Encouraged

“In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it”.
~Ronald Reagan


Today July 29, Taylor, Ken and I went to the appointment with the pain management doctor Dr. John Kelly. The 2 ½ hour appointment was very Encouraging. Dr Kelly took the time to listen to all of Taylor’s history. Finally, we met with a doctor that feels that all the symptoms are related. One of the first symptoms he wanted to address is the lack of sleep. Dr. Kelly added that 80% of healing happens when a person is asleep and since Taylor only gets little to no sleep each night, he felt that it was important to address this first. Dr. Kelly agreed with the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pain disorder, and believes that Taylor, because of this disorder, is very sensitive to medicating and side of effects of the medications. So, like the Gabapentin, all the medications will be started at a very low dose and be increased over time.

Taylor’s condition is rare and it is so amazing to watch the look on a doctor’s face when they examine Taylor and see his stomach spasm the way it does. It looks like a wave that ripples over the upper part of his stomach. Taylor says it feels like a Charlie horse, but the pain does not go away. Dr. Kelly wants Taylor to take a video of the spasms and send it to him because Taylor’s condition is so rare.

In the visit with Dr. Kelly, he said, he wanted to do one more MRI on Taylor, this time it will be on his back to see if there is something wrong with the nerves in Taylor’s spinal cord that are connected to Taylor’s stomach. He wants to rule out any pinched nerves or inflammation or anything else.

Dr. Kelly added two new medications to Taylor’s daily routine he will still take the Gabapentin (for nerve spasms) and, Promethazine (for nausea and vomiting). Taylor will add a dose of Imipramine (this will help balance the serotonin levels of the brain and calm Taylor’s nervous system), and the other is Diazepam (to help relax the muscles, and to help Taylor sleep).

We came away from the visit encouraged. Dr. Kelly addressed every symptom, had a plan, and explained medically what was going on with Taylor condition. We look forward to Taylor starting his new medications and getting on the road to recovery.

Please keep Taylor in your thoughts and prays, we pray that this new medication will work quickly.

Rita Bryan

(Pain level 8 at of 10)

Quick Update

I just wanted to give every one a quick update. Late last week when speaking to Taylor's gasto doctor at University Of Cincinnati, Jennifer Garrett, I was telling her how Taylor was really having a rough couple of weeks. I told her that Taylor's pain management appointment was not until Aug 27, she found this to be unreasonable for Taylor and wanted to talk to
Dr. Schmulewitz (the professor at UC that is in charge of Taylor case).
Dr. Schmulewitz personal called and spoke to Dr. John Kelly (pain management doctor) about getting Taylor in sooner. And Thanks to God and Dr. Schmulewitz Taylor will now be seen by Dr. Kelly tomorrow July 29!

I will up date this blog after Taylor appointment with Dr. Kelly.

Rita Bryan

(pain level today 8 out of 10)