Author Topic: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12  (Read 39370 times)

Jim Scott

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #60 on: January 18, 2010, 03:03:34 pm »
Mei Mei ~

I'm a tad late here but want to add my congratulations on your successful surgery and what will, no doubt, be a good recovery.  Enjoy the rest!  :)

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #61 on: January 18, 2010, 03:26:28 pm »
Thank you, Jim!   I am resting comfortably!
Sincerely
Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

Tod

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #62 on: January 18, 2010, 08:07:09 pm »
This is really great news Mei Mei. I hope my own surgery goes as well.

Tod
Bob the tumor: 4.4cm x 3.9cm x 4.1 cm.
Trans-Lab and Retro-sigmoid at MCV on 2/12/2010.

Removed 90-95% in a 32 hour surgery. Two weeks in ICU.  SSD Left.

http://randomdatablog.com

BAHA implant 1/25/11.

28 Sessions of FSR @ MCV ended 2/9/12.

leapyrtwins

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #63 on: January 18, 2010, 10:06:26 pm »
Ah, the first post op shampoo  ;D  I still remember it VERY well.

Now there's a milestone worth celebrating!  Enjoy every minute of it, Mei Mei. 

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #64 on: January 24, 2010, 11:58:30 am »
I did the shampoo on Friday and that was great.   I still have a horrible pinched nerve on the surgery side of my neck that won't go away no matter how much balm or heat I put on it and it sends some pain up to my eye at times.  I keep resting but this neck and shoulder thing probably left over from the position I was in during the long 9 hour surgery will have to resolve itself somehow.  Maybe I should go to accupuncture but don't know when is too soon to interfere with the brain surgery that I just had.
I'll ask my Primary Care on Friday when I see him

Sincerely,
Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

leapyrtwins

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #65 on: January 27, 2010, 07:32:11 am »
Mei Mei -

the neck problem is  from surgery.  It will improve in time - like most issues post op - but asking your primary care physician what you might do to help things along is a great idea.

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #66 on: January 27, 2010, 08:15:52 am »
Thanks, so much.  I'm putting heat on it and on my shoulder.  I just have to be patient.  I'm also feeling pressure in my head when I get up from sitting to standing but only for a few seconds.   The blood pressure is perfect though.  The physical therapist that comes to the house says this is called Intracranial Pressure from the surgery.   I'm seeing the Primary Care on Friday afternoon and will discuss it with him.   

Otherwise everything is progressing and I'm walking OK....Thanks for writing.

Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

moe

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #67 on: January 27, 2010, 09:58:11 am »
Mei Mei,
Great- just keep taking those baby steps and listening to your body cues. Give yourself at least 4-6 weeks of gentle activity and spoil yourself every day in some way.
(or have some one spoil YOU). You'll make it :)
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #68 on: January 27, 2010, 10:16:47 am »
The Physical Therapist just left and said that the swelling feeling I have when I go from a sitting to a standing  (not all the time) is probably the brain adjusting to the titanium closure at the back of my head because that is where I feel the pressure. 

Just a Note for those of you reading this and might be experiencing the same thing.

Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #69 on: February 03, 2010, 11:06:07 am »
I had another question for everybody.   My scalp is all numb on the entire right side...the surgical side.   I wanted to know how long it will be numb and feel different than the non-surgical side.  It feels really strange and lopsided.
Sincerely,
Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

JerseyGirl2

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #70 on: February 03, 2010, 11:54:19 am »
I had another question for everybody.   My scalp is all numb on the entire right side...the surgical side.   I wanted to know how long it will be numb and feel different than the non-surgical side. 

I can only relate my own experience, but my numbness lasted quite a while -- about a year and a half before it was totally back to normal, though I'll hasten to add that the improvement was steady (though slow). Over the course of time the numb area decreased in size, and one day I just realized that there was no numb area left.  I should also mention that I had my BAHA abutment implanted at the same time as my translab surgery ... so I don't know how that combination affected the numbness situation.

Hopefully you'll be able to get used to it, and remember that it will get better!

Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
Translab surgery and BAHA implant: House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, 1/2008
Drs. J. House, Schwartz, Wilkinson, and Stefan
BAHA Intenso, 6/2008
no facial, balance, or vision problems either before or after surgery ... just hearing loss
Monmouth County, NJ

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #71 on: February 03, 2010, 12:34:19 pm »
Thanks, I've been wondering about this and it's nice to have a guideline for the numbness and getting back to normal.  I think I'll have the BAHA in a few months depending on what they say at my Post Surgical meeting on the 22nd.

By the Way, my father has a house that he is renting out in Holmdel (Monmouth County) He is now 95 and lives with me.  Our house was in Lincroft.  We moved down here in 1981.

Thanks for your reply,

Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

Jim Scott

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #72 on: February 03, 2010, 02:45:18 pm »
I had another question for everybody.   My scalp is all numb on the entire right side...the surgical side.   I wanted to know how long it will be numb and feel different than the non-surgical side.  It feels really strange and lopsided.

Mei Mei ~

The 'numb' skull is typical.  Mine lasted for approximately 9 months.  I couldn't sleep on that side.  Now, I'm fine, although the 'AN' side of my skull is slightly less sensitive than the other side but this is not a problem as the difference is minimal. 

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #73 on: February 03, 2010, 03:19:16 pm »
Thanks, Jim.   It's good to look forward to.   I like having a time frame to keep in mind.   My head feels so delicate right now.

Sincerely,
Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery Date at Hopkins, January 12
« Reply #74 on: May 09, 2010, 09:07:01 am »
Just found out on a google search today that retrosigmoid approach is high risk for post operative headaches.   It is highly documented here and thought all of you should see this.   I am now suffering from this on a daily basis.

Here is my search on google:

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=retrosigmoid+approach+postoperative+headaches&aq=0p&aqi=g-p1g7g-s1g1&aql=&oq=retrosi&gs_rfai=

Mei Mei
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh