Ok, I have a date for surgery.

[cyrmom2]

Tod,

Best wishes for a successful surgery on the 12th at MCV and an easy and complete recovery afterward!  I do have one little tip:  Bring good eye lubricant drops to the hospital with you - just in case.  The drops my hospital used had a preservative that made my eye feel worse.

Cyndi

[Cheryl R]

Good idea, Cyndi as mine would just give you tears for day time use and the right gel for night.      The Refresh Liquigel or similar brand is better and some even use the heavier Celluvisc in the day too.      One can sometimes even have dry eye for a while even with no facial paralysis.  That happened with my last surgery for about 3 weeks.                Plus lip balm is good to have with you.
                                              Cheryl R
                                 

[Mei Mei]

I spent the week before the surgery in Charlottesville, VA near you.   My daughter had a baby girl at UVA hospital.  That was a real distraction.  We had a lot of Christmas and New Year Family time together and then there was a week of shopping to store up at Costco and the Giant because I knew when I got home I woulnd't be able to lift anything and drive for two week and lift for a long time.   You have to start hording stuff now for two months.   

The intubation from the anesthesia gives you a sore throat.  A real nice nurse brought me several servings of ice cream once I was approved for a soft liquid diet  (day 2) .   They let me have solids on day three because they wanted to make sure I could swallow OK after the surgery. 

You also get double vision and a stiff neck and feel like people are horizontal when they are really vertical.    It's  alot to look forward to
but the nurses are great and cheerful and you've got the TV and the MEDS .... You'll get through it.   The days will pass.  They are passing for me.

I'm punching for you!!!!
Mei Mei

[Tod]

Cyndi. Cheryl, and Mei Mei, this is all very helpful. I do appreciate the suggestions and insight into what to expect.

Best,

Tod

[Mei Mei]

Well, Tod...It's Monday and countdown week to your surgery on Friday and we're thinking good thoughts and prayers for you.  Looking forward to that coming out party for Bob!
Sincerely,
Mei Mei

[Tod]

Thanks Mei Mei. It is indeed countdown week. I've done about all I can do, and now I am just waiting. I have some maintenance errands scheduled for Thursday with my sister's help who is flying in for the event.

I am irritable, tired, and after giving two units of blood, very weak comparatively speaking.
 
Soon it will be over though..I swear though Bob has been growing. I've started having headaches and slowing down other ways...of course it may just be stress. I just don't know why... ;-)

-Tod

[pjb]

Good luck with your surgery this week the only thing I did before my surgery was ate at different places that I loved I figured I probably will lose the weight after the surgery anyways, but I was fooled I did not lose that much so now I have the extra weight I should have went hiking instead...

My prayers and thought are with you.

Best Wishes,

Pat

[Mei Mei]

Keep up the spirits.  It doesn't pay to get irritable.  Think positive and try to eat good vegetables.  I remember I was constipated the week after surgery and they had to give me all kinds of stuff to empty me out. 

Stock up on Extra Strenth Tylenol or the CVS brand since they've pulled the Tylenol brand.  I'm already running out of it with the post surgical head aches and the neck and shoulder aches.  They stretch you out and immobilze you for so long on the table that your neck and shoulder gets really stiff.   My primary care gave me four free samples of "Flector Patch"  that you can cut up and put on the spot where it hurts.  It has Flexeril in it.  He also gave me a RX for more.  Get a neck shaped heating pad that you can microwave.  They sell them at natural food stores and on the internet.  It's a life saver for when you come home.

Remember to ask for ice cream as soon as they approve you for a liquid diet.  It'll go down easy on your throat.  Your throat will magically feel better on day three. 

My tumor grew in the last week and I started to get eye symptoms the weekend before the surgery as well as the original hearing loss and facial symptoms.   The surgeon called me on my cell and asked me how I was doing and I told him this and he said it was time to take it out.   After the surgery one of the residents said he was having a hard time pulling on it...it was sticky.   I guess because it grew wider and bigger.  So the sooner you say good bye to Bob, the better.

I'll be thinking of you all week, on Friday and during your recovery.   My best to you!!!
Mei Mei

[Tod]

Mei Mei, thanks for the advice - it is much appreciated.

I really try to stay calm...but sometimes people push the wrong buttons and then I cut loose. And it sometimes is a good thing.

I am concerned about my neck since I already suffer from degenerative cervical disc disease. I made a point of that in the pre-ops last week to make sure they got the pictures and radiologist report to consider while positioning my neck and head. Right now everything seems to be in place. Tomorrow is the last day of work. My staff took me to lunch today for some marvelous sushi and tomorrow night my senior colleagues are taking me to the  pub to say goodbye to Bob before I get home for grandelf's 8th birthday. Thursday is vet appointments for the dogs and some errands with my sister.

Oh, and today I showed up at work Cue Ball style...had my entire head shaved. I want to wear my stitches proudly.

[sgerrard]

Best wishes for Friday, Tod.  Bye bye Bob! 

Steve

[Mei Mei]

Dear Tod,
I've got degenerative disc disease too so get a heating pad for the shoulders and some kind of heating pad for the neck when you come home.  I can't tell you how much you're gonna need it. 

Yes, and good riddance to Bob.   Sounds like you have a great family and staff down there to support you!!! 
They should've shaved Valentine decorations on your head!

You're going to get through this week fine!
Best of Luck!
Mei Mei

[Tod]

And we are off in just a few hours. The start time has moved up and they requested a last minute MRI yesterday. Everything is in place, and just a few hours of sleep stand between me and the beginning of a new life.

Thanks for all I've learned here..talk to y'all next week.

Tod

[msswartz]

Hey,

I'll be thinking of you and wishing for a positive outcome.  I had mine done on Nov 23rd 2009, just 2-1/2 months ago and now I go in on Feb 17th for implanting of a gold weight in my right (tumor side) eyelid.  So I'm working through the recovery process.  You'll make it.  You just have to take one day at a time and keep your faith.

God be with you.

Michael

[moe]

Tod,
Thinking of you-tomorrow is the big day.
Prayers for a successful surgery
Maureen

[pjb]

Thinking of you today and cannot wait to hear from you next week first 3 days are the roughest.

Prayers and thoughts are with you,


Pat