[Sherry Lynn]

My day started at 3am (nothing new for me on a Monday) at 5am my older brother Royce called to ask if I could take him to the emergency room in Bangor. He drove himself to my house and he was in so much pain I didn't think he was going to get his 6' 2" frame into my little Geo. It seemed like it took me forever to drive the 30 miles - the entire trip was spent with him rocking back and forth in excruciating pain and me talking non-stop about whatever was popping into my head. He has had an awful lot of things happen to him over the years and he has a very high tolerance for pain so I knew this was a 10+ on the pain scale. The top of his right hand was swollen and red and his fingers were tingling --- all I could think of was that he had a blood clot in his hand/wrist/arm area, he currently has 2 in his legs AND I was thinking if he passes out before I get him to Bangor..................... well thank God that didn't happen.

At the ER they took him right in gave him 2 shots for pain before it even started to subside - did blood work, x-rays and tried to draw fluid but only got a small amount - not enough to really do anything with. They thought maybe an infection, or gout but ruled that out --- 5+ hours later they released him with 800mg Ibuprofen and pain pills and a hand surgeon's phone number to do a follow up, no real diagnosis. I brought his truck home and Mama gave me a ride home. I got back home sometime around 2pm AND decided that 5 hours in an ER is much more difficult than working a double in a factory.

So, if you could spare a prayer for Royce we sure would appreciate it --- hugssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

Tuesday Dec. 4th --- 7pm Update
Thank you for the prayers everyone --- I just got off the phone with Royce and he says his hand is more swollen than yesterday, of course they tried to draw off fluid, so that invasive procedure has probably caused some of that. He goes to see the hand surgeon Thurs. so until then there isn't anything that he can do besides the Ibuprofen and pain meds AND hope that the Ibuprofen doesn't mess up his INR levels too much. It just worries me that he has the 2 blood clots in his leg and now his hand is swollen, inflamed and painful - just like his leg was when he went to the ER. Hopefully the coumadin will do it's job until they can figure out exactly what is going on with him.


Wednesday Dec. 12th - 6:13pm Update
I'm sorry I haven't posted anything (I'm subscribed to the thread but hadn't gotten any e-mails that there were responses). Sara I'm thinking that it must not have been any kind of bug/spider bite because he is still having flares of swelling and pain.

Anyway, the hand surgeon said he thinks he is bone on bone in the wrist and that it was a major flare up? I'm not sure I completely agree with that BUT......
He is scheduling him for an MRI but Royce hasn't told me when it is set up for.I would think that it must be some time soon - the doctor took him out of work until he has the MRI and he is still on Ibuprofen and pain meds. Monday was the first day of his hand NOT being swollen - so a whole week of pain and swelling and we still don't know any more than last week. His hand is OK if he doesn't do anything BUT Royce is not one to sit around AND he has a lot of animals that think they need to be fed every day LOL!

Thank you all for your continued thoughts AND prayers! I will check the thread AND post updates more often! hugssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss



Fri. January 4th --- Royce finally had his follow-up visit after his MRI --- the doc said that it is severe arthritis (bone on bone), he did give him a cortisone shot to see if he could get him some relief while they are deciding what to do next. He is off from work and as long as he doesn't do anything his hand and wrist don't swell --- like I said before he lives alone and has 3 draft horses, 2 goats (Billy & Nanny), 4 dogs and a cat, kinda hard to sit around and NOT do anything. The cortisone really isn't helping AND he doesn't go back to see the doctor until January 25th. It's so hard to see him in constant pain and not able to do the things he loves to do!

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers --- we really appreciate them!

Thurs. January 24th --- Royce has had 2 appointments this weeks. On Tuesday he had an ultrasound to reassess his blood clots AND will get the results next week. Yesterday he saw his hand surgeon about his wrist AND he has released him to go back to work with restrictions on Feb. 1st. They discussed a couple of surgeries and he gave him a different brace that gives him more mobility in his hand area AND gives better support in this wrist. I guess now it's just a hurry up and wait to see what the future brings.

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers --- we really appreciate them!

[Ro]

Oh gosh... what a night, Sherry. Adding my prayers for your brother - and for you!

[Sara Arell]

Oh my goodness, Sherry! That sounds terrible! I will keep you all close in thought and in prayer. Keep us posted.

[Jo Corne]

oh dear Sherry Lynn, of course prayers for your brother and for you. hopefully he will get a diagnosis soon and will be able to be helped and healed. keep us updated, and try and get some rest

[teecee]

Oh how terrible Sherry! I'll certainly be sending prayers. Hugs!

[Nica]

Goodness! Praying for you and him and the rest of your family. hugssssssssssssssssssssssssss right back

[mbc72]

Sending prayers for Royce and hugs for you.

[elibar]

Sherry and Royce, you are in my prayers.

[BetC]

You and Royce are in my prayers.

[AggieB]

Oh, I'm so sorry Sherry. Of course I will add my prayer for your poor brother. I hope they find a cause soon.

[Ande43]

Prayers coming your way....I pray you find out what the problem is so it can be fixed!!

[Becster]

Praying for Royce, and for you too. *hugs*

[KFiasco]

You got it Sherry. I have come to hate hospitals in the last 10 years even though I work in one.

Karen

[ValerieT]

I'll keep Royce in my thoughts and sending a hug to you.

[A-M]

Sherry, praying for your brother and for you.

[englishrose]

Sending both you and your brother positive thoughts. Not knowing the cause of the problem must be very worrying.

[diannecp]

Oh gee, will definitely keep him (and you) in prayer. Midnight emergency runs are no fun for anyone.

[SodScrap]

Adding my prayers!

[CRS]

It's very scary when someone with a high pain tolerance is in pain...you know it's bad! I hope he is feeling better today and can get to the hand specialist and find out what is going on. I'll definitely keep him in my prayers.

[Jster025]

Praying that they can find out what in the world is wrong. Seems so scary when the ER can't come up with a diagosis! Didn't like the symptoms at all.

[Cheri T]

I'll keep you both in my prayers for sure - hope they figure out what is going on and soon - and that his pain is under control in the meantime.

[KimberlyM]

Sending prayers for your brother!

[Sherry Lynn]

Updated in the first post!

[ScrapGram]

Sending prayers to your family Sherry Lynn.

[CRS]

Thanks for the update! I can't belive they let him go this long!

[teecee]

Thanks for the update Sherry - I'll continue to send prayers.

[PBarnes]

Oh my goodness, Sherry Lynn. I hope and pray that your brother finds relief soon.

[tinkerbell11]

OH dear Sherry, I will be thinking of your brother and praying for a speedy recovery !

[Laurel Lakey]

I'm sorry to hear that, Sherry, I'll be praying for your brother and for you. I hope they can figure out what is going on quickly and be able to treat him well and fully. Hang in there.

[Bride]

Thanks for the update, Sherry ... praying as always!! love ya sis