Day 6 October 31, 2010 HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT PUMPKIN!

60 Years Old Today!

We didn’t have to get up quite so early this morning – in the nurse’s station for vitals by 7:45 and then breakfast. The morning was free and we took advantage of the free time. Gord did some calling and watched a bit of football on the internet and then we went down to the pool area. I swam laps and then went through the Thalasso pool regimen – cold, hot, cold, hotter, cold walking on stones. It felt very good. We toured the vegetable garden area, and then sat in the warm sun watching hummingbirds, a squirrel, and birds soaring above the sea. It was very peaceful. I did sing Happy Birthday to him and recorded it for posterity.

I want to get this posted early as we will have an early morning tomorrow and we will be a little later to bed this evening as we are going to another movie. I am sitting in the Strauss Mansion part of Sanoviv beside the white grand piano. This land was previously owned by Levi Strauss of the jeans empire. It has remained much the same as it was, tile, marble, cement, and glass everywhere - all non toxic materials which was okay with Dr. Wentz's vision of a toxic free facility.

We just attended a cooking class and Gord and I made a wonderful authentic guacomole, which Gord taste tested several times - still the great stomach! Now we're headed for supper and then dinner and a movie. What a relaxing weekend this has been! We are looking forward to tomorrow however, as we are probably meeting with the doctor to look at the video of the procedure and the picture of the blockage. He will assess Gord's 'after treatment' condition, which is pretty much what we have been telling you.

Gord is finding himself much less fatigued. He is able to lift his toes better and he says his legs feel ‘different’. He has had his feet down for hours and they are not dark purple, but just faintly mottled. His socks aren’t leaving a dent in his skin. This is all very encouraging.

Hast manana!

Day 5 October 30, 2010 Laid Back Saturday

On the weekends here the schedule isn't quite as tight; however we still start at the Nurse's Station at 6:30 each morning where they take everyone's vital signs.

This was Gord's first time up, post procedure. He didn't notice too much difference and is a little disappointed.

He did have a spa treatment and he said that he was able to feel more of the massage on his legs than for the ones he had before treatment. He also mentioned that he can see the veins in his legs, ie that they are upraised. When I looked I was quite surprised - yes, I guess they really weren't very prominent before. Perhaps we are grasping at straws. I really think that his circulation is better, his legs warmer.

He seems more energetic - got down on the floor for stretching in the fitness room (and up again). He managed to do it again in the room to use the chi machine, and then a third time for our Sound Meditation class. He put his feet up for awhile but didn't nap. He also just mentioned he thinks his hearing is not quite so sensitive. I hope that continues to improve as my high pitched voice is his nemesis!

Though disappointed he's still optomistic - trying to be positive and hopeful.

Day 4 October 29 Hospital Angeles Tijuana

8:00 AM
WOW! Talk about a 4 star hospital!

I am writing from Gord’s hospital room, pristine, laminate floors, wide marble hallways, some decorating (artificial plants, artwork). There is a TV and DVD player as well. I bet only the rich and famous can afford to come here. Like us -LOL! No food allowed though – just drink. So I have my peppermint tea I brought from Sanoviv, and a good book for the 2 hour wait.

We were up at 4 AM – hooked up to an antibiotic IV at 5. We loaded into the Sanoviv van at 6:30, arriving at Angeles Hospital by 7:30. Another fellow, Tony, from Calgary came with us for the same procedure. Very little English is spoken here. A doctor from Sanoviv accompanied us and helped with the check in procedures. He will stay with the ‘boys’ when they have the procedure. Tony’s wife and I were taken to the hospital rooms to wait. Too bad we couldn’t wait together to chat! Gord should be back here by 10:30.

I have discovered the hospital has internet so I’ll deal with a few emails while I’m here – maybe do some surfing.

12:00 noon
Well, the wait was supposed to be 2 hours. It is now 4. Gord is just about to be brought up (not vomited) transported to his room “Beam me up Scotty!” I think I have been cooped up in this room too long! The Sanoviv doctor reported all went well – waiting for Gord to give me the info – straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak. Hark, I hear wheels…

He is very alert, awake through the whole thing, but going to have a nap, now. We go back to Sanoviv via ambulance at 2:00. The reason it was so long was that he had to wait for Tony to be done.

There was a blockage in the left vein, so much so that there was a backflow. Other veins were OK. It was an experience akin to going to the dentist – some discomfort at times, but quite a non-invasive procedure. No noticeable immediate effect when flow opened, but he senses less numbness in 3 fingers and a little more movement in his feet maybe – right now it’s a discovery process. More later.

Now I’ll play Spider Solitaire until my battery runs out since I finished my book and my crocheting!

7:00 PM Just uploading some pictures and recounting the last part of our day. About 2:30 the EMT's and the Sanoviv Doctor came to transport Gord to the ambulance. In my position as shotgun I had a wonderful view of the very hilly coastal region of Tijuana. We made very good time as whenever we came to a red light the EMT driver just honked his horn and everyone let us through. No siren or lights needed! The first time I was a little unnerved, but after that I just expected it. We arrived safely nonetheless and continued to experience first class treatment as Gord was delivered to the hospital bed in our room. Dinner was even served to us up here. He needs to stay in bed for 8 hours so he doesn't cause bleeding at the puncture site. He is most anxious to get up, but that will have to wait until morning. I am convinced that his circulation has improved. His legs and feet are warm as toast still. Maybe it's just because he has had them up all day. We'll see tomorrow.

Gord's Office!

Day 3 October 28, 2010 Blockage Confirmed! Hooray!

What a day of ups and downs!

Gord woke up with a low grade fever and the dreaded bladder infection reared its ugly head again. Needless to say it wiped him out physically, and mentally – with concern this might delay things. They cancelled the dental exam he had scheduled and he slept on and off most of the morning.

We then met with the Neurologist who did not speak English. A Sanoviv Doctor interpreted. Gord was satisfied with the consultation and examination. The neurologist pronounced Gord a candidate. The ultrasound showed some decreased flow in the vein on his right side. That is, however, not necessarily the only vein that could have a blockage. During the angioplasty procedure dye will be used to detect other blockage problems and these passages will be widened as well.

The ‘venografia y venoplastia para CCSVI’ will take place in a Tijuana hospital tomorrow (Friday) morning. We leave at 6:30 AM in the van and will be returning late afternoon via ambulance.

By the afternoon Gord was feeling a bit better, but slept a lot and still felt drained. The urine test showed the likelihood of a minor infection and so he had an antibiotic tonight. Because he cannot eat or drink before the procedure he has to have an intravenous antibiotic at 5 AM. They want to make sure he doesn’t run a fever. It’s 8 PM and he is showered and in bed and I’d better join him.

Actually, I can’t really join him as we are sleeping in separate beds. No, it is not my snoring! We are on the hospital ward floor and there is a hospital bed for Gord. I have my own little room as his companion or ‘concubine’ as he likes to refer to me to the staff around here! Last time we were here 4 years ago there was a large main bed, but still with a companion room and we were able to sleep together. We just used the companion room as a den. So that has been a little bit of a change.

Here's Gord all cocconed up in his bed!

We took a walk just before coming up to the room - beautiful sunset - watched some surfers catch their last rides in before dark.

By the way, I must apologize. When I sent out the link to you all, I forgot to BCC the addresses for some of you. As the lingo says – MY BAD! Sorry!

We will be anxious to share tomorrow’s adventure. Thanks for tuning in. Good night from the Baja coast.

Day 2 October 27, 2010 Doppler Testing

View from our balcony!

It's 8:30 and we are so sleepy. We had our coconut water and are hitting the sack early tonight.

We were up by 5:30 AM and attended 14 different appointments/sessions with breakfast, lunch, dinner, green juice, and wheat grass juice breaks. The most important appointment, of course, was the Ultrasound Doppler test on his neck. We will meet with the doctor tomorrow regarding the results, but Gord couldn't resist asking the Doctor doing the ultrasound what he thought. He was vague but said there are some problems. That's what we're hoping for!

Before we meet with our doctor, all of the medical team will meet about Gord regarding all the assessments done today and tomorrow morning. So at 11 AM we will find out if Gord is a candidate, and if he is, the procedure will be done Friday.

Stay tuned tomorrow night to find out. We are all in suspense.

Day 1 October 26, 2010 The Voyage – Starship WestJet

Don’t expect all this wit daily – just have time on my hands 39 234 feet above sea level cruising at 522 MPH on the way to Calgary. WestJet staff are hilarious. They always seem to be having a good time – budding stand up comedians! The gentleman presenting the safety info that no one listens to told us that he had been working on a short version all weekend and would we want the short or long version. Needless to say we all wanted the shorter one, whereupon he pulled out a piece of paper and read, “Do up the buckle. We’ll be going fast.” Unfortunately he said they hadn’t approved the shortened version yet so he regaled us with a slightly off kilter demo including some Scottish brogue.
Gord was oblivious to this – went into his incognito mode, listening to his book on tape on MP3.

WestJet personnel were most helpful getting us on the plane. At the hatch he transferred to a very narrow aisle chair where they tried to buckle in all 6 foot 3 of him. Gord, finding his cheeks barely supported on the seat, commented that it is the bulky jacket he is wearing keeping him from fitting, not any corpulence to speak of. Kidding around, after having only 4 hours sleep, being that early in the AM, and experiencing much angst about forthcoming events, was admirable.

Elbows and knees in! They backed him down the aisle. He then transferred and slid across the seats. I wonder if this process will be less challenging on the return flight. Looks like he is having a good time though!

8:20 our time – 10:20 your time – our time still too – getting tired
Aside from the tiller on Gord’s wheelchair coming off in transit – we had a fairly uneventful trip. Women fell at his feet to help him! Gord was in his glory!

We arrived at Sanoviv about 3:30 their time. Got settled in and Gord got his siesta with his feet up – quite a relief! As soon as we turned into the compound there was a very calming effect. The ocean’s constant sounds are so soothing. You can just keep your patio doors open most of the time. It was snowing as we left Calgary and her it was about 24 degrees Celsius – sigh – we are very lucky.
Gord got some vitals taken and we see the doctor tomorrow. From 6:35 AM to 8:30 PM we are scheduled every minute. We’ll have more info tomorrow. Gord is very anxious to get the testing done, as you might well imagine.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Our Bags are Packed - We're Ready to Go!

Our taxi is daughter Dorian at 4 :30 AM! What a sacrifice to have to get up that early for us! Thanks Dorian.
Well, we're very anxious to be rid of the suspense. I will try to record events as they unfold, but know we will be very busy.
We don't really have to pack much.
They supply clothes (except undies and jammies!) and USANA Sense showering products, and healthy food. No makeup/nail polish/jewels (except watch and wedding ring).
We actually are not quite ready to go. I was exaggerating, but I wanted to get this posted before we go. Better finish packing. Thanks for following el Gordo's escapades.
TTFN
Pam

Gord's video before CCSVI Liberation Treatment

Click on this link to watch Gord's before video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNsEXwLRO-4