ANA Discussion Forum

AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: vjharris on December 04, 2006, 06:36:39 am

Title: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: vjharris on December 04, 2006, 06:36:39 am
Well, I'll be in the Gamma Knife machine at this time tomorrow. (Just a tad nervous...not too bad, really)
See you on the other side!  ;)
vjh
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Obita on December 04, 2006, 06:47:02 am
VJ: 

Life is good on this side.........the ugly sucker is just a memory.

Anxiety the day before surgery was NOTHING compared to the anxiety when diagnosed.

Hello Gamma Knife!!  Goodbye Tuma!!

Good luck,  Kathy
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: kat on December 04, 2006, 06:58:37 am
Hi Vjh

Good luck with the GK.  You will be out on the other side before you know . I  listened to music through my Gk and it helped to pass the time in the zapper.

Best regards Kat

Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Palace on December 04, 2006, 07:51:31 am
Hi There.....


I'm two full days at this moment on the cross-over.  (in a four hours.......it will be three full days, since released)  You will be on a "natural high" when you walk out.  Yes, the diagnosis, process of tests, discussion, decisions are the hardest part for Gammaknife or Cyberknife people.

I just got here!  (the view is lovely)  ;)



You are almost over the bridge with us.......Palace
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Palace on December 04, 2006, 08:11:56 am
Oh........


The first two days I had gentle calming music, "so-to-speak."  The last day.......(last Friday) I brought more HARD ROCK and asked for it cranked up loudly.  I told them it was PARTY DAY.  He just said, "You AN people like it loud."  Heck, I was just getting into the "Groove of it and happy to party through it, on my last day."

The first day, I didn't know if I could handle the blue mask for an hour.  I got better at that as I went along.  With CK, you are allowed to swallow but, let them know by raising your hand if you need to cough or whatever.

Bring the music that you can get lost in.



Palace
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: flier58 on December 04, 2006, 08:30:57 am
Hi VJ,
Good luck with your tx.  It is actually quite boring under the mask.  Bring your music to the center.  Classical music didn't work for me, Eric Clapton was perfect-I could tap my finger and it really help pass the time (I had 45-50 min sessions).  Thinking about you.
Flier58
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: jvastola on December 04, 2006, 08:37:49 am
Hey VJ,

We are on almost the same schedule except I go in for three treatments of GK starting today!  Postie here we come!!

Jim
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: BevM on December 04, 2006, 08:52:27 am
Best Wishes for the big day.  I think you will be so relieved.  I am now two months post CK and no significant side effects. I agree with having music.  Focusing on music instead of the time was really helpful!

Beb
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Battyp on December 04, 2006, 09:54:54 am
GOOD LUCK w/ your treatment.  you'll have to share what kind of music you took with you!

Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Derek on December 04, 2006, 09:59:06 am
VJH & Jim...

Very best wishes to you both for successful outcomes and looking forward to your progress reports during your journey to complete recovery.

Regards

Derek
Title: music for CK/GK
Post by: flier58 on December 04, 2006, 10:29:18 am
Hi Guys,
This is important!!! ;D ;D ;D
Even my CK team agreed it was a great CD (Clapton) and they burnt their own CD for future patients!!!!
flier58
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Gennysmom on December 04, 2006, 11:33:39 am
Vicki,

Good luck tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!  Genny and I have your back and we'll both be wearing the lucky pirate socks for you!!!!!!!!!!!  It will all be well and soon you'll be a postie waiting for necrosis!!!!!!!!!! 

Kathleen
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Laura on December 04, 2006, 01:48:11 pm
Good luck tomorrow - we will be thinking and praying for you!
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Patti UT on December 04, 2006, 05:28:20 pm
GOOD LUCK TOMARROW IN THE BIG TUMOR ZAPPER.  ALL WILL GO WELL, WE'LL BE THINKING OF YA :)

PATTI UT
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: lmurray69 on December 04, 2006, 06:31:55 pm
YOUr bird is sure predy,it is a green cheek,,I raise birds of all kinds..I wish you luck .It will be over before you know it..good luck to you both..LInda
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Pembo on December 04, 2006, 08:22:44 pm
Good luck! See you on the other side....:)
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: matti on December 04, 2006, 09:39:19 pm
VJ - My thoughts and prayers are with you and the magical healing pirate socks will be on!!

My music suggestion for the last day of treatment is "ANother one bites the dust" by Queen

hugs,
Cheryl
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: ixta on December 04, 2006, 10:24:35 pm
ya the last song I heard before going into shahinians op was gregorian chant monks over the speakers, like they were warming us up to drink koolaid or something!

not exactly the thing one wants to hear while going under the zapper. :o
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Windsong on December 05, 2006, 10:29:14 pm
i tought gregorian chants were good for calming heart and all sorts of things in one's body????

W.
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Palace on December 05, 2006, 11:46:20 pm
The big day is now night..........here in CA. and we are all thinking of you.  How did it go?



Pal
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: mylump on December 06, 2006, 12:11:10 am
I listened to Talking Heads while being zapped... Better than hearing angels sing. :)

Lorenzo
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: vjharris on December 06, 2006, 06:42:26 am
Well..if it could go wrong it did yesterday. I always did have good luck. ;)
Rush hour snowstorm took my folks four hours to get there (normally 45 minutes). The music player was broken, so I had total silence for my 14 times in and out of the Gamma Knife (only about 1 hour.) The poor other gamma knife patient hit a deer on the way and was trying to call to get his car fixed in between his MRI, CAT, etc.
The procedure itself would not have been too bad at all EXCEPT, I had a bad reaction to something (CT contrast?) and was throwing up ALL day. They couldn't do my Gamma Knife until the nausea settled down and I had IV liquids for dehydration. They even had to stop the Gamma Knife at one point to pull me out to be sick. Because of the nausea, I was in the headframe for 12 hours.  :o
Oh, I forgot to mention that they were conducting a training session - so I got to throw up in front of a whole room full of people every time. I guess they got trained all right. ;)
Bottom line, it was a horrible day. BUT it was only one day and the nurse said this doesn't usually happen. I would still recommend it to anyone. The Drs. and nurses were wonderful. I'm feeling pretty good now and glad it's all over.
Thanks to EVERYONE for all your good wishes. It really helped me to feel pretty good about getting treatment. Anybody else considering Gamma Knife, I would heartily recommend it.
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: vjharris on December 06, 2006, 06:45:38 am
Oh,
I forgot to tell Linda and Kathleen...my bird talked today! Life is good! ;D
Vicki
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Pembo on December 06, 2006, 07:24:20 am
Vicki, I was thinking about you in all that traffic yesterday. I only had to go to Westlake and was stuck on Rt 2 for 20 mins. I'm glad it's over and you are feeling better.

Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Gennysmom on December 06, 2006, 07:28:44 am
Yea Vicki!!!!!!  All MUST be well if you're bird is being normal!!!  Congratulations!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Palace on December 06, 2006, 08:12:13 am
Gee that sounds like my "life-time" luck and I'm soooooooooo glad it is over for you.



Palace
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Laura on December 12, 2006, 03:56:56 pm
Vicki - what a horrible day! Let's hope the worst is behind you

DIE AN... DIE!!!!!
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Best Wishes,

Laura
Title: Re: Tomorrow's the big day
Post by: Patti UT on December 12, 2006, 08:44:02 pm
Sounds like it was one heck of a day, but you got through it. Hope you are feeling better now and the An is RIP

Patti UT