ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: NL on January 29, 2009, 03:25:54 pm
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Rick's wife Jane sent out an email last night after she got the update from the surgeons. She hadn't seen Rick yet, but wanted to pass on the good news:
"They managed to take out ALL the tumor and his facial nerve is ALL intact. The surgeons are very happy with the results. They are working on the closing of his skull and should all be done in 2 hours where he will be in recovery for awhile before being transfered to ICU and I will be able to see him..."
Congrats, Rick! Hope you and Jane are both are both resting comfortably. :)
I'll post again when I hear more.
Nancy
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Fantastic news.. As steve likes to say, the first 3 days after surgery don't count, so sleep away comfortably, Rick.
Thanks for letting us know..
Regards,
Brian
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Nancy:
Thanks for the positive update on Rick. I love reading good news! I'll pray for his rapid and total recovery as well as brief hospital stay. :)
Jim
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Nancy -
thanks for the update; I was wondering how Rick was doing.
Please keep us posted if you hear more - and also please tell Jane to send Rick our best.
Jan
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Jane sent out a "Rick post-op day 1" update today. He was still in ICU and having bad headaches and nausea, but was a tad better than last night. Her email went on to say:
"Aside from that (headaches/nausea) the docs are happy with his progress. They said he might have some facial paralysis today or the coming days but so far he looks fine with not a hint of facial paralysis. Just as well I got him to have a good shave before the op so he looks well respectable even with tubes coming out from all over and a bandage that resemble Jackie O's headdress. They just gave him more painkillers for his headache and it seem to be working....he is asleep..."
Rick - we're all hoping for a pain-free day 2. The pain meds and Brit humor will help. :)
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Good news. The week seems to be going well. :)
Steve
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Thanks for the update. It sounds like he's doing well, Jackie-O headdress notwithstanding. Hoping today is better still.
Marci
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That is great news, thanks for the update.
He is heading in the right direction. Sending healing thoughts.
Michelle ;D
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Nancy,
Thanks for the great updates on Rick! Aside from his headaches (ouch -- I remember those days) it sounds liek he's doing great. Please give him our best wishes!
Wendy
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Thanks, Nancy! Good to hear he came through and is on his way...sounds very similar to so many of our first day post-op stories. Hopefully, the headaches and nausea subside soon.
We're all pulling for you, Rick1
Cindy
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Sending lots of good wishes and prayers to Rick! And, thanks for updating us, Nancy.
Debbi
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All of us House Alums know how great those St Vincents Nursies are--the best in the world at keeping post-AN surgery patients comfortable so that Mack-truck-itis don't feel quite so bad. Healing thoughts and cyberhugs go out to Rick and Jane. He'll get a kick outta reading all these posts when he can see straight again!!!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/sailing_boat_closeup_cruising_wi-1.gif)
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Thanks for the updates, Nancy. My surgery was on a Thursday and I don't remember a thing clearing until Saturday or Sunday.. He's doing great!
Regards,
Brian
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hello rick
you are now an official postie!!! and heard you said goodbye to the "jackie" look. thanks for all the updates from jane, we wish you continued healing, speedy recovery and hope you get discharged very very soon! wonky head is no fun, but hang in there ;)
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Hi All,
I got an update from Jane late last night. She said Rick did a short walk with his PT yesterday,..."Ten small steps, but he'll be working on the marathon next!" He swapped out his "Jackie O" look for a "pirates of the Caribbean" look and is very proud of his scar, on which the doctors did a great job. Though he's still weak, the nausea and headaches are getting better, so he may be discharged today. She also said that for all the juggling she's been doing between Rick and Rain, she's holding up OK!
Go Rick! Go Jane!
Sending good thoughts to you both! :)
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That first little walk post-op is such a huge first step! Once you realize it can be done, you're then on your way! Glad to hear the nausea and headaches are easing up a bit - it should continue to improve...it did for me and, hopefully, it will for you! Getting released from the hospital will, of course, go a long way to making everything seem much better.
Thanks, Nancy, for keeping us informed,
Cindy
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Hi Nancy
Thanks for the update on Rick.
Rick - Glad to hear you are starting to feel better. Once the headaches abate, thing start getting better quickly and I hope this happens for you soon. I would guess your nausea should end soon too, although I don't know for sure how long it usually lasts. Recovery takes a lot of baby steps and a LOT of paitence. Listen to your body and you will be fine.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Just passing along Rick's latest update from Jane:
"He is happy being home. We'll be taking off the stitches this Thursday at the hospital. We will have a scan in 6 months and another in a year and then we'll seek the docs advice continuously. For now, I am happy with his positive attitude and his progress and so are the team of surgeons."
Rick - It's great that you're resting at home. Naps and patience will take you a long way. Looking forward to hearing from you when you're up to it.
Jane - Thank you SO much for keeping us updated - on top of everything else you had to do!
Glad you're both doing well. :)
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Nancy,
Thanks again for your latest update on Rick.
Rick -- I'm glad to hear you are home and I sure you are even more glad to be there. As Nancy said, rest and patience are an essential part of the recovery process. Take baby steps at first and become more active when you are up to it. Listen to you body and it will tell you how much you can do.
Wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery,
Wendy
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Made it back to Singapore!! The first few days after the operation really was grim, not only was it like being hit by a freight train full of bowling balls but after being picked off the tracks, I was then transported in a cement mixer.
I thought I would have a bit of a reaction to the knockout cocktail; I get a hang over after a night drinking Alcohol free beer. When I came round felt like I was tied to a roller coaster in the arctic, I was very cold. All the medication to sort the headache out didn’t seem to work. What did the trick was good old fashion Ice pack on my head and eyes.
It turns out I met the anesthetist Architect brother 15 years ago at a stag night in Brighton!!
Dr. Freidman spent 2 ½ hours of the 8 hour operation opening my nut to expose the tumour. I was warned a number of times before that some tumour may be left behind to preserve the facial nerve, but all went well, Dr. Schwartz managed to get all of it out.
I walked on the second day out of ICU, though moved like I was just zapped with a tazzer gun. The Third day I was doing a pretty good impression of Michael Jackson thriller video. On the fourth day I was walking unaided but looking like a 1950s robot.
They did offer the use of a walking stick but I found it more of a hindrance than a help. I do take my hiking stick when I go out, it’s more as a warning sign, as people tend to give you a bit of a wider berth when they see a stick.
What I noticed:
My tongue on the AN side has a horrible salty metallic taste, I was eating dozens of extra strong mints to get rid of the taste. At first I thought it was the CSF leak, but after doing the head between the knees test, nothing dripped so it must be the taste nerve playing silly buggers.
My SSD is no different from before, for the first few days my tinnitus was disrupted by what sounded like a washing machine, but now its back to the normal rain forest at night noise which, strange as this may sound, I find it quite soothing.
My outer two toes on both side of my feet hurt like I dropped a heavy object on them, I can only assume it is because I am now walking in a wider John Wayne stance to try and stabilize myself when moving.
And despite looking really painful its surprising how pain free the whole thing is. It was the constipation a week after the operation that was crippling, felt like I was giving birth to a very large pineapple, and I needed to be carried off the loo.
Anyway pictures time.
Excuse the ear fluff here is my lucky horse shoe scar:
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa137/captchunder/085.jpg)
Excuse my six pack, here is my tummy cut, only about and inch and half, the Docs didn’t have to did deep to find a plentiful supply of lard.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa137/captchunder/086.jpg)
Me arriving home the day of the discharge from hospital, we told my daughter Rain I had to go to hospital to remove a potato from my head, and here is the spud the doctors found in my head. ( LOL, who knows she may develop a potato phobia )
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa137/captchunder/083.jpg)
Me and Rain on the flight back to Singapore, I felt very sick while landing could be a new sensation throwing me a bit or it was just the tiredness after a 17 hour flight kicking in.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa137/captchunder/363.jpg)
Thanks to everyone on the forum that gave me advice and direction and well wishes, I am very happy with the results. If there is one complaint I am a bit disappointed I did not loose more weight, the steroids made me crave for ice-cream and gummy bears, factor in all the hundreds of mints I had to eat. My tummy incision stitches had a hard time keeping things together after the first week at home.
It was great to meet up with all the LA ANers, I will be back next year for my annual check up so we will get together again, or if anyone is heading over to this side of the world, drop me a line.
Rick
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Rick: What a journey you've been on ! Looks like you're healing well.
Remember you will need to rest ALOT, keep a peaceful heart my friend.
Always good thoughts, Nancy
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Rick, what an awesome sense of humor you have! I think your attitude alone could get you through just about anything! While I may be a bit nervous, I am going into my surgery on Thursday with an attitude similar to yours. I consider myself a bit of a joker as well, but didn't think to tell my daughter that I had a potato in my head. Of course, my daughter is 14, and probably doesn't think there's anything at all inside :).
Thanks for the great update and the awesome pictures!
Ernie
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I don't know, Rick, judging by the picture, Rain is not buying that the potato was really in your head. :D
You look great and you sound great. The 17 hour flight must have been a doozy. Now you are home at last. Take it easy for a while!
Steve
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Rick ~
Kudos to you for coming through the surgery in such good shape and weathering the long airplane flight home, too. Your daughter is adorable and the 'potato in my head' explanation is terminally cute, although, as Ernie stated, she may not be quite so naive as you think. She appears to have a very skeptical look on her face as she holds the potato, but young children can often be inscrutable so she may well accept this charming explanation for now. Thanks for the post and the photos. Now, rest and recuperate. :)
Jim
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Great to hear from you and that you are back home safely. And great pictures. I'm with Steve though. Rain is not buying that potato thing. Please keep in touch and we'll be looking forward to seeing you and Jane and Rain on your visit next year. Until then, continue the now smooth recovery.
David
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Way to go Rick!!! I hope your lucky horse shoe scar brings you and your family excellent health, wealth and much happiness. By the way Rain is a little doll.
Anne Marie
PS I understand constipation can be crippling, BUT I gave birth to four sons. Two were posterior, and I needed an epidural and two were natural.....meaning I was strong like bull.....I think you got off easy my friend!! ;)
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Rick, thanks for a very interesting post :D
Glad you made it home all right and that things are going well for you.
The potato idea is hysterical ;)
Your fat graph location was a new one for me. Mine - and I think most others' - is below my navel and several inches to the left. Yours appears to be right in the center of your navel.
Jan
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Rick, thanks for a very interesting post :D
Glad you made it home all right and that things are going well for you.
The potato idea is hysterical ;)
Your fat graph location was a new one for me. Mine - and I think most others' - is below my navel and several inches to the left. Yours appears to be right in the center of your navel.
Jan
Jan,
You underestimate the size of my tummy, and this was after 3months of intensive work out!!, what you see in the photo is only a 1/4 of my tubs expanse, my belly button it just under my right hand thumb,
Rain is no fool, she was very suspicious of my potato, more so when I had it for dinner as bangers and Mash, but she was good enough to humour me, especially as I had a husky Marlone Brando type whisper voice after getting home, she now does a very funny impression of me talking.
And Ernie best of luck on your day, unless the Doc turns up with one of those yellow dummies guide to neuro surgery, nothing to worry about. In fact the actual surgery, happened so quickly, one minute I was telling the anesthetist how bad a dancer her brother is, then a few second later, people where flashing torches in my eyes and I was barfing up with a huge turban on my head. No need to worry about the diced carrots going everywhere, there's a nice young lady on standby by the side of the bed with a mini vomit vacuum and she deals with most of it before it even leaves your mouth.
After getting home I would suggest getting a plastic chair for the shower, and if you can get one, a part time nurse for the first week it was a great help, not so much for me but for the poor folks having to look after you, we tend to focus on the patient, and forget the collateral damage to all those who care for us, its no fun having to watch it all from the sidelines, and from my own experienced I know my wife was more stress about the whole thing than me.
Also get stacks of audio books, for me the more depressing the better, two good ones are "Still Alice" about a young Harvard Professor slowly succumbing to Alzheimer disease, and "Land of a Thousand Suns" about a family in Afghanistan over the last 15 years, a place where Cesarean section are regularly carried out with out anesthetics, it brings home how lucky we really are.
Don't for get to post some photos we can see who has the better scar. I am off to do my daily exercise , I can see my chums are going to have hours of fun watching me do the DUI walk test, anyone would think I was some French high wire act in a hurricane.
Take care
Rick
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Rick, once again, a very humorous post - and you know how we all love humor here ;) I take this as proof that you are recovering well.
Interesting about the Marlon Brando voice post op. My sister is still laughing - almost 2 years later - about the Mickey Mouse voice I had post op. Strangest damn thing I've ever encountered - and very laughable :D
Jan
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Hi Rick,
My surgeon is actually done with volume one of neurosurgery for dummies and half way through volume 2, so I should be in good hands ;)
I have a full time nurse for my first week home. She is beautiful too, a real looker. She's also my wife ;)
I did express my concern to her that it would be alot for her to do on her own, but she seems to think everything will be fine. She's been a nurse for over 20 years, so I'm sure she knows a trick or two.
Not that I'm counting down or anything like that, but two more days and the worst will be behind me!
Ernie
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Hi Rick,
Your daughter is absolutely darling. I agree, she is looking at you like, right Dad. This potato IS the size of your brain. A little red new potato would have been better, or a golden yellow yukon. I know my taters!
<Maureen
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Hi Rick,
Looks like you and Rain both did well on that 17 hour flight! Thanks for sharing the pics.
Glad to hear that your tumor was successfully removed, and that your sense of humor remains completely intact. :) That's quite a description of your time in the hospital! And if there really is such a thing as the mini "vacuum" you were referring to (are you sure it wasn't the drugs? ;)), I'm happy to say I never saw it!
It's good to hear you're up to doing daily exercises - all in all it sounds like you're really doing great.
Please say hello to Jane, and we hope to see you all again when you come back for your follow-up.
Nancy
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Its been 6 weeks as a postie, today I feel pretty normal, I did try tennis the other day and managed to hit the ball if it comes straight to me but not if I have to chase it, I was pretty grim at it before, so at least I now have an excuse.
I had SSD before the op so it doesn't bother me at all, even those surround movies sound good, dont know why maybe my hearing and head gets extra sensitive, like a blind person being able to read braille with just his finger tip. If I shut my eyes in a place I am familiar with you can pin point where sound is coming from. Your head works its all out like a reverse version of those phantom surround speakers where it mimic surround sound only using two speakers. You pick up on all the echos and change in tones to figure it out, like now typing I can hear my kid playing on my right I would put money down saying the sound is coming in my right ear, but i know its not.
Scar is almost invisible now, and I have pretty much a Yul Brenner hair style.
I used to get headaches before the op during overcast days now it seem I get a little bit wonky head when its grey outside, but so far have not had a single major head ache.
Another challenge is rope bridges, pre op i was able to trot across them like a Tibetan mountain goat, now I have to hang on for dear life , but hey how often will I come across a rope bridge on the way down to the supermarket.
I will send some update photos later
Rick
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That's the bestest news ever, Rick!
how often will I come across a rope bridge
I thought Malaysia was all about rope bridges. ;)
Nancy
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Hi Rick.
I have enjoyed reading your post. Sounds like surgery and recovery is a succes so far ;) Congrats...
What about your taste, is it back to normal? I'm asking because from 2 months and up to now 6 months post op, I have this annoying salty metallic taste. It can be very frustrating sometimes.
Regards, Kenneth.
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Hi Kenneth,
The metallic taste has pretty much cleared up only the last 1cm of my tongue where it joins the rest of my head seems to be still a little bit off, could be all the curries around here knocking it back into shape.
I am a big old cynic and thought these vitamin supplements shops were opened as a meeting point for all the neurotic and hypochondriacs folks in town, even the doc said that unless I have been living on a desert island and eating tinned peaches for the last 2 years then supplements are a bit of a scam.
Anyway in the local mall there was a huge supplement stall and I remember reading somewhere B12 helps with nerve regeneration, as I was fed up with eating copper flavoured food, I sheepishly bought tub of B12, my tongue works now, I am sure the vitamins had nothing to do with it and it was just time that sorted it out.
Reading the forum it would seem that just licked the bottom of an ashtray taste, is one of the few post op symptoms that clear up over time, other wise try a Singapore curry Laksa, your taste buds and your backside the next day wont know what hit them.
LOL Nancy, you are right its been a month and I have been on 3 rope bridges, but there again its because my kids loves them, and she has figure out the best way to get a big reaction out of me is to really start bouncing up and down on them.
Rick
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Hi, Rick! Good to hear from you! Sounds like you're doing really well - so glad! I've been back playing tennis and it's still pretty weird for me, but fun regardless - hope you'll keep at it!
The Yul Brenner look is a great one - he was one of my favorites as I was growing up!
Thanks for checking in with us and letting us know how you're doing,
Cindy