End of the road is near .

[pattibobatti]

Hey Satman,

Don't forget I have met your wife and my advice is to get your little self over there and help her with that floor. 

Hope you are doing good.  I see that you start your job on the 5th.  You will be fine....Probably not like you were, but you will be great!!  Today I was up on ladders and painting a little girls room, so there. 

Call me up,
Patti

[yardtick]

Hi NancyAnn,

I was wondering why you said it is better to have a nerve graft sooner than later.  My facial nerve has to be removed with a nerve graft.  I'm waiting at the moment.  I have some weakness.  I'm seeing the Dr again in Jan. or immediately if the weakness is more pronounced.  The Dr did say that this is the tricky part knowing when to go in and do the surgery.

Anne Marie

[Samantha n Adrian]

Wow 8CM! At first I thought that was a typo!

That must of been a long yet determined road to recovery.

Conrats to you! Must feel damn good I am sure! 

Sam~

[nancyann]

Hi Anne Marie:  You know, I never asked the doc why, once my facial nerve was cut, the sooner the nerve graft is done the better - I thought maybe it had to do with not letting the 'dead' nerve go too long.  But the 'earlier than later' is regarding the hypoglossal anastamosis; if you have a cross nerve graft (good facial nerve to bad facial nerve), you can wait, even a few years (I was told).  I don't know why that is.  Hmmmm

[yardtick]

Hi NancyAnn,

I still have my facial nerve.   There is weakness happening.  I'm told they remove the nerve from the back of my right leg and graft it were my left facial nerve was.  I do not know all of the medical details.  I trust this Dr way more than the one I was originally referred too.  Windsong lives about 1 hr from me and she suggested I get a hold of her Dr.  Really a caring man.  Understood my anxiety and explained all of the MRIs and the CT scan.  I've got a list of quetions for my next visit.

This forum has really helped me.  I felt so isolated before.  If only I could get my headaches under control.  I've asked the family dr for topomax, but he has to wait for the report from the specialist. 

Anne Marie

[Captain Deb]

Yeah Satman, watching hard work wears me out too! I've watch me old man lay a few wood floors since my surgery--always makes me thirsty! Just take it easy and pace yourself--that's the key. Trying not to over-do it, but you still have to force that other balance system to work overtime. A fine line to learn how to walk indeed.

Be well and sail on!

Capt Deb

[nancyann]

Hey Anne Marie:  you may be getting ready for the cross nerve graft; I think what they do is harvest a nerve from another area (in your case the leg), so it will be used to attach part of the right facial nerve to the left?   Not sure.  If I was going to have the hypoglossal anastamosis, the doc told me he would use a nerve from my neck (that's the jump part of the 7/12 jump) to attach part of the tongue nerve(12th nerve) to the facial nerve(7th nerve).  So, ask your surgeon what type of nerve graft he plans on doing.  Since I'm not going to have any nerve graft, I haven't had further visits with the doc to find out exactly what would go on.  I wish you all the best my friend,   Nancy

[Obita]

Hey satman:

Did I read an early post of yours right, that your AN was OVER 8 cm???  8 and 3/4 cm??? I was looking through your old
posts to see if you ever had a gold weight put in your lid.  Did you?  The eye stuff did drive me bonkers.  I feel very bad for you and anyone else that is still dealing with the dry eye.   I don't have to worry about you forgetting to lube up when you go to Margaritaville, do I? 

Yes, your new found friend is a good buddy of mine.  She is a good one to use if you need someone to lean on.  She has had just about every complication and overcame all of them. 

BIG HUG from Minnesota!!  Kathy

[satman]

hi Kathy,yes you read it right and i am so happy to have all that behind me.
i go the same eye doc as patti[pattiobatti]she refered methe guy she uses . man , the stories she can tell. the eye dr. says that
until my eye gets  the blink reflex back the gold weight will not help.he has told me that my cornea is in great shape
so i just keep it lubed and when it starts to burn i put more in.

[leapyrtwins]

So, Satman, I hate to be nosy, and I hope it's not rude of me, but I'm wondering if your AN ranks up there with the largest ever treated.  I know my neurotologist's partner operated on a 5 cm AN a couple years ago, but yours was the largest one I have ever heard of.  Should we be nominating you for a Guiness World Record or something?   

Jan

[satman]

guiness sounds good ! as in beer.other than that,i dont want to be
the circus clown anymore.my friends are already putting me in the spotlight
every time we get together,you know,"watch him walk",etc,etc.
does anybody else get that kind of attention ?its quite irratating.
i could go on and on but i wont.i guess i'm going to have one of those days.

[pattibobatti]

HI satman,

I don't like it when you are sad.   Some days are just like that, though.  I hope you can focus on positive things today. 

When I met you in the hospital, you had a wonderful way of putting everyone at ease.  You were funny and personable.  Maybe that is why your friends are comfortable keeping you in the spotlight. I am sure they would never want to hurt your feelings. Don't worry, I'll get 'em!!

Have a better day, John
Patti

[satman]

hi Patti,you always say the kindest things.
next time i see dr.Gupta i am going to ask him if i should go with that contact
you have been talking about,want to get his input, out of curiousity.
i will call you soon,would love to chat.

Jan,i am sorry if it seemed like i was being a smart__ _ _.
I really didnt mean to.
being irish/italian i seem to respond without thinking things  through.
I truly did not mean to come off as a jerk.

[leapyrtwins]

satman -

didn't take your answer as a smart-a** remark, or think you were a jerk - and I hope you didn't take my question that way either, as that was not my intention.  I was just truly curious.  The first time I realized your AN was 8 cm, I was floored; I thought it was a typo and you meant 8 mm.  Reading your posts these past few months, I have been amazed at what you've been through and the positive attitude you consistently have.  IMO, you have a whole lot to be proud of; the things you have accomplished are incredible. 

Jan

[Obita]

Hi satman:

I can relate to being in the spotlight too.  If I had a dollar for every time I heard:  CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW in the first year post op, I would have had enough money for a new car. 

I have trained most of my co-workers to tell me, on your right or on your left if they are trying to get my attention.  One guy just would not get it.  He would always just yell louder to get my attention.  I had explained to him a zillion times that I am not hard of hearing and that my good ear works great.  Yelling won't help me figure out where you are.  About a month ago, he did it again.  I pulled him aside, told him that I had thought I would never wish an AN on anyone but he was pushing it.  I told him I was seriously thinking about wishing one on him so he would understand how SSD works!!  Well, I am happy to say it worked.  No more Kathy, ...Kathy,...Kathy!!! Just a normal sounding Kathy, on your left........

So John, you have three choices.  Let it go, say something or get mad.  Obviously, when dealing with idiots, you should use the latter.   

I hope today is a good day for you.  Kathy