Updated photos

I don't think I've ever taken so many photos of myself.  I find that they turn out best when I use the mirror and live-view with my DSLR.   That being said...

Today's update. 9 days post treatment #2

 The big bruised spot has receded, leaving some new dark red/purple splotches.  All around, it feels like it's gone down a bit.  The 2 of the dark dots (of 5 total) feel harder, not as smooth as before.  Perhaps in another week or two the area will change again. I'll post more photos next week.

I'll be booking procedure #3 this week. Should be mid-September.

Julia

2 days post treatment

My throat started hurting yesterday morning, perhaps even Friday night.  It's not a cold-type sore throat, more lower, making some food feel like it's sticking.  Today it has improved to a dull irritation.  This morning I awoke to much bruising and increased swelling.  Hopefully it will recede in a couple days and we'll be able to see an improvement! 

Bleomycin Treatment #2 - Post procedure

There's something comforting when the nurses in the day surgery unit remember you. :)  I'm doing great.  Very thankful that these procedures are quick and relatively painless.  I sit here feeling more tired from the 5:30 wake-up, fasting,  and gen. anesthetic than from the procedure itself.  I am blessed and thankful every day that my vascular malformation is mostly a cosmetic malformation, not impairing my speech, breathing or jaw functions. 

This time they treated the area near my ear.  I'll post photos later. :)

This Friday!

Back to Toronto Western on Friday.  Hopefully this procedure will actually make a difference, unlike the first one. 
I'll take another photo and post it before I go on Friday. :)

Bleomycin Treatment #2

Called my interventional radiologist's office today.  Found out it may take 2 or 3 procedures before I notice any changes.  So...with that knowledge, procedure #2 is now scheduled for August 19th, 7am check-in, 9am procedure.  Much sooner than I expected, only 5 weeks after the first treatment.  I was expecting a 6-8 week wait.

A Before shot...

A Week or so later...

It's been over a week since my treatment.  I'm not sure what I was expecting.  So far I look the same as before.  I am finding I am experiencing more swelling and pressure during everyday tasks.  Any amount of bending over causes my neck and jaw area to swell more than before.

I need to book a followup appointment with my specialist. Hopefully that MRI will show some improvements over the pre-op MRI.

Guess this really is going to be a long journey.

Me. July 24th (9 days after)