« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Retro at House  (Read 6769 times)

mindyandy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 681
  • Loving Life
Retro at House
« on: March 06, 2012, 12:09:38 pm »
Anyone here have Retrosigmoid at House? Did they put a drain in your back? Schwatz says its what they do with Retro?

Thanks Mindy
Logged
14mm dx 9/07. CK done Seattle  1 year MRI showed some shrinkage. 4 year MRI 2mm growth nothing conclusive. Trigminal nerve involvment Retrosigmoid Friedmand/Schwartz HEI March 7,2012

Jim Scott

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7241
  • 1943-2020 Please keep Jim's family in your hearts
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2012, 03:21:15 pm »
Mindy ~

Interesting.  I didn't have my surgery at HEI so my experience isn't relevant but I had Retro surgery and didn't have a drain installed nor was any mention made of needing one - and my neurosurgeon had decades of experience with AN removals.  However, each doctor/facility has their own protocol and apparently placing a lumbar drain in the AN surgery patient is what they do at House.  I'm sure it's based on their experience.

You're in our prayers and we look forward to seeing you on 'the other side'.  :). 

Jim
Logged
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.

CHD63

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3235
  • Life is good again!!
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2012, 04:50:33 pm »
Hi Mindy .....

Dr. Schwartz did translab on me but I had a drain where they did the fat graft in my abdomen (I think left in until day 3, not sure).

When I had retrosigmoid at Duke 4 years ago, I had a drain in my back, but I think for only 24 hrs.  Don't remember about the retrosigmoid at UPMC 18 years ago .....

Not a big deal and definitely no pain with any of them.

Best wishes and many thoughts and prayers for tomorrow.

Clarice
Logged
Right MVD for trigeminal neuralgia, 1994, Pittsburgh, PA
Left retrosigmoid 2.6 cm AN removal, February, 2008, Duke U
Tumor regrew to 1.3 cm in February, 2011
Translab AN removal, May, 2011 at HEI, Friedman & Schwartz
Oticon Ponto Pro abutment implant at same time; processor added August, 2011

LakeErie

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 347
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2012, 05:42:46 pm »
I was not at House either, but some surgeons employing retro use a lumbar drain to dehydrate the brain which causes the cerebellum to retract naturally and avoids the need to move the brain
to obtain a field of vision for the tumor. Once the tumor is removed, the brain is then rehydrated with ringers solution. It is a common procedure with some doctors is my understanding.
Logged
4.7 cm x 3.6 cm x 3.2 cm vestibular schwannoma
Simplified retrosigmoid @ Cleveland Clinic 10/06/2011
Rt SSD, numbness, vocal cord and swallowing problems
Vocal cord and swallowing normalized at 16 months. Numbness persists.
Regrowth 09/19/2016
GK 10/12/2016 Cleveland Clinic
facial weakness Jan 2017

mindyandy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 681
  • Loving Life
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2012, 08:16:07 pm »
Thanks guys. He said it gets put in while I'm asleep. I'm just afraid I'm going to feel it when I wake up. I also asked about breathing tube when I wake up. He said no but one of the RN admission nurses said yes but MOST of us don't remember  :o
Surgery is expected 4-5 hours. He is basically going to just remove what he can off the trigeminal nerve and try to get what he can without disturbing my facial or hearing nerve. Since I had CK 4 years ago...he said he really sees no growth but it is touching my trigeminal nerve. I'm basically getting MVD done with slight tumor removal. He doesn't expect it to grow. I will have MRI's done in the future.
Logged
14mm dx 9/07. CK done Seattle  1 year MRI showed some shrinkage. 4 year MRI 2mm growth nothing conclusive. Trigminal nerve involvment Retrosigmoid Friedmand/Schwartz HEI March 7,2012

trev0024

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 29
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2012, 07:37:20 am »
Good luck today! I hope all goes well.
Logged
New dx 2.0 x 1.9 cm AN

leapyrtwins

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10826
  • I am a success story!
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2012, 12:30:38 pm »
Some docs insert lumbar drains during surgery just in case you develop a CSF leak.  It's one of the doc preferences things.

I didn't have my surgery @ HEI, but I had retro here in Illinois.

My doc is one who doesn't place a lumbar drain.

Jan
Logged
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

MDemisay

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 892
  • Forever Thankful for Supportive ANA Friends!
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2012, 12:53:16 pm »
Good luck ,Mindy!

I'll be praying as well. I am sure you'll do fine! ;D

 Look on the bright side, you have a whole lot of friends that you made here, we're all pullin' for you! :D

Your Friend,

Mike
Logged
1974 - Dr. Michelson  Colombia Presbyterian removal of 3 Arterio Venous Malformations
2004- Dr. Sisti  NY Presbyterian subtotal removal of 3.1 cm AN,
2012 - June 11th Dr. Sisti Gamma Knife (easy-breasily done)"DEAD IRV" play taps!
Research, research, research then decide and trust in God's Hands!

CHD63

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3235
  • Life is good again!!
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2012, 05:20:45 pm »
Just had an email from Mindy.  "In regular room all good. Could you post on Ana.  Mindy"

Sounds like all went well ..... so glad!

Clarice
Logged
Right MVD for trigeminal neuralgia, 1994, Pittsburgh, PA
Left retrosigmoid 2.6 cm AN removal, February, 2008, Duke U
Tumor regrew to 1.3 cm in February, 2011
Translab AN removal, May, 2011 at HEI, Friedman & Schwartz
Oticon Ponto Pro abutment implant at same time; processor added August, 2011

lizzie1hoops

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 34
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2012, 05:28:59 pm »
Thank you for posting, Clarice!  That's wonderful news that I've been waiting for anxiously!

Mindy - I hope by the time you read this you will be doing better and better.  We'll keep thinking about you!

Best wishes,
Liz
Logged
5x6x11mm right sided AN.
Surgery (middle fossa), Dr. Backous, Swedish Neuroscience, Seattle, 1/12/12 after 6 years W&W.

BeckyMax

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 108
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2012, 10:27:58 pm »
Great to hear, I've been watching and waiting.........he he he
Logged
7mm x 5 mm Left AN, diagnosed 2/9/12
7mm x 6 mm  8/12
9mm x 7 mm  8/13
Cyberknife 12/13

ppearl214

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7451
  • ANA Forum Policewoman - PBW Cursed Cruise Director
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2012, 04:38:18 am »
Quote from: CHD63 on March 08, 2012, 05:20:45 pm
Just had an email from Mindy.  "In regular room all good. Could you post on Ana.  Mindy"

Sounds like all went well ..... so glad!

Clarice

Great news Clarice! Thanks for sharing! I checked her caringbridge... no update there yet but hope to hear from her soon as a double postie!

Phyl
Logged
"Gentlemen, I wash my hands of this weirdness", Capt Jack Sparrow - Davy Jones Locker, "Pirates of the Carribbean - At World's End"

windy

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 165
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2012, 05:01:56 pm »
Clarice, thank you for posting that Mindy sent you a message. I have been wondering how everthing went and have been anxious to see a message from her. I am glad to hear she is in a regular room.

Wishing you the best Mindy!! I hope everything is going really well for you!!  :)

Windy
Logged
* Diagnosed w/AN (9mm x 11mm x 9mm) - 6-10-08
* GK @ UPMC w/Dr. Lunsford - 8-5-08
* Stable MRI - Aug. 2009
* 2 MM's Growth - Aug. 2010
* Lost 60% Hearing - Dec. 2010
* More Growth?? - Wait & Watch - Jan. 2012
* 1 MM Shrinkage - Aug. 2012
* 2 MM's Shrinkage - Aug. 2013
* Slight Shrinkage - Aug. 2014

lrobie

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 335
Re: Retro at House
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2012, 09:51:49 pm »
Mindy also posted on Facebook 11 hours ago, so this morning.  She said...Might get released back to Seton hall today. Thanks for all the well wishes.

I'm so glad to hear something from her.  I, too, was getting very anxious and kept checking for something from her.

Well wishes sent your way, Mindy.

Lisa
Logged
6/2009 7mm x 4mm  W&W
8/2011 9.5mm x 5mm
2/2012 UPMC Follow-up , slight growth
Surgery on 7/18/12 w/Drs. Friedman & Schwartz (mid-fossa)
www.caringbridge.org/visit/lisarobie
Pages: [1]
« previous next »