We are here in Phoenix. We got in yesterday evening to find out Tricare had not reserved us a room at the Hampton Inn. They had room anyway, so we didn't have to stay in the stables.
This morning we saw the neurosurgeon at 8:30am (local time) and got lots of explanations and options based on test results.
1) They want to know how well and thoroughly the blood is flowing into my brain. I am waiting now to have a perfusion CT done for that.
2) I had my INR (blood thinness) taken at 10:30am to see what levels I am at. I will need to be at at most 2.5 before...
3) ...Tuesday they will do an Angiogram to see what level of blocked my carotid dissection is at.
If it is fully blocked (or "stumped") they will leave it as is if the profusion shows the rest of my arteries are working fine. Just like someone with one kidney, I can live the rest of a normal life with only my right carotid and various other arteries taking up the job.
If it is partially blocked (or a "string") then they will put me under general and either perform a stent or a block (I think that depends on what they see in the perfusion).
The string is bad because it provides conditions for breakaway clots to form and cause strokes.
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If the scans show he is not getting adequate bloodflow to his brain they would have to do the bypass. We are hoping that's is not the case.
ReplyDeleteIs a stent like a shunt?
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