ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: chrissmom on October 28, 2006, 03:06:49 pm
-
Hi All...
I haven't been here for a while, school has been keeping me busy. I see that Christopher has been on. He enjoys discussing issues with all of you. He needs your support.
We need your thoughts and prayers again. He is having the 7/12 Jump Graft surgery on Monday. The facial nerve will be anastomosed with the hypoglossal nerve. They use a very small section so as to minimize the effects on the tongue area. We are hoping for an eventual reanimation of the right side of his face.
Again, we have an excellent doctor and that makes all the difference in the world. Apparently, Dr. Arriaga (Chris' doctor) and Dr. Brackmann have mastered this approach. Chris is doing so well, I only hope that he continues at this pace after this surgery. He is walking so much better, he has no headaches, his reaction time is extraordinary. His strength is returning and he seems so anxious to drive and get back to work and college. His hair is coming back too. For such a long time, we only saw scars on his head. He has dark hair and it now covers the scars. ::)
Please keep us in your thoughts.
-
I'll be praying for Christopher and all of you. I was going to have the 7/12 jump in Nov., but it's postponed. It's amazing how much you can accomplish after getting thru AN surgery.
My thoughts are with you., Nancy
-
anybody have that surgery??? Not that i'm nervous(well maybe a very very lil) I am just kinda wondering what its like afterwards.
Chris
-
Hey Chris, Jeff had that done not to long ago. He's in sebring fl and his wife emailed me and said he's going great. Sounded like everything did what it was suppose to. We'll be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!
-
Chris, I had that surgery three years ago. It went ok. I can now smile (not like before the AN but a small smile and my face at rest looks normal. I am going to a facial therapist, Jackie Diels in Wisconsin. She is great. I would highly recommend doing the facial therapy. Any questions just let me know. Karen
-
Hi Chris
First of all you and your Doctors will be in my thoughts and prayers Monday. Chet also had the surgery done a about 8 years ago, alot of things could of changed in that time frame. I can tell you that as far as " another surgery" ( at that point in time he wasn't interested in any more surgeries).
The surgery itself wasn't like anything you have all ready gone thru. Because of where we live (in the boondocks) the Doctor kepted him over night, but in alot of cases it's a day surgey type thing. He wasn't in signifant pain, pretty much was able to do what he was doing before surgery right away. We joked about the neck scar. Really looked like someone had attempted to slit his throat, but as time went by the scar blended in the neck skin and you can not tell at all that he had anything done. Chet said compared to the other surgeries this was a piece of cake.
Chris the hardest part is "the waiting". Results aren't immediate. It comes back slowly and can take up to a year. Really in over all terms 'the wait" was the hardest part!!!
Chris or Chris Mom, just so you are all on the same track it's important to ask your doctor.
What are the expected gains in tone? What are the expected gains in motion. You want answers to both areas. This is what the surgey does, brings back tone, which is good, but tone and motion is even better.
So my prayers will be for tone and motion!!! Know that you and your family are in my thoughts.
Big Hugs to all
Raydean
-
Best wishes for your surgery on Monday Chris!
It's great to see that you're writing in the forum! Hope to see more from you!
I just wrote this same message and in vanished into cyberspace for some reason so I had to do it over again.
Anyhow, good luck on Monday and talk to you later!
Paul
-
Chris: I had the 7-12 done....recovery is a breese compaired to what you've already had done!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery
Kathleen
-
Chris, hang in there hun! Cheering you on!!!!!!! :-*
Phyl
-
We are waiting to hear a full report, so please let us know how he does. My prayers are with you.
-
It's late in the afternoon and I'm hoping Chris and family are doing okay. Rooting for you Chris...can you hear us??
Sue in Vancouver
-
cheer cheer for Chris from down under.
you'll be right mate!
Laz
-
It's officially Tuesday here, (3am) Any news?, Chris and Chris's mom. Sure hope all went well yesterday and that your on the road to recovery and a beautiful smile. Patying for the best for ya.
Patti UT
-
You know the hardest part is waiting for news! Sending warm thoughts your way and hope all went well!
-
all went well on the procedure. It was suppose to be impatient, but I ended up staying the night. Oh well. I am gonna go lay down now, because I am still a lil groggy from the procedure...but yeah it was a breeze for the most part. Thank you all for your concern. Thanks so much!! :) :) :)
-
glad it was a breeze..get your rest! Mom's orders LOL
-
happy ;D to hear it went so well.ÂÂ
hugs,
Cheryl
-
i had the surgery 8/3/06. I was told to come back in six months and i should have some movement. I think my face is not as droopy as it was, but, again it is a slow process. You definitely do not see results immediately. I was out of work for a week. The only thing i don't like about the whole deal is my tongue feels fat like it did after my initial surgery and sometimes i think my speech is more like it was in the beginning. Oh and my ear does not have any feeling anymore, I can't explain it, but it almost feels "detached" even though it isn't. I can't feel someone touching it, but i can feel when it is moved or tugged on. I wear glasses since my initial surgery to remove the tumor and the glasses do not bother my ear.
Denise
-
Chris, sure hope all went well. I had the 7/12 op in early 1994 and all went very well. I don't smile as well as before as the right side of my face still has little motion but otherwise I think I'm still a hansome guy. My voice is a bit slurred but but I understand that new techniques improved that. I have no neck scar that I can see. My right eye still droops a bit and does not close so I have a gold bar in the lid. On a scale of 10 being back to normal, I'd say I'm about a 7 or 8. I'd certainly do it again. My slurred voice is not really bad but I'm not the public speaker that I was although I still do a bit of it... It took several months for my face to  finish the changing process so don't get impatient. My very best to you and if you have questions, fire away. Ed
-
YEEAAAAHH Chris!!!!!!
Glad to hear all went well with your surgery. Let the healing begin.
Good thoughts out to you buddy. Nancy
-
Hello:
All Golden Retriever paws are X for you in our house!
Palace
-
Hi Chris and family,
I'm glad to hear that all went well with your surgery. I'm sure you'll do great and will be flashing a full smile in no time at all.
Michelle
-
Alright Chris!!
Paul
-
On ya Chris,
from down under
laz