Big thanks in advance to everyone who comes by today. I can't wait to get out of here. Some more photos from the hospital:
¡El gringo vampiro!
Vistas de habitación 126. Luz al amanacer.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Las venas abiertas de Valdivia
I'll be heading into surgery tomorrow, assuming my platelet levels are up around 20-30,000. They're treating me with intravenous immunoglobulin to spike the levels. This only lasts for a few days, but is supposed to get my level up to a level where it is supposed to operate. If I'm still low, they will give me a platelet transfusion before surgery just to make sure. In order to get a good amount of platlets, I need many blood donors, and so I have asked basically everyone in the study abroad program and all of the friends I have made in Valdivia to come and donate blood for me. Dad went out and got cookies and juice for everyone, and they should all be coming in today to donate. In addition, I get to start all kinds of fun pre-surgery treatment today like something to completely flush out my bowel, since it is close to the spleen. Hopefully that won't coincide with 20 friends arriving.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Intensive Seminar in Medical Vocabulary
Before I dive into this I just want to say that I'm going to be FINE. Deep breath, everyone.
For a little more than a week I have been hospitalized in Valdivia with an autoimmune condition which has caused my platelets to fall to very low levels. The condition is called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpora, and out of my own vanity I will just say that my skin never looked anything like most of the photos you will see online if you do go googling around for that. Mainly I was bruising very easily, and had some faint spots on my legs.
Unfortunately, I have not responded to the steroid treatment which usually corrects this issue, and the next course of action is to remove my spleen. This is a very safe, minimally invasive procedure that is done laporoscopically. It is, as far as organ removal goes, risk-free. My recovery time will be a few days, and this will at least bring my platelet levels up to a safe level, and most of the time patients return to a fully normal level. Your spleen is not a vital organ, but does aid your immune system, so moving forward in life I will have to be diligent about my health, get some extra vaccinations, always get my flu shot, and seek care for mild illnesses that I otherwise would have treated by drinking more orange juice.
The facility I am in, the Clinica Alemana, is one of the best medical facilities in Latin America. The staff is incredibly good, and my hematologist is the most respected blood specialist in the city. The surgeon is great and speaks fluent English, which has been a comfort as we move towards this. The surgery will happen Wednesday or Thursday. I will send you all another note or two as I continue through this process. The health insurance through my study abroad program is paying for my dad's round trip airfare to be here with me this week, which will be a huge comfort.
I just wanted, mainly, to let you, my family, close friends, people who have touched my life or shaped me as an individual, know what is going on, and to tell you that I would not be facing this situation with the optimism, hope, and courage that I am without the light that each of you has shone into my heart. I truly appreciate each of you, and feel incredibly blessed that you have been a part of my life. It's mushy, I know.
P.S. The food is fantastic, I get 4 meals a day, and several of my meals have been some of the best things I've eaten in Chile. This is always everyone's first question for me. I'm unclear if this is because they know how much I like to put delicious things in my mouth, or because we have all had such terrible experiences with hospital food.
I just reposted this from facebook, wanted to keep the blog current on the situation. Here's some photos though:
For a little more than a week I have been hospitalized in Valdivia with an autoimmune condition which has caused my platelets to fall to very low levels. The condition is called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpora, and out of my own vanity I will just say that my skin never looked anything like most of the photos you will see online if you do go googling around for that. Mainly I was bruising very easily, and had some faint spots on my legs.
Unfortunately, I have not responded to the steroid treatment which usually corrects this issue, and the next course of action is to remove my spleen. This is a very safe, minimally invasive procedure that is done laporoscopically. It is, as far as organ removal goes, risk-free. My recovery time will be a few days, and this will at least bring my platelet levels up to a safe level, and most of the time patients return to a fully normal level. Your spleen is not a vital organ, but does aid your immune system, so moving forward in life I will have to be diligent about my health, get some extra vaccinations, always get my flu shot, and seek care for mild illnesses that I otherwise would have treated by drinking more orange juice.
The facility I am in, the Clinica Alemana, is one of the best medical facilities in Latin America. The staff is incredibly good, and my hematologist is the most respected blood specialist in the city. The surgeon is great and speaks fluent English, which has been a comfort as we move towards this. The surgery will happen Wednesday or Thursday. I will send you all another note or two as I continue through this process. The health insurance through my study abroad program is paying for my dad's round trip airfare to be here with me this week, which will be a huge comfort.
I just wanted, mainly, to let you, my family, close friends, people who have touched my life or shaped me as an individual, know what is going on, and to tell you that I would not be facing this situation with the optimism, hope, and courage that I am without the light that each of you has shone into my heart. I truly appreciate each of you, and feel incredibly blessed that you have been a part of my life. It's mushy, I know.
P.S. The food is fantastic, I get 4 meals a day, and several of my meals have been some of the best things I've eaten in Chile. This is always everyone's first question for me. I'm unclear if this is because they know how much I like to put delicious things in my mouth, or because we have all had such terrible experiences with hospital food.
I just reposted this from facebook, wanted to keep the blog current on the situation. Here's some photos though:
The view from my room, and a card made for me by my buddy Jake, a truly stand-up individual.
Me rocking the gown.
A friend visiting, shortly before I beat her at scrabble. In Spanish.
Oh, and Go Giants.
This is my breakfast, some bread with cheese and pastries, coffee and tea. I don't eat the feet.
Typical lunch, chicken soup, salmon with scalloped potatoes, green bean salad with cheese, and some random dessert which I probably didn't eat.
This is our 'nana,' the woman who helps the family at the house I'm living. She's a wonderful person, for many reasons, not just because she does my laundry and makes my bed every day.
Dinner, beet and corn salad, breaed pork chop with grilled zuchini, tomato bisque, some unidentified fruit (i think it was an apple? it was weird) in syrup.
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