Last year This Time

Hi All

last year this time, I was a "guest" at CCU, Ganga Ram Hosp. I said, "guest", because normally one stays in CCU for 3-4 days, I was there for good 16 days ! had heart attack, with severe chest infection. Around a litre of fluid was drained out from around my lungs & heart ! When one has various problems like me, also being a cancer survivor, the doctors had to eliminate if cancer had spread, so had PET scan & another scan, n no. of blood tests to rule out different diseases, all because, I couldn't breathe without oxygen 24 hours. Seeing this state of mine, my dear hubby was so worried, that whenever any tests had to be done, like angio, PET scan, puncturing my ribs to drain out the fluid, I simply told the doctor on duty & the nurses, not to inform my hubby & I'ld sign the papers, as I was more worried, as he isn't mentally strong like me & with 2 stents in his 2 major arteries, I was more worried about his health, so didn't want him to have any further shocks. Also, he was so worried, that if I'ld need oxygen, once discharged too, as on many occasions, when he came to see me during the visitor's time in the evening, I'ld not even talk to him, as on many days, I had a back up machine to pump more oxygen, as just the normal tube wasn't enough. at this time, not able to talk, I tried to write messages in his hand, but he'ld not follow, so wrote it on some paper. 

For this nth life ( having survived 12 surgeries)  as one of our neighbour, died during a simple cataract surgery, another died during L4-L-5 surgery, which I too had just some months before that ! so, for this life, I'm truly grateful to  doctors- Dr. Bhatia, who was in constant touch with the doctors at Ganga Ram, then would brief our daughter each evening, Dr. Sawhney, Dr. Khandpal, who did both angio & draining the fluid from around the heart, for them I owe this life. And Dr. Basu, who was determined not to start on TB medication, but gave me steroids for the infection.

The life at CCU was a bit scary, as especially, the bed on which I was for 4 days, 2 patients who came after me in that very bed died & the 3rd one was revived thanks to the very alert nurses there, who seeing the pulse dropping rapidly, resuscitated her. Seeing such a young lady's life draining away, made me sad, but was happy to see her recuperating later.

So, now you all know, why I feel happy for each day of my life, enjoy it to the utmost, doing things that make me & others around me happy. After all when we die, we don't take anything with us, if at all, we can leave some good memories. I hope I can do the latter.

Make the most of each hour, be happy, keep smiling. Help others if you can, if not at least don't harm anyone.

Best wishes & regards to all.

Geetha

Chemical changes in brains may predict risk for Alzheimer's

A new study has identified biochemical changes in the brains of normal people who might be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

The study of 311 people in their 70s and 80s with no cognitive problems used an advanced brain imaging technique called proton MR spectroscopy to see if they had abnormalities in several brain metabolites that may be biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease.

They also had PET scans to assess the level of amyloid—beta deposits, or plaques, in the brain that are one of the first signs of changes in the brain due to Alzheimer’s disease. The participants were also given tests of memory, language and other skills.

The study found that 33 percent of the participants had significantly high levels of amyloid—beta deposits in their brains. Those with high levels of amyloid—beta deposits also tended to have high levels of the brain metabolites myoinositol/creatine and choline/creatine.

People with high levels of choline/creatine were more likely to have lower scores on several of the cognitive tests, regardless of the amount of amyloid—beta deposits in their brains.

"This relationship between amyloid—beta deposits and these metabolic changes in the brain are evidence that some of these people may be in the earliest stages of the disease,” said study author Kejal Kantarci, MD, MSc, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. The study was published in the August 24, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.