ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: carmen g on April 26, 2007, 11:25:03 am
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Hi everyone,
I haven't been too active on the boards, but thought I would share. I am scheduled for Retro-sigmoid surgery with Dr. Muckle and Dr. Day in Denver on May 23rd. Now that it is scheduled, the reality is setting in.
Carmen
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Carmen,
MAY 23rd AND WE WON'T FORGET YOU. We will all be here for you! I'm glad for all of us that we are in the days of the computer to help.
Big hug,
Palace
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Carmen:
Try to stay positive as your surgery date approaches. I underwent retrosigmoid AN-removal surgery almost a year ago and came through pretty good. My pre-op symptoms went away, my balance is good (but not perfect) and I've had few problems. Of course, there are no guarantees for anyone but if you're confident in your doctors, as I was, you can go into surgery with a confident attitude that 'this will be O.K'.
I wish you a successful surgery. I'll say a prayer for you.
Jim
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Thanks for the support. It has helped reading the boards and getting an idea of what to expect. I am getting a will prepared and portraits of my 2 sons and I. Are there any other suggestions for preparations that anyone suggests?
Thanks again for the support!
Carmen
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Carmen,
See your friends, go somewhere special before, surgery.
You might do Yoga if you are interested. It helps and you might do meditation. (things to do before surgery and get into a routine before hand)
Oh, I included my pets in the will. (meaning, who would be taking them and caring for them, etc.)
Other people probably have more ideas on what to do before, the surgery. We could have a special spot for that on the forum for those getting ready for surgery, to read. (just an idea)
I have seen ideas to prep for surgery on the forum awhile back.
Best of luck to you,
Palace
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Carmen,
I also did a Living Will so my wife and family would not have to make any decisions regarding my health-care. Thankfully they did not have to use it, but I felt better knowing MY wishes would be adhered to.
I recommend a pair of eye covers for sleeping in the daytime. You may want to take along some stool softeners just in case. I was on some pretty powerful meds and BOY did it ever stop me up. They FINALLY Said I could go home.....after I proved I could poop. Well, TWO days later I finally did. Just a thought as it was VERY aggravating.
Hope these and the other folks' suggestions help. Stay positive.
I will pray all goes well.
Don
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Carmen,
You will be in my thoughts and prayers as these days pass slowly for you before you surgery date. My retrosigmoid surgery was 2/16/07 and I am pretty much back to normal...only loss of hearing on my AN side. I consider myself very fortunate and thank God for my quick recovery.
We are all here for you.
God bless,
Jean
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Carmen,
Best wishes to you and hope everything will go smoothly.
Eve
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Carmen: Keep a peaceful heart my friend. please remind us again right before your surgery. Always good thoughts, Nancy
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Carmen,
I had my retosigmoid about 7 months ago. I don't want to cause any panic, but here's a few things that I was not prepared for.
First, the balance issues. I needed a walker for about a month after I got out of the hospital. I probably could have borrowed one instead of buying a new one if I had known that I would need it. Once home, my wife had to have a friend install some grab bars in the toilet and in the shower. Again, I hadn't anticipated the need, or I could have put the bars in before surgery.
Other than toiletries and some pajama bottoms, I didn't need any of the items recommended to take to the hospital. My left eye wouldn't focus and wouldn't close by itsel after surgery, so it had to be taped shut. There was no way I could read any of the books that I brought along. One of the first post-hospital purchases was a supply of gauze eye patches, since they needed to be changed out a couple times each day.
For the first week home, I was truly an invalid. My range of motion was from the recliner (where I also slept at night) to the bathroom to the dining room table. I really could not do anything for myself. My wife stayed home from work, and my in-laws were there to help, because I could barely move, much less do anything like fix a sandwich or shower without assistance.
I had read many posting on this site, and I guess I was overly optimistic about the recovery time. I could not drive for two months, and did not drive for three because of eye and balance problems. I had an excellent physycal therapist who is a balance -problem specialist. He didn't prescribe very many things that I could do at home, other than walking, but the PT sessions did provide positive feedback that I really was getting better.
My motto now is " a millimeter of improvement each day." Its painfully slow, but we do recover.
Best wishes for a successful surgey and speedy recovery.
Wayne
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Wayne:
Because we're all individuals, we will naturally have individual - and sometimes quite different - experiences as well as recoveries from surgery. My AN retrosigmoid surgery went well (a little over 8 hours) and my recovery was fairly rapid. Now, I fully realize that this is not always the case for every AN surgery patient. That being the case, I try to mention this reality whenever I correspond with a prospective AN surgical patient, such as 'carmen', the originator of this thread.
One of the main reasons for my continuing to post on this forum (I'm 11 months past my surgery and pretty much fully recovered) is to occasionally offer advice to a newly diagnosed AN patient as well as to hold out my positive AN surgical experience to show them that not every AN surgery results in complications and problems that render the patient a temporary invalid. As our two experiences clearly demonstrate, while complications can and do occur post-AN surgery, that is not certain - for anyone. Post-surgery, I never needed a walker and I drove within 2 weeks but that is not going to be the same exact recovery experience for everyone, as you can attest.
I believe it's beneficial that 'both sides of the coin' are given by AN patients in this forum; the good AN surgery outcome and the not-so-good outcome. This prepares prospective AN surgical patients for the not-so-good experience they may have following surgery - but it also reminds them that not every AN surgery results in the kinds of problems we're all too familiar with. I just wanted to clear up my position on the sensitive issue of AN surgical recovery duration and the fact that we're all unique, as will our recovery experiences will be unique to us as individuals and cannot realistically be used as a guarantee of anything, for anyone else, be they positive or negative. They are only a guide. So many factors are involved in AN surgery that can affect the outcome - and the recovery period - that it simply remains a risk, to some degree, but, for AN patients, one that must be taken.
You appear to have dealt with your post surgical problems quite well. I'm pleased that you're getting better and I wish you a full and rapid recovery from this point on.
Jim
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Hey there, and good luck...I am one week out from transphenoidal approach for a skull base tumor...origianlly thought to be an AN...so now the group is stuck with me. Overall, from surgery I feel great....unfortunately I got sick with an infection..not necessarily related to surgery about four days after surgery and have been down for the count since....starting to really recover today and yesterday...
so...suggestions before surgery...
Hire a house cleaner to clean you house while you are gone..that way you return to a nice clean atmosphere....have a friend..stock up the fridge on easy things to digest such as icecream, canned fruit, cottage cheese etc..your throat will be sore for about a week from the endotracheal tube...plus usually your jaw to boot..
Have laundry pre-done and in an easy to access location...you will find bending over and moving around a little more difficult than usual so make it easy on yourself...one thing I found out when I got home..everything is located in bottom drawers etc..auughhh....did not think to rearrange before hand...too late now.
If you have a lazy boy..that is a good thing...comfy, easy to sleep in etc...so have a basket nearby to keep your misc items in ....such as tissue, remotes etc...you will probably not feel up to really watching anything with interest for at least a few days, so keep it simple...if you only have the bed couch option, I would still do the same..have a little basket that you can carry or place over walker...keeps you from making too many trips, and bugging everyone around you for simple stuff.
Have some thank you cards ready in advance for those whom you know will be sending get well wishes..and perhaps a pre-recorded message on your cell phone....Many people called me which was nice, only I was unable to talk..it would have been easier if I had a pre-recorded message saying thank you so much for your concern, and I will get the messages, just might take me a few days to return the calls etc......
and, make sure to have plenty of comfy pillows ready at your disposal.....
Last but not gruseomly least....I did have my will prepared etc as well as a card for my hubby to read as I went into surgery..mine was an unusual surgery and it was either a do or die situtation....so, I wrote him a nice card stating that I would be dreaming of him till I woke up and how much I loved him etc....I gave it to him as I was wheeled into the operating area...sort of a suprise..and a little hope for him to hang onto.
Try not to be nervous, it really is amazing what they can accomplish these days and for the most part, people go through this surgery without issues at all...this board tends to be those that have had problems more than those who have not....mine although different techniqe went fine....Good luck and let us know how it all goes.
Ceeceek
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Carmen, I wish you the best, you have to like the Dr. and feel secure. and I will put you on the prayer chain for the 23rd..besure and rest . also take sunglasses as the surgery does effect the eyes. the light i think is the hardest to handle and take a pillow one of those that wrap around your neck. they are a life save so you can lay any side.. it really helps..also the eye gel packs the ones you can put iin the frig and cool ..Ilove mine use it offten..Good luck and god bless. My mother in law lives in the springs..
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Hey good advice re the sunglasses..didnt think about that one..and love the gel packs myself....I am having some slight problems with my eye which was sort of expected ..unsure if from agrivating nerve that was already damaged from different incident..I have led a hard life what can I say....or from surgery itself..in meantime..have nasty gland infection which is causing a variety of problems..but finally!!!!!!!!!!!! clearing up and my eye is some what better but the sunglasses were a life saver........
As we have all tried to convey,,,you are not alone, please feel free to call write email cry scream, laugh dance and relax...it will work out okay....hopefully you will have one of the more common side effects which is more or less a few weeks of generally tired....and thats it..but if it is worse you have us to lean on.....
Hang in there
Ceecee
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hey, hi Cee cee...
i think you need a hug or two... :)
thanks for all you have posted here and on the ck bd.... i've been reading all of them along the way...
take care,
all the best,
windsong
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Carmen,
sending you all kinds of good wishes for later this month!
i see all sorts of good tips here already but i'd say it's a great one to have your house cleaned prior as ceecee said...
ideas for fast meals ( whether cooked and then frozen or some other easy mode).... lean cuisine can get boring...
all the best,
Windsong
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remind us again @ near the time. and prayers will be said now and than.
Good luck . It will go ok
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Carmen, it was last year in mid May that I learned I had an AN tumor. I had two weeks before my surgery and I took a planned vacation to the keys one week and the next week went back to work and got things there taken care of as well as got my living will completed. Going into surgery I felt very peaceful and had total faith in God that everything was going to be ok.
The one thing that I hadn't planned on was someone to be at the hospital with my family. My dear brother and sister in law showed up at 6:00 am and were able to stay with my high school daughter as my husband went in with me for pre op surgery. That gave me great relief knowing someone was with my daughter as I was wheeled into the pre op room. During the day more friends and family showed up and they spent the entire day with my husband. It went longer than anticipated and they helped my husband greatly.
The best advice I can give is ask people to pray for you, get your rest and listen to your body. If you are tired, stay in bed. Whatever needs to get done will get done at some point. I had some issues and additional surgeries that were difficult but I will say my recovery was great. I was back to work and back exercising within about 3 months. Driving the first time was a little scary but I stayed in the right lane and drove like Miss Daisy!
You are in my prayers!