ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Microsurgical Options => Topic started by: mll on October 23, 2009, 01:24:57 pm
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I am having surgery next week at Kaiser in San Diego. I'm pretty nervous but know this is the right move.
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Maria ~
Thanks for the reminder. You aren't on the AN Treatment Calendar - http://my.calendars.net/AN_Treatments (http://my.calendars.net/AN_Treatments) - so please let us know the exact date for your surgery. I know you've had to deal with facial pain recently, years after your radiation treatment, so I trust this surgery will finally end all that. The hopes and prayers of many will go with you next week and I think you'll do well.
Jim
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I read your previous posts. What made you decide to go with surgery now? What kind of surgery are they doing?
Hopefully everything goes good for you!
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I am having surgery on Wednesday. Along with the tumor I developed trigeminal neuralgia---a neurological condition that causes me to get electric shocks on the right side of my face. The pain is absolutely horrible and they are getting stronger and more frequent. I originally went to the surgeon to have surgery (micro vascular decompression) for the neuralgia but they said they cannot fix the trigeminal nerve without removing the tumor first. I am maxed out my medications and want the pain to end. Many patients --90% have not needed medication following surgery so I'm getting surgery. I'm going to have the Retrosigmoid approach. I'm just ready for it all to be over with.
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Best Wishes Maria for an easy surgery followed by a pain free (or as close to as possible) recovery.
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I hope all goes well and an easy recovery.
Cheers,
Neal
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Thanks guys for all of your support. As the day gets closer I find myself getting more now antsy. What should I do to prepare for surgery? Anything special I should bring? How should I prepare for post-op? I have two kids ages 6 and 5---how do I prepare them? I'm sorry for the flood of questions but you guys are the best source of information I can find.
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Maria,
Totally understand about the nervousness, antsyness.
Wednesday will be here before you know it. I'm sure you are staying busy.
Don't need to bring much except for chapstick, bathrobe, sweats for the ride home. Maybe a pair of sturdy slippers, but they give you the slipper socks which might be all you need. No need to bring make up! As we say, the first 3 days don't count because, well, you have probably read posts. It is usually pretty challenging with headaches/wonkiness/dizziness or whatever symptoms you get. Everyone is so different. Keep tabs on the headaches if you can, if that is a problem. I didn't ask for more morphine because I thought it had made me sick the night of surgery. May have been just that I HAD brain surgery. I personally had bad headaches, but no dizziness (I couldn't believe it!).That's because the tumor had already smashed the balance nerve, and I had already compensated.
Your kids, age 6 and 5, don't need to be told much. That's what is so great about that age.
"Mommy is going to get a boo boo fixed on or in her head, so when I come back, I'll look different!
They will ooh and ahh.
One of the guys from a while back made kind of a little game out of it, explaining the doctor needed to take something out of his head. He then showed her a potato post op ! I think she was much younger than your kids. It was cute.
He has a picture of her looking at him like"You've got to be kidding. I'm not THAT dumb."! with the potato in his hand.
So good luck, prayers and good vibes going your way next WED
Maureen
See you in postie land :)
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Take a picture of your kids too. Good moral support for you. I always had pjs to wear once the IV was capped but need ones with buttons or easy slip on as there will be the tight bandage on the head. If you wear glasses,then take an old pair with the bow off the AN side as it doesn't fit over the dressing. You may or may not have the bandange on the head when you get home. Each drs protocol is different. You might say ahead that mommy is going to be real tired for a few days when she comes home and that is ok but she might take lots of naps.
The time before surgery is nerve wracking and we understand that quite well! Good luck to you!
Cheryl R
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Maria ~
Your surgery (10/28) is now listed on the AN Treatment Calendar, so you're 'official'. :)
Jim
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Maria,
Good luck with your surgery. I hope this takes care of your pain once and for all.
We'll all be thinking about you. And many people have found that the pre-surgery antsyness is a great way to get your closets and junk drawers cleaned out! ;D
Lori
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There have been some threads about this. One ran before I went and was titled, I think, what to bring to House. You can search that as I don't know how to copy old thread. Also Kate listed on that thread, this thread for packing list
Here is an archived thread on the same topic...
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=34.msg154#msg154
For the hospital, I did not need much...I didn't even use chapstick because they had given me this lip balm that worked well. I just kept my hospital gown on, underwear, a robe, and I had a very soft blanket (like polartech but lap size) that I used a lot and defintely you need pictures of your children! :D toothbrush/paste...that was about it...my husband says I used my slippers but I don't remember that- I remember the turquoise socks they gave me! I think I combed out my hair day 4...sort of! lol!
Good luck on your surgery...it is very scary, the concept of brain surgery, but I hope you can find some calm....I am now week 4.5 and doing amazingly well...wishing your surgery and recovery goes well, too!
Cheryl
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Thanks so much for your help. Cheryl thanks for the link--some of the replies gave me a good laugh which i really needed. I'm one of those people that like to have everything planned and organized as best I can and having a list of what to bring really helps. I think I'm even going to have my kids each make something special that I can take with me---we do a lot of crafts and that might help. I don't know what i would do without this forum.
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Good luck, Maria - and welcome to the Forum.
I had retrosigmoid myself in May 2007 and things turned out well for me. I hope the same for you and will keep you in my prayers.
I'm envious of you being in San Diego. I was just there in August and it's absolutely beautiful.
Jan
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Maria - I'm going to L.A. for surgery next week. But I'm a gentleman, so ladies first please ;)
I put together a quick list from everything I have read here:
Clothing
Pajamas (shirts with buttons)
Underwear
Shorts (walking shorts or boxers)
Socks
Slip on shoes
Zip-up hoodie
Toiletries
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Lip balm
Wet wipes
Electric razor
Bath powder
Mild room deodorizer
Odds and ends
Pillow
Radio (battery powered)
Favorite photos
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Maria,
Best of luck with your surgery next week. I also have two small children (3 and 6). My 6-year old has overheard a few discussions, so I just explained to her that I have a "hurtie" in my ear and I will be going to the doctor to talk about how to fix it. She was satisfied with that explanation. When it comes time for my surgery (not 100% sure, but I'm heavily leaning that way), I plan to just follow up on that and tell her that they are removing the "hurtie" so that I will feel better. I think the important thing is to try to be honest, but with an age appropriate explanation that isn't too scary.
I wish you the best of luck with your surgery. I don't blame you for being nervous, but us Mothers are a tough breed and I know you can do it. You will do fantastically well, and then you'll have some relief from your terrible face pain and get back to a normal life.
Lyn
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Hey Maria,
All the best for Wednesday, I hope all goes well and look forward to the report on the "Postie" side.
Thoughts and prayers from afar
Don
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Thanks for the list. I think I have just about everything I need and I'm almost ready to go. The waiting is the worst part I think. Tomorrow is my pre-op so I will keep you guys posted.
mll
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Good luck, Maria. I'm betting surgery will nail the trigeminal neuralgia thing and that your outcome will be good. We like to say that the first three days don't count, so don't worry if you feel lousy the day after surgery. Day 4 will be much better. :)
Steve
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Maria, hope your pre op went well today. Best wishes for a successful surgery and super easy recovery. My hospital stay was very easy, especially the 24 hours in ICU - I loved that place! Warm blankets, great pain medication, quiet room and wonderful nurses.
My mom came the week before my surgery and stayed for three additional weeks to help with the kids, our six cats, two dogs and my husband. The kids love her but they were both a little weepy after two days without seeing mommy. They could not visit me in the hospital so I met them gift shop and let them pick out something special. They ended up buying stuffed animals and naming them after my surgeons - Welling the raccoon, and Chiocca the dragon.
Cyndi
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Hi everyone. Thanks for all of your well wishes. My pre-op went well and I am ready to go. I'm feeling much better and am having a relaxing day with my family. I'm off to have my last meal out but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your support and kindness. Oh and DR good luck I wil pray for you.
mll
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Maria,
I thought I'd add myself to the list of well wishers. I hope your surgery relieves your pain and also goes well in every other way. May your recovery be quick and uncomplicated. Please keep us posted.
Sending positive vibes your way,
Wendy