Gammaknfe is over

[Vivian B.]

Hi everybody!

I am sorry I took a few days to post. I had my gammaknife treatment at the Toronto Western on June 30/2010. It was quite an experience. I was in at 5:30 am and the first step was to put the frame on which I to carried for the next 12 hours. There were two other patients being treated the same day. Since my tumor was the biggest of the other two, my treatment was the last one as apparently it took longer to map out. The team of doctors were great and the nurses too. It was quite a weird day. After the frame was put on, I had a scan done. For the scan they use another frame on top of the one that's already on. It was very uncomfortable. Then you basically wait your turn for the MRI, and the mapping and then finally the radiation.

I felt like I was going to the moon when I was put in the gammaknife machine. What a technology. Before I went in the oncologist told me they mapped a good plan but that the facial nerve was right underneath the tumor and I will probably get some mumbness along the way and that it should resolve. Overall the treatment went well. My incisions are still slightly swollen but no infection and my headaches not bad at all. I tend to wake up with one but with some tylenol it goes a way for the day.

I cannot believe I actually went through it. They do not give you any sedatives although I had to ask for ativan prior to going into each of the scan, MRI and the gammanknife machine only because my anxiety starts getting the best of me. The freezing prior to the frame being put on was quite good. I did not feel anything. Although, since I was the last patient, I needed extra freezing on my right side as it wearing off.

I was impressed with the whole set up of the treatment.

If you are a candidate for radiosurgery, I definitely recommend it. I have a consultation appointment on Sep 29/2010 and an MRI in 6 months. For now I will try not to think too much about it but as you all know, easier said than done.

I guess I can call myself a toastie postie!
Thank you all for all your good wishes and prayers. I could not have done it without you.

To those in the states, happy 4th of July!

Vivian

[sunfish]

Congratulations, postie!!  I try not to think too much about my zapped AN either, but it's kind of like "waiting for the other shoe to drop . . . "

Prayers that you continue to do well!

[Jim Scott]

Vivian ~

Congratulations on successfully completing the Gamma Knife treatment!  We appreciate your update and hope that this will turn out well (dead tumor). 

Jim

[tenai98]

Congrats and welcome to postieland
JO

[nanramone]

Vivian - I'm glad to hear all went smoothly! Well wishes to you~

Nancy

[mk]

Congratulations Vivian, I am happy that you had a good experience. 12 hours, wow, that was a long time to be carrying that frame around. Best wishes for a quick and symprom free recovery. Make sure to take it easy and not overexert yourself. I took many naps during the first few weeks to make sure I was rested.

Marianna

[yardtick]

Way to go Vivian!!!  I hope all goes well with little or no symptoms.  Relax and let your family take care of you while you recover. 

Anne Marie 

[DR]

Congratulations Vivian!  Take care of yourself and keep us informed of how you are doing.

[eab]

Congratulations! Here's to a quick recovery and lots of necrosis!

Beth

[Vivian B.]

Thanks everybody.

I am into my second week. I went back to work yesterday. I felt very tired by evening. I started having nausea everyday now almost about the same time. Yesterday almost the whole day. It suppose to last about a month. Anyone else experienced this?

Vivian

[crivers]

Vivian,

First, congrats - it is a big step and I'm happy you've made it past.

Second - I also went back to work quickly - but after 3 weeks, I realized I needed some more time, so I took 3 weeks off. Of course, circumstances vary widely, but I wouldn't think your situation was abnormal. About the nausea, I didn't experience that and feel for you there.

Sending over some cool vibes to help you out toward a speedy recovery.

Cheers,
Cayce

[Tumbleweed]

Hi, Vivian:

Sorry I missed your post til now. I've been so busy with work that I only had time to respond to PMs for awhile.

First of all, congratulations on becoming a toastie postie!

I had CK and don't remember having nausea afterwards, but it's probably not unusual for you to be experiencing this. I would think that anything impacting the balance nerve could cause nausea. And I had all sorts of wierd symptoms soon after getting CK (numb skull -- okay, no jokes, everybody  -- wierd depth perception, shortness of breath, slight out-of-body sensation). Most resolved within 48 hours, except my shortness of breath -- that lasted over a month! Having your brain irradiated is traumatic and can cause wierd symptoms, but the body does recover!

I hope and expect you'll feel better soon.

Warm wishes,
TW

[GM]

Welcome fellow "Zapper"  glad the proceedure went so well.  Here's to a great follow up MRI!!!