- a
** please note my son gave me permission to disclose his info/story**
Back in May he collapsed at work and was rushed to the emergency room. They diagnosed him with a hypertensive emergency. He continued having headaches and dizziness that induced vomiting. We went to a different emergency room where for the first time in several years he had his head scanned. It showed a pronounced Arnold chiari Malformation. ( we knew he had this but he had decompressive brain surgery when he was 14) The CT showed that the same area was having issues again now at the age of 23. It appeared that the site of decompression had grown back and he needed another surgery, this time a portion of the dura matter would be removed and a patch would be placed. This was done in July. After the surgery he was in the hospital 3 sepperate times. Once for hypertension, once for uncontrolled blood sugars and once for potential infection. Each time a scan was done and noted was a pocket of fluid to the back of the head which was growing in size. Ian’s symptoms were not improving. He continued to have headaches, dizziness and occasional vomiting. Eventually the pocket of fluid was visable on the outside. Ian appeared to have a half a softball of pocked fluid under his skin. When he turned his head he could hear it. He went back for an MRI in September where it was noted that this pocket was quite a bit larger. The neurosurgical team felt that it was quite necessary to clean out that area and place a larger more flexible patch. Ian was taken for surgery which lasted 6 hrs. He had a delayed extubation and an injured lip from the intubation and laying on his stomach for surgery for an extended period of time. Other than some difficult to control pain he did ok and was discharged home. He was instructed no strenuous activity for 6 months potentially up to a year. The surgical team thinks he went back to work too soon ( it was 8 weeks). So no lifting over 5 lbs, no straining just resting. If this surgery is not successful he will have a shunt placed ( which is something we would all like to avoid) Anyone that knows Ian will know that this is going to be a challenge. So far his time at home has been difficult. His pain is hard to control. What makes things worse is that he is stressing about bills. ( huge medical bills, his car and insurance). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Back in May he collapsed at work and was rushed to the emergency room. They diagnosed him with a hypertensive emergency. He continued having headaches and dizziness that induced vomiting. We went to a different emergency room where for the first time in several years he had his head scanned. It showed a pronounced Arnold chiari Malformation. ( we knew he had this but he had decompressive brain surgery when he was 14) The CT showed that the same area was having issues again now at the age of 23. It appeared that the site of decompression had grown back and he needed another surgery, this time a portion of the dura matter would be removed and a patch would be placed. This was done in July. After the surgery he was in the hospital 3 sepperate times. Once for hypertension, once for uncontrolled blood sugars and once for potential infection. Each time a scan was done and noted was a pocket of fluid to the back of the head which was growing in size. Ian’s symptoms were not improving. He continued to have headaches, dizziness and occasional vomiting. Eventually the pocket of fluid was visable on the outside. Ian appeared to have a half a softball of pocked fluid under his skin. When he turned his head he could hear it. He went back for an MRI in September where it was noted that this pocket was quite a bit larger. The neurosurgical team felt that it was quite necessary to clean out that area and place a larger more flexible patch. Ian was taken for surgery which lasted 6 hrs. He had a delayed extubation and an injured lip from the intubation and laying on his stomach for surgery for an extended period of time. Other than some difficult to control pain he did ok and was discharged home. He was instructed no strenuous activity for 6 months potentially up to a year. The surgical team thinks he went back to work too soon ( it was 8 weeks). So no lifting over 5 lbs, no straining just resting. If this surgery is not successful he will have a shunt placed ( which is something we would all like to avoid) Anyone that knows Ian will know that this is going to be a challenge. So far his time at home has been difficult. His pain is hard to control. What makes things worse is that he is stressing about bills. ( huge medical bills, his car and insurance). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Co-organizers4
Ian Jauregui
Beneficiary