Author Topic: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!  (Read 6115 times)

JHager

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Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« on: November 02, 2005, 05:45:06 pm »
Hey everyone,

I got my pre-admission packet today from the neurosurgeon.  I take it with me to the hospital on Friday for my blood tests/EKG/chest x-ray.   Yeek!

It's finally hitting home, especially when I read the "This could happen to you, so sign here" list of possible complications. 

I'm at a very odd stage - impatient to have the procedure done and over with, and nervous that it's coming up so soon.

Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone for their support, kind words, and laughter.  (Yes John, this means YOU!)  I go in on Monday (the 7th) at 6:00am for a 7:30 surgery.  I appreciate your keeping in mind!

I'll keep everyone posted as I can, hopefully sooner than later.

Josh
3.5 cm right AN.  Surgery 11/7/05, modified translab.  As recovered as I'd ever hoped to be.

Jeanlea

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2005, 06:30:49 pm »
Josh,

I will be thinking of you and wishing you only the best on the day of your surgery.  I can understand how you are feeling.  It is better when it's over because then you know you can move on from there.  I have a feeling that you will have a quick recovery and be back in the classroom before you know it.   ;D

Jean
translab on 3.5+ cm tumor
September 6, 2005
Drs. Friedland and Meyer
Milwaukee, WI
left-side facial paralysis and numbness
TransEar for SSD

shoegirl

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2005, 08:26:22 pm »
Josh,

I wanted to wish you well and let you know that you will be in my thoughts on Monday and as you continue on through your recovery.  I wish you lots of strength, courage, and most of all the best possible outcome!

Good Luck! I will say a prayer for you!

Suzanne
left side 2.0cm x 1.3cm  
Cyberknife - 12/2005
The Barrow Institute, Phoenix, AZ

kristin

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2005, 10:50:54 pm »
josh! you're part is a piece of cake. i'm praying that the doctors have clear heads and calm hands. and that you get nice nurses and a mophine pump ;)!

kristin
8 x 5 mm Left Acoustic Neuroma
Middle Fossa
House Ear Clinic
Dr. Derald Brackmann, Dr. William Hitselberger
April 14, 2005

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

jw

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2005, 07:07:06 am »
Hey, Josh.

It's getting close, my friend, getting close.  I wasn't going to tell you this, but it might put your mind more at ease.  I've talked to the doctors and arranged for a little "surprise".  They're going to tighten up those optic nerves just a bit (for better vision), when they remove the fat from your stomach they're going to take ALL of it (so that they can pick through and get only the finest cuts).  You know how they can stimulate your facial nerve to make sure they don't damage it?  8 hours of stimulation for your legs, arms and chest muscles.  You'll have a marathon workout and not even break a sweat!  Of course, when you come out, you'll look like you did when you were 19 years old.  It's not that hard to remove 6 years of aging, though.  :P  They will also be using only the finest French Gauze during the procedure, lovingly hand crafted by French maids using imported cotton from the rain forest.  Your stitches are made from Peruvian vines, hand picked by South American neurosurgeons.  You'll be swinging from the chandelier doing your Tarzan yell in a few weeks.

During your recovery, I have hand picked a team of cheerleaders from your very own school to give you massages while chanting "Yaaay, Mr. K.  Recovery today."  Well, they're not the smartest, but they are pretty.  They couldn't get a good rhyme for "Mr. H".  "Yaaay, Mr. H.   Gimme a Laitch, faitch, naitch, waitch, hmmmph"

There is a bright side to all of this.  Come 7:30 Monday morning, your work is done!  Just lay back and let the skilled team do their work.  When you wake up, you'll be your old self, sans toomaar.  And then, you can start cashing in that large bank of sympathy coupons I sent you.  And if you run out of them, the puppy-dog "I just had brain surgery, don't you think I still look cute?" look works.

Incidentally, this might not be the best time to tell you, but on reading the MRI, they found out that I don't have AN on either ears.  Bilateral!  I wasn't expecting that. 
Diagnosed 31 Oct 2005
Bilateral 0 cm ANs.

linda l

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2005, 11:34:13 am »
Josh,
Wishing you a easy and quick recovery!  Two weeks out and I am feeling so much better.  The two things that I absolutely needed at the hospital were my own pillow and lip balm.  Everything else I brought stayed in my bag. 
And John, what a relief!! I am so glad to hear your news.
Linda

amoore9334

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2005, 11:38:54 am »
Hang in there, Josh!  My husband's surgery is 11/9 so we're on the way to getting this over with as well.  Have enjoyed your posts - best wishes and prayers!

JHager

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #7 on: November 03, 2005, 01:36:56 pm »
Thanks for all the support!

I have my pre-admit appointment at the hospital tomorrow.  Blood work, chest x-ray, EKG.  I'm hoping they'll give a quick tour of where I'll be staying.  My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids out at the same hospital (maybe they'll put me in the Peds wing?), and she shared a room all night.  I'm hoping brain surgery patients get a bit more privacy.

Nerves still here, impatience still here.  Weirdest set of emotions ever.

I'll keep you posted!

Josh
3.5 cm right AN.  Surgery 11/7/05, modified translab.  As recovered as I'd ever hoped to be.

David707

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #8 on: November 03, 2005, 07:19:21 pm »
Good luck, Josh,

Hope every thing goes well in the hospital and have a speed recovery.  Equally important, I wish you a peaceful mind (on top the success of surgery).

Your will be in my thoughts and prayer.

David(707) 
2.5cm / Jan'05 / 53 yr
Dr. Vrabec & Dr. Trask / Houston
Excellent outcome and peaceful mind
Praise the lord !

wind6

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #9 on: November 04, 2005, 12:29:05 pm »
Good luck Josh. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers Monday and for the recovery days that will follow. I remember very well the strange emotions I had as my surgery time approached. The good news is...as soon as you are given the magic sleep medicine you will go to la la land and wont remember a thing about the fear you were having. All the best to you.  Sherry
2.5cm x 3.1cm facial nerve neuroma
removed 8-2-2005(retrosigmoid)
St.Johns Hospital-Springfield,Illinois
Dr.Michael McIlhany and Dr.Carol Bauer
Wait n' watch mode for 8 years.
Gamma Knife at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Chicago,IL. Dr. James P. Chandler. July 10, 2013.

cookiesecond

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2005, 02:10:32 pm »
Hi Josh,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. I remember the flood of emotions before my surgery. It is hard to act as things are normal when you are facing uncertainty but there are many of us that have great outcomes.I pray for wisdom for the doctors,a supernatural peace for you and your family and a great outcome.
Take care and keep us posted,
Lynn

debora

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2005, 04:40:02 pm »
Josh,   God Bless you and keep you safe tomorrow, you will be in my prayers and thoughts all day.  Those of us who have been there know what you are pretty much going through, I am in tears thinking of you and what you and your family are going through at this minute.  Hang in there it will be done before you know it.   

Deb

jw

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #12 on: November 07, 2005, 10:09:10 am »
Well, Josh should be under the knife right now.  I hope that all is going smoothly and that his procedure goes without any complications.
Diagnosed 31 Oct 2005
Bilateral 0 cm ANs.

jw

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #13 on: November 07, 2005, 07:48:47 pm »
If all has gone well, Josh is sitting up chatting with his family now.
Diagnosed 31 Oct 2005
Bilateral 0 cm ANs.

wind6

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Re: Five days 'til surgery... gulp!
« Reply #14 on: November 08, 2005, 09:54:26 am »
I'm thinking so strong of Josh and his family this morning. He is probably still really sleepy. Will be glad when we all hear how it went.
2.5cm x 3.1cm facial nerve neuroma
removed 8-2-2005(retrosigmoid)
St.Johns Hospital-Springfield,Illinois
Dr.Michael McIlhany and Dr.Carol Bauer
Wait n' watch mode for 8 years.
Gamma Knife at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Chicago,IL. Dr. James P. Chandler. July 10, 2013.