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Hi guys, I just wrote this scripted letter because I will be going silent again as there are certainly some issues happening in my life right now.Hope all is shimmery and bright on your side...my big hugs to you dear friends.

Hmmm, where do I start? The fact that typing each and every word in the following sentences are being written 3 to 4 times each…is my personal challenge, I will try and limit my words.

Where have I been and what have I been doing?

In summary (only joking) I was in a plane crash….then a horrible car accident and now I am on a cruise ship heading into a hurricane….confused? So am I… and also overwhelmed.

I had a bad virus about 7 weeks ago that caused me to have an emergency acute Pericarditis (inflammation and Fluid retention around the heart) that was the plane crash. I spent a week in the hospital while they drained fluid from my heart and both lungs and gave me steroids to stop the inflammation.

I left the hospital and thought I was on the road to recovery….not quiet…here is the horrible car crash. I started deteriorating badly while on vacation in Chicago. I was in congestive heart failure due to the Pericardium membrane had become scarred and thickened and was now, not allowing my heart to expand. I rushed back to Akron on an emergency flight and was re-admitted into the hospital. Lots of attention and tests including having a Heart Catheterization which confirmed that I needed an emergency Pericardectomy operation. I now no longer have a pericardium membrane and instead I have a lovely ten inch scar down the middle of my chest from heart surgery. I spent over two weeks on the heart-ward. I came home today…..but I will be going back on Monday to start my cruise ship into the hurricane.

During one of the operations, I had two mini strokes which is effecting my fine motor skills….i.e. the difficulty typing (this is taking me 2 hours….but I suppose it as a physical therapy and will help me towards my recovery) Because of the strokes, they ordered more tests including MRI’s and MRA (arteries) that led to finding a more ominous problem (can it really get worse?) They now ordered an angiogram catheter to probe my brain and found that BOTH my major cerebral arteries of the brain are over 75% blocked and I am having severe occlusive disease at the base of my skull called vaculitis(sp?)

I will probably be checked into the Cleveland Clinic or the University Hospital System in

Cleveland early this week, as we are mobilizing to find the most qualified Neuro/vascular surgeon in the area. My previous surgeries were at Summa (City hospital in Akron)

Most likely, we will place shunts in those arteries….however, there is a possibility that I might respond favorably to immno suppressants and be able to forgo a dangerous surgery. These are the events that we are currently right in the middle of and will be determined as events unfold. I am in good spirits and actually feeling very grateful that we were able to realize something bigger was looming in the shadows. I am blessed and looking forward to facing this head on. There are still many unanswered questions….like what’s caused this process? Are they related in some way? Possibly and possibly it is some sort of auto-immune (my body is attacking itself) those answers will all be addressed as time passes new pieces of the puzzle come together.

I will keep you informed, meanwhile, please keep my in your thoughts and prayers.

Smiles and hugs, Diane

Oh...and yes I am still losing wt....although it seems irrelivant.....It is probably a positive towards my overall recovery and I need every positive right now !!!!

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So glad to hear this wonderful news! What a miracle!

Chris

Yay Diane! Even though Ive never met or talked with you personally you have no idea just how much you were on my thoughts! I was worried sick about you. Im so happy everything was such a success. You are a great example of what positive thinking can do, not to mention prayer, and support. Once again, thank you for sharing your life with us, such an inspiration (not to sound cliche, but I don't know how else to express it).

Ok guys....I arrived back in Cleveland yesterday.... : )

Still plumb tired out..but happily recovering. Figured I should give ya a peak at my brain surgery! Don't look if you are faint at heart. They did the same thing on both sides.... just a few days apart.

My son calls it Frankenmom.....I told him I have the "coolest" scars of any mom!

http://www.msnusers.com/15bh5d6dlq2oii39dbhjug4ra5/Documents/Pictures%2FIMG%5F0173.JPG

i hope this works.....not sure I did it right.

smiles.....diane :0

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looks like it worked!!!!

I will write and thank you guys....after a few days....I am still pretty fatigued over here....and with a box of bills and miscellaneous "important" junk. But, I do want to say....having such wonderful people in my corner....really did make it that much nicer. Thank you all for your prayers and concern. You were an outpouring of support.....I want to hug you all.....so this is a giant ((((((((((GROUP HUG))))))))))

Smiles.....Diane : )

Hey Diane - SO glad to hear fom you!

ok, just so I get this straight - you are home now?

awe, and the link for your scars... i cant get the picture to show up! Darn.

Thanks for checking in - God bless you...

Diane, it's great to hear from you and so glad to hear your doing so well. Of course, we knew you would. BTW, your link requires a user name and password. Is there anyway to bypass that or maybe post pics on this thread?

Keep in touch!!

Welcome Home!!!! So glad to see you posting and thank God for your successful surgery and recovery!!

I am so sorry to hear that you are going thru this right now. I have only been coming to the board a short while and will be banded on Sept 22.

I have walked the land of uncertanty with my health and at 28 was unable to function more then a few hours a day. I suffered head to toe body pain and sever headaches and fatigue along with daily fevers, yes a fever everyday for 2 yrs.

Well thru this process I learned a few things:

1) Never be afraid to question a Dr. opinion.

2) Listen to what your instinct is telling you.

3) Never except and "I dont know" Search until you hear the words "We found out what is wrong with your.

4) Always give yourself permission to react the way you need to. Dont let others decide your response to your situation.

After 3yrs, 3 Rheumatologist, 1 Infectiouse disease Dr, 1 pain DR and getting a new family Doctor. After 3yrs of being looked at like I was crazy and told I was just fat and depressed, I got the answer I had been looking for.

Mrs. Lambert we know what is wrong with you "Your Fatiuge is due to Chronic fatigue syndrom, Fibromyalgia and "Oh ya you have a sister sickness to Lupus and it is called Sjogren's syndrome". This is an autoimmune disorder.

If I remember right Lupus patients can have Pericardidits, Vasculitis, Kidney and liver problems. It basicly can effect your whole body. A great resourse to learn about Auto Immune disorders is Web MD. THey dont have individual message board for each Auto Immune disorder so people with just about every kind of AI disorder go there.

When the DR thought it was in my head, the people on that board keep me from loosing my mind.

I am now on an Anti malarial med used for Auto Immune disorders called Plaquinel. Aften they use high doses of prednisone for AI disorders. One thing that just came to mind was my step grandmother has temporal arthritis and she was miss diagnosed over a year ago with Vasculitis and now she is loosing her sight.

Make sure if you have any doute that they have the right diagnosis that you ask to see another Dr even if it is just another Dr at the same facility.

I ended going to Brigham and Womens hospital in Boston Mass. It took me 3 yrs but I now have the answers to my puzzle and am well enough to work again which I could not do for 2 yrs.

Sorry if this got kind of long or became about me. I didn't mean it that way. Just dont give up and keep your chin pointed high.....

For

I am overwhelmed at all this great support from all you guys!!!! Don't you have some wt loss to focus on or something? I am a total stranger and you have all come out in droves to follow my wild ride. I had barely met a few of you here....as all this crazyness started only a week after my lapband surgery and only got wilder and more colorful as they discovered more and more was going on!!!! Well, it was a summer to remember (or forget) according to how you want to look at it. I believe I was truly blessed....as I would have most likely had a very short future ahead. Thinking my health problems were a result of my apnea and wanting to solve my apnea symptoms thru having the lapband was the very least of it....all those doctors who let me drop thru the cracks for 5 yrs saying, apnea, migraines.....fibromyalgia...go stretch......well, now I want to stretch their necks!!!! As they took this...."you are young and active".....wait and see attitude with my complaints of fatigue and cronic dizzyness etc.... (sure...there wasn't any blood/oxygen flow to the "ol brain...duh!) Well, I was NOT meant to give up....and I am a testament to having a higher power not letting this come to a fateful end. I am now on the road to recovery and given the ultimate second chance!!!!! In a few months, I will get back on the wt loss...but for now...I'll focus on getting stronger.....and hey....maybe I'll be rollerblading in the spring!

I think I figured out the photo thing...one is the right side surgery and one is the left side. My kids are calling me FrankenMom : )

Shell......

you know the frustration of not being dx'd (or misdx'd)....it can be frustrating and even depressing when you try to research your own health issues....because YOU know something is not right.

Of course, you are exactly the expert now.....autoimmune can present as vasculitis, and pericarditis etc.....they can all be inter-related if you have an autoimmune disorder. The doctors were all looking into a connection with me thinking that it would highly unlikely to have two RARE dx's in the same month! (well, I was just lucky I guess) Lupus, Sjogren's syndrome..all those were in my workup (I did have a high cardiolipen so they were going down the list of all the autoimmune dx's and also having a history of mild pericardial effusion)

if there was "any" chance of vasculitis which was not fully ruled out...this is what the docs said " most likely, we believe you have Moyamoya...and although we don't feel you have vasculitis...we cannot fully rule it out......we will know for sure when we go in and preform the brain bypass.....the artery being bypassed will disintigrated / disolved if you have vasculitis"......(just something to think about LOL)

Now that would have really put me up a creek without a paddle! My hubby never slept a wink the night of the first surgery.....I went in very calm......I just knew it would all go smooth.....I just had an inner peace about the whole thing.

well, you all got a book.....chapter by chapter.....but with a happy ending!

smiles to all.....diane : )

Diane I am so glad your home and everything is going well. You don't know how many times I think about you. I know the kiddos are glad to have you there. I hope school went smoothly for them while you were gone.

Tell hubby he is okay in my book.:first:

Myra

Geez Diane you should send your story into that Medica Mysteries show!! You should be famous for all you've went through! Plus you'd be great with all your charizma. Seriously lol you should.

Thank goodness you are safe and everything went so well. Im just so happy for you and your family.

I have been going thru some of the past posts and I am sooooo sad to see that while I was away from the board.....things of trivial nature and personality clashes got in the way of support and solidarity here on the board. I see many members were actually suspended!!! Even 3loves was suspended. She was super supportive as a fellow May bandster.....I hope they will reinstate her if she is willing to come back. I will miss her and some of the others too.

I have no desire to engage in mud slinging and I never will.......I have a renewed sense of priorities from all that has happened over the past few months and many posters here have serious issues happening in their lives right as we speak.

Let's all use this board for what it is intended......to share much needed information, medical and personal.....related to our lapband decisions....and as an emotional support and friendship sharing our experiences and success with those who value our tribulations.

For those not here anymore....if you can read this...you will be missed....this was a community......and you were all an important part of it. I'm so sorry things had to get out of hand and emotions took off in the wrong direction. Let's take a deep breath and hopefully this won't ever repeat itself.

Many wonderful posters leave when they see negative posts. It is important to keep the integrity of the board, as we really do need each other. At least, I know... I need you guys!!! for my daily hugs and laughs....and well, just that good 'ol sense of belonging! : )

diane

Hey Diane,

Glad to hear you came through everything well and you are home now.

You have been missed on the May Band Crew thread.

I will continue to pray for you complete and rapid recovery.

Diane it's been a while. How is recovery going? Haven't heard from you in a while and wondering how things are going.

Myra