4 Hours Post Surgery & Counting!!

[jays]

Hello Everyone!

I'm Jay's partner and I just wanted to let everyone know he got out of surgery a few hours ago.  Since he obviously isn't able to type, he asked that I do a few posts for him.  The doctors said the surgery went well and they were able to get the tumor out compeltely without touching too much of the facial nerve.  Unfortunately, they said the tumor was stuck inbetween the superior and inferior hearing nerves and so there's a good chance he will not have any hearing in that ear after recovery.

I was just in the ICU to see him and since I can only see him for 10 minutes every hour, I didn't get to talk with him too much.  He's obviously pretty out of it and the only pain he had was in his abdomen area where they took out the fat they used to patch up the incision on his head.  Since his tumor was pretty small (less than 1cm), his other balance nerve hadn't started compensating for his bad one so he's very, very dizzy.  He kept saying that it feels like he's laying on his side and everything is at a 90 degree angle. 

I don't know if he actually is hearing anything or but he did say he thought he was hearing things out of the ear that the doctors said he probably lost hearing in.  We won't really know anything until the swelling has gone down and some of the fluid is gone.  They said in a few days they will be doing some audiology tests to see about the hearing in that ear. 

Either his brother or I will do another post in a day or two to document his progress and anything that is worth sharing.

Let me know if you have any questions.


Thanks!

Brent Worwa

[Jim Scott]

Hi, Brent ~

Thanks for the very encouraging update on Jay!  When you're able, let him know his 'AN friends' are rooting for him.

Jim

[Kaybo]

Brent~
Thanks for keeping us updated...make sure & take care of yourself too!

K 

[cindyj]

Thanks for the update, Brent!  Always good to hear when folks are out of surgery and on their way to recovery. 

Cindy

[nancyann]

I echo everyone else:  Glad to hear he's recovering - yes,  the balance issue is really something post surg.   I told my mother after 1 week I felt like I was walking on a suspended walkway & it was windy out !   Like Kay said, 'take care of yourself' - he's really going to need you once you guys are home.
My mom did the cooking, shopping, laundry, cleaning, etc for about 2 weeks, with me helping little by little.
Jay will feel like a mac truck hit him for a little while - rest, walk, eat, sleep will be his routine for awhile.
Continued healing to Jay, 
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[leapyrtwins]

Brent -

thanks for the update; we worry about our fellow forumites.  I'm glad to hear that Jay is out of surgery and doing well.  Mid-fossa is generally the best surgical approach for saving hearing, but it sounds like the location of Jay's tumor might have been an issue.  Time will tell.  If he does end up SSD (single-sided deaf), don't let him get too depressed about it - lots of people learn to adjust and those who don't have options.

It's normal to be "out of it" the first few days post op, so rest assured that Jay is on on the path to recovery.

As others have said, take of yourself - Jay will need lots of help when he gets home; at least for a little while.

Please keep us updated and tell Jay we all send our best 

Jan

[mellowrama]

Hi Brent,

I'm so glad to hear Jays is out of surgery and doing well!  I was just there with my partner and all went well, and I've been eager to hear how is doing. 
Best to you all,
Melinda

[NL]

Hi Brent!

Thanks for posting the update so quickly!

Please give Jay our best! And yes, take care of yourself, too!

I was very happy we had a chance to connect before Jay's big day.  

Looking forward to your next update,

Nancy

(P.S. - Melinda - you sound like you're doing great, too!  )

[sgerrard]

We like to say that the first three days don't count, so you still have 2 days 20 hours to go.

Good to hear that Jay did well. Best wishes for the recovery!

Steve

[jays]

Hello everyone!

It is now a full week since my surgery.  I am happy to report I am up and moving around on my own despite the floor not seeming level.  Each day it seems like I'm getting a little more comfortable on my feet.  I knew it would take some time, but I just didn't realize how much my balance would be effected.  In time, I know that my right side will compensate and I'll be good to go again.  I do have SSD on my left side, but still have a lot of pressure and some 'white' noise and clicking from time to time which is strange.  I'm seeing Dr. Stefan this afternoon, Dr. Fayad tomorrow to have my staples removed, and hopefully heading home on Saturday!  Whoo Hoo. 

For now I'm just taking it easy here at Seton.  I can only tolerate looking at a computer screen, or watching TV for a short amount of time.

I want to thank all of you for your caring words, support and prayers.  A special thank you to the LA bunch (Nancy, Lainie, and David) for meeting with me prior to my surgery.  You helped me more than I think I can tell you.

Jay
 

[tenai98]

AWESOME NEWS...walk, walk, rest and more walk....
JO

[cindyj]

So good to hear from you, Jay!  The pressure should ease up some before too long and you're right, your brain will begin to compensate and you WILL be good to go!  As JO said, walk, rest, walk, rest...or, rest, walk, rest, walk! 

And wasn't it so great to meet those LA angels out there!

Keep us posted as you're up to it,

Cindy

[Jim Scott]

Hey, Jay ~

Thanks for posting an update!  It appears as if your recovery is progressing fairly normally.  Balance issues are common, post-op and of course, the SSD is going to be an adjustment.  All in all, I think you're doing fine.  I'll simply echo Jo and Cindy's advice that rest is crucial at this point and to get all you can, while you can.  We all want a quick recovery but overdoing it, too soon, can cause unwanted set-backs, so rest as you need to and post again when you can.

Jim

[another NY postie]

Jay, you sound great!  I am glad that release time is on schedule..the balance thing will right itself...small tumors have the most adjustment, I think, because the body hasn't compensated already.  Rude awakening for the body!  I think it was Alicia who told me about some patterns in the wood grain near the nurses' station that drove her crazy but by the end, her eyes could adjust to that..step by step by step....good luck in ALL!
Cheryl

[mellowrama]

So glad to hear you're doing better! I've been wondering how you're doing.  Did you have nurse jackie too?   That cracked me up...it was hard to keep track of all the nurses,etc but funny to wake up and see the name changes.
 
Staples?  I didn't have those...just long stiches.

melinda