ANA Discussion Forum

Treatment Options => Microsurgical Options => Topic started by: DHJ on November 03, 2011, 04:58:56 pm

Title: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: DHJ on November 03, 2011, 04:58:56 pm
   Well after 3 plus years of happily waiting and watching and 1 cancelled surgery my 2.9cm AN will be gone tomorrow. I will be in good hands with McKenna/Barker at mass General Hospital. Thank you for all your help and prayers. Will post my results when able.   Peace Dave J
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: HeidiC on November 03, 2011, 05:08:16 pm
Good Luck Dave! 

~Heidi
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: CHD63 on November 04, 2011, 08:57:58 am
Dave .....

Soon you will be in Postie Land!  You are in good hands so I know you will do well.

Many thoughts and prayers.

Clarice
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: New girl on November 04, 2011, 02:06:26 pm
Best wishes.  You are definately in good hands!   :)
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: JAndrews on November 04, 2011, 06:10:21 pm
Best wishes and prayers being sent your way:)
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: rvb755 on November 05, 2011, 08:53:25 am
Praying for a smooth surgery and speedy recovery.  Let us know how things turn out.
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: james e on November 08, 2011, 03:49:43 pm
Hope you did great. Post as soon as you can.
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: DHJ wifey on November 13, 2011, 03:55:55 pm
Hi Everyone this is Dave's wife Julie ... can't seem to figure out what his user name/password is so I'm posting for him.  Surgery was successful.  Tumor was totally resected by Barker/McKenna at Mass General Hospital on November 4th.  He was transferred to Spaulding Rehab on Wednesday and waiting to hear what the game plan is for going home.  Thanks to all for your prayers and good thoughts. 
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: Jim Scott on November 13, 2011, 04:15:12 pm
Hi, Julie ~

Thanks so much for taking the time and making the effort to register and post (on Dave's behalf).

I'm very pleased to learn that his AN surgery was successful.  Like you, we await an update on Dave's doctors plan for his rehab/recovery.

Please pass along our collective good wishes and high fives!  :)  Thanks.

Jim

Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: ppearl214 on November 14, 2011, 05:19:26 am
Julie

Thank you for this update! Please give Dave my very best wellness wishes from another Bawstonian! :)

Can you share why they moved him to Spaulding (was it Boston site or Metro Boston) for rehab? 

You try to get some rest as well... hang in there.

Phyl
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: New girl on November 14, 2011, 10:59:29 am
Glad to hear surgery went well and all the tumor was removed!   :)   I hope recovery is going well so he can return home soon.  Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: DHJ wifey on November 17, 2011, 01:18:51 am
Hi all... update on my husband Dave... he is back at Mass General tonight and just confirmed with bacterial meningitis.  They have hopefully caught it early and he has already started antiibiotic treatment.  This is not the path we expected to take but trying to have faith in his recovery without any more detours!  Phyl asked about Spaulding Rehab - Dave went from MGH to one of their subacute rehab centers as recommended to regain his balance and motor skills, which appeared to be affected not just by the removal of the vestibular nerve but by the tumor's proximity to the cerebellum.  (I am a new student of all this, not having done much reading on my own but relying on Dave to tell me things up till now - my advice to other AN patients with loved ones is to make them read and learn as much as you do!!!) If I have this wrong, I pray for the day Dave gets back here and straightens me out!!!
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: ppearl214 on November 17, 2011, 06:05:22 am
Hi all... update on my husband Dave... he is back at Mass General tonight and just confirmed with bacterial meningitis.  They have hopefully caught it early and he has already started antiibiotic treatment.  This is not the path we expected to take but trying to have faith in his recovery without any more detours!  Phyl asked about Spaulding Rehab - Dave went from MGH to one of their subacute rehab centers as recommended to regain his balance and motor skills, which appeared to be affected not just by the removal of the vestibular nerve but by the tumor's proximity to the cerebellum.  (I am a new student of all this, not having done much reading on my own but relying on Dave to tell me things up till now - my advice to other AN patients with loved ones is to make them read and learn as much as you do!!!) If I have this wrong, I pray for the day Dave gets back here and straightens me out!!!

You have explained beautifully and easy to follow and I commend you for not only being there for Dave but for keeping us updated. I'm glad they caught the infection and he is now back at MGH for proper/immediate care.  I had not heard of others being moved direct to rehab but sounds like the MGH team is certainly on top of things in order to help him on the immediate road to wellness.

As for you, there are SOOOOOOOO many of us local to Boston if you need us.  I'm just up Rt 1 North and many others around as well.  We're here if you need us.  You can PM/email me-us here........ you need to take care of yourself as well.

Hugglez to you and Dave. Hang tough... we're here!
Phyl
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: CHD63 on November 17, 2011, 07:15:12 am
Julie .....

So sorry Dave has had this set-back on his road to recovery.  As Phyl said, you need to take care of yourself right now.  Dave is being well-cared for in the hospital, but it is the caregiver who needs to be sure to be cared for, as well.

Many thoughts and prayers for both of you.

Clarice
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: New girl on November 18, 2011, 08:57:54 am
Good thing they caught the meningitis early.  Hopefully you will be home soon.  I agree with the other great posts to get some rest yourself!  We are thinking of you.  Best wishes.
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: DHJ wifey on November 18, 2011, 02:20:35 pm
Friday afternoon... the docs decided to go back into the surgical site today, figuring that there was a good chance the infection had found its way there.  They debrided the site and removed the titanium mesh and I am sitting here waiting for Dave to come up from the recovery room.  Two weeks post op and hopefully this will now be the start of his real recovery.  He does have a clot in one of the veins in his head which they think may be contributing to headaches so he will go on anticoagulant therapy also.  For now, a few more days at MGH - hoping we get to sit at our own dining table for Thanksgiving but not sure what the plan is yet.

Thanks for your offers of support and I hope you are your families are blessed with good health in the days ahead.  Julie
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: JAndrews on November 20, 2011, 08:58:16 pm
Hi Julie,
I am also a Julie and my husbands name is Dave too:) I am so sorry that he is having these problems. He is lucky to have you with him thru all of this. Best wishes to him and you..Prayers being sent your way.
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: lholl36233 on December 07, 2011, 04:17:46 am
Hi Dave and Julie,

Any updates?  Thinking of you.

Laura
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: Tamster on December 07, 2011, 08:11:40 am
Hi Dave and Julie
Just read your posts and hope things have improved. Will look forward to an update. Thinking of you.

Tammy
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: New girl on December 09, 2011, 05:03:55 pm
Dave & Julie - Hope things are going well.  I look forward to an update.  As Dave would say: "peace"
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: james e on December 12, 2011, 02:40:18 pm
Looking forward to some good news...

James
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: DHJ on December 18, 2011, 12:05:38 pm
I have been home 1 week now in the loving care of my wife Julie.Five IV bags per day plus blood thinners.Eye lid weights plus still using a walker.Thank you for you well wishes and prayers.On my way to recovery. peace Dave J
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: frenchjoey on December 18, 2011, 01:04:29 pm
Hi!
I've never posted on this thread but I've been eagerly waiting to hear how you were doing. Thrilled to know you're back home and on the road to recovery!! I'm so happy for you.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Best wishes from France
Joey
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: Jim Scott on December 18, 2011, 01:51:47 pm
Dave ~

Thanks for posting - and congratulations on being home.  It's unquestionably a bit of rough going right now but, as you know, this is temporary. 

Merry Christmas to you and Julie.   

Jim
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: Tamster on December 18, 2011, 03:55:25 pm
So glad that you are home and able to recover in the comfort of your own space. Thanks for the update. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season.

Tam
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: New girl on December 18, 2011, 06:38:49 pm
Glad to hear you are home and on the road to recovery.  Happy holidays to you and your family!
Title: Re: Surgery Tomorrow Nov 4
Post by: DHJ on February 07, 2012, 07:04:38 pm
Hi All   It has been 3 months since my first surgery and I am doing pretty good. Thank you so much for your support.I am now  posting in the post op catagory.   Peace Dave