusual.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Status Update: Nov. 1, 2012
Hi everyone!
This update (unlike the last one) will be pretty short - it's actually a continuation/update of the last one, on the blood thinner protocol.
I have now been on blood thinners for a full month. My INR has been firmly in the 2.0 - 3.0 range for all that time (after the first 5 days, when I took the shots to boost my numbers up). At first I went in for a blood draw more than once a week, then shifted to a once/week reading, and now am at the once every 2 weeks schedule. My INR is at 2.7 as of yesterday's reading, and will be read again in 2 weeks. My dosage schedule is 5.0 mg 6 days a week, and 7.5 mg once a week (on Fridays), so it's very easy to remember and manage. If I had a PE (which we still don't know for sure), it's likely diminished quite a bit over the last month. Certainly the risk of a problem from a PE is significantly reduced by now, if not eliminated altogether. I imagine I will soon be on a once/month schedule for testing INR - yay!
My next appointment is with the GI specialist, to take a look at the liver issues. Those numbers have returned to normal, but a more in-depth evaluation is warranted. That takes place in a week, on Nov. 8, so I'll probably update again after that.
Re my book - I'm essentially done with 3/4ths of the current (hopefully last) draft - yay! I had to rewrite the last chapter of Act 2 completely, and will need to rework/rewrite the chapters of Act 3 as a result (especially the first two of the seven), but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's possible that the first chapter of Act 2 can be eliminated altogether, but this will probably be the last decision I make, once the full edit is complete. I've learned a lot in doing the multiple drafts on this book - the manuscript as it exists now is dramatically different than the first draft. The story is the same, but the telling of it is very, very different. I also went from 8 to 6 to 5 key characters (1 primary protagonist and 4 supporting protagonists) during the course of these numerous drafts, each time learning a lot about how to refine a story while keeping in all the crucial elements of drama and plot.
During this last draft I began to really follow a more disciplined approach to ensuring that the crucial elements of drama were not only present, but in the right place (in terms of an Act 1, Act 2, Act 3 dramatic breakdown). Balancing those parts has been a great learning experience for me, and I think it will make the writing of the last 3 books of the series much easier (and faster) , with a much better output product overall! I think another week or so will be enough to finish that last 25% (Act 3), so I'm very excited.
If all goes well I will begin the agenting process by the middle of the month - fingers crossed, guys!
This update (unlike the last one) will be pretty short - it's actually a continuation/update of the last one, on the blood thinner protocol.
I have now been on blood thinners for a full month. My INR has been firmly in the 2.0 - 3.0 range for all that time (after the first 5 days, when I took the shots to boost my numbers up). At first I went in for a blood draw more than once a week, then shifted to a once/week reading, and now am at the once every 2 weeks schedule. My INR is at 2.7 as of yesterday's reading, and will be read again in 2 weeks. My dosage schedule is 5.0 mg 6 days a week, and 7.5 mg once a week (on Fridays), so it's very easy to remember and manage. If I had a PE (which we still don't know for sure), it's likely diminished quite a bit over the last month. Certainly the risk of a problem from a PE is significantly reduced by now, if not eliminated altogether. I imagine I will soon be on a once/month schedule for testing INR - yay!
My next appointment is with the GI specialist, to take a look at the liver issues. Those numbers have returned to normal, but a more in-depth evaluation is warranted. That takes place in a week, on Nov. 8, so I'll probably update again after that.
Re my book - I'm essentially done with 3/4ths of the current (hopefully last) draft - yay! I had to rewrite the last chapter of Act 2 completely, and will need to rework/rewrite the chapters of Act 3 as a result (especially the first two of the seven), but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's possible that the first chapter of Act 2 can be eliminated altogether, but this will probably be the last decision I make, once the full edit is complete. I've learned a lot in doing the multiple drafts on this book - the manuscript as it exists now is dramatically different than the first draft. The story is the same, but the telling of it is very, very different. I also went from 8 to 6 to 5 key characters (1 primary protagonist and 4 supporting protagonists) during the course of these numerous drafts, each time learning a lot about how to refine a story while keeping in all the crucial elements of drama and plot.
During this last draft I began to really follow a more disciplined approach to ensuring that the crucial elements of drama were not only present, but in the right place (in terms of an Act 1, Act 2, Act 3 dramatic breakdown). Balancing those parts has been a great learning experience for me, and I think it will make the writing of the last 3 books of the series much easier (and faster) , with a much better output product overall! I think another week or so will be enough to finish that last 25% (Act 3), so I'm very excited.
If all goes well I will begin the agenting process by the middle of the month - fingers crossed, guys!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)