Author Topic: Debbi Bifulco Update  (Read 127821 times)

Debbi

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #195 on: May 17, 2008, 09:05:03 am »
Hey Kimberly - how are you feeling?  Hope your recovery is going well. 

All - glad you like my new bonnet.  Like the suggestion of festooning it with feathers; maybe I'll try that today.  ;D   Maybe I'll take a nap first...

Slept about 10 hours last night - stitches are hurting, but advil seems to be doing the trick.  Tomorrow we get to take the bonnet off - yay!!

And, now I am going to go stare at my face to see if I can see any changes ....   :-*

Debbi   - the Carmen Miranda of NJ...
« Last Edit: May 17, 2008, 10:51:14 am by Debbi »
Debbi - diagnosed March 4, 2008 
2.4 cm Right Side AN
Translab April 30, 2008 at NYU with Drs. Golfinos and Roland
SSD Right ear, Mild synkinesis and facial nerve damage
BAHA "installed" Feb 2011 by Dr. Cosetti @ NYU

http://debsanadventure.blogspot.com

Tamara

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #196 on: May 17, 2008, 09:45:26 am »
Debbi-
  You'll need to add fruit to be Carmen Miranda.  Might be a bit messy taking those naps!

Tamara
7 mm AN left side
translab 6-12-08
postop issues including CSF leak, eye issues, and facial palsy.  All issues resolved at 9 mos. except slight facial palsy & weakness.  Continuing to improve...

lori67

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #197 on: May 17, 2008, 12:17:19 pm »
I think the "Carmen Miranda of NJ" would need some Jersey tomatoes, Jersey corn and some blueberries.

My brother-in-law is a farmer in Jersey - he can probably hook you up.   ;D

Lori
Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

oHIo

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #198 on: May 17, 2008, 12:35:37 pm »
Debbi...glad to hear no CSF leak.  I love the sporty headband.  Great to hear of changes in your face.  I am 8 weeks out and have noted changes weekly.  While some of them are subtle, they are definitely there.  The crease around my mouth is now symmetrical on both sides, which the doc noted to be a good sign.  I never thought I'd be happy to have symmetrical "age lines" but in the scheme of things, any sign of improvement is a good thing.

Hang in there.  Don't overdo.

Debbi

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #199 on: May 17, 2008, 01:55:38 pm »
Funy, Ohio - my mom and I were just talking about that.  It's a weird thing when you are anxiously waiting for your mouth "crease" to come back!  Never thought I'd be happy to see an age line...   ::)

Lori - yep, I'll have to grab some Jersey Veggies if I really want to pull of this Carmen Miranda thing... or maybe I'll just settle for taking the darned thing off tomorrow and inspecting my new stitches...   :o

Debbi
Debbi - diagnosed March 4, 2008 
2.4 cm Right Side AN
Translab April 30, 2008 at NYU with Drs. Golfinos and Roland
SSD Right ear, Mild synkinesis and facial nerve damage
BAHA "installed" Feb 2011 by Dr. Cosetti @ NYU

http://debsanadventure.blogspot.com

Debbi

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #200 on: May 18, 2008, 10:14:32 am »
Well, we took the turban off this morning ... and the damned incision is still leaking a bit, this time at the top.  Emailed Dr. Roland right away and he said to clean it well with peroxide, keep a sterily dressing on it, and watch.  He asked about the discharge (won't go into that bit of grossness here...) and seemed pleased as it does not indicate CSF leak.  However, he said if it doesn't resolve I will need to go back to the OR to have it surgically cleaned and reclosed - ugh.  Please keep fingers crossed that this will not be necessary.

On a positive note, he said I could wash my hair - so I once again have clean locks... 

Oh, and because we don't have enough going on, our dishwasher overflowed all over the kitchen...   Arrgghh.

Debbi - clinging to clean hair...
Debbi - diagnosed March 4, 2008 
2.4 cm Right Side AN
Translab April 30, 2008 at NYU with Drs. Golfinos and Roland
SSD Right ear, Mild synkinesis and facial nerve damage
BAHA "installed" Feb 2011 by Dr. Cosetti @ NYU

http://debsanadventure.blogspot.com

Kaybo

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #201 on: May 18, 2008, 12:36:18 pm »
Debbi~
Oh my goodness - crazy!  You can talk to me about the drainage -- unfortunately I understand that all too well!!  LOL!!
 *fingers crossed...prayers lifted...*

K
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

leapyrtwins

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #202 on: May 18, 2008, 12:38:23 pm »
Debbi -

did your doctor say why you have this leak and how often this happens to patients?  I'm really just curious - okay nosy  :D 

I've been posting on this forum for almost a year now and the only leaks I recall reading about have been CSF leaks.  This is a new one to me and I just wondered if it's fairly rare or if it happens a lot.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they won't have to surgically reclose it.

Jan
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

lori67

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #203 on: May 18, 2008, 01:17:04 pm »
Debbi -

Maybe you could spray some Windex on it - it worked in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"?

I'm sorry to hear about your dishwasher.  I had to laugh briefly though, because it brought back memories of when my son tried to run our dishwasher a few years ago - I had just had knee surgery so he was trying to "help".  He used the liquid dishwashing detergent instead of the dishwasher stuff.  I was trying to balance like a flamingo on one foot on a wet tile floor that had bubbles about a foot deep as far as the eye could see.  I still don't know how I escaped without breaking my neck.  On the bright side, the floor never looked cleaner!

Lori
Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

Debbi

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #204 on: May 18, 2008, 03:43:43 pm »
Thanks, Kay - I don't want to win the drainage award, believe me!  Yucky.

Jan - not sure what caused this, although I will have to ask (usually I am full of questions, not sure how I missed such an obvious one!)  Trust me to have an uncommon glitch.  The doctor did say Friday that some of the fat was working its way out - pretty high on the grossnes scale.

Lori- Ah, windex!! Why didn't I think of that??  That is one of my all time favorite movies, btw!  And, yes, I did the liquid detergent trick - once.  What a sudsy mess that was. 

You should have seen the dishwasher when I walked into the kitchen this morning - water was literally gushing out the front of it.  I yelled for my husband, screaming something water everywhere - what he shared with me later was that he thought I was talking about my head and his heart nearly stopped!   ;D  My poor hubby has really been through enough stress and trauma lately between me and his dad (broken hip one week before my surgery and still in rehab...) 

Oh, and btw, I now have yet ANOTHER bonnet!  Willie decided that trying to tape the dressing to my head wasn't working so He held it in place with an ace bandage wraped around my head like a headband.  I have given up all hopes of ever looking like a normal woman again...  (Okay, but apparently, I am good for few laughs...)

I am hoping for an uneventful few days at the Northern Compound...

Debbi - The turbaned pashette...
Debbi - diagnosed March 4, 2008 
2.4 cm Right Side AN
Translab April 30, 2008 at NYU with Drs. Golfinos and Roland
SSD Right ear, Mild synkinesis and facial nerve damage
BAHA "installed" Feb 2011 by Dr. Cosetti @ NYU

http://debsanadventure.blogspot.com

Kaybo

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #205 on: May 18, 2008, 03:47:22 pm »
Debbi~
I gave up looking like a "normal" woman 12 years ago!

K
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

Jim Scott

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #206 on: May 18, 2008, 04:06:03 pm »
Debbi:

Sorry to learn about your 'drainage' problem.  I want to thank you for your tact in sparing us any 'gory' details.  I really hope it can be resolved without surgery but I can't imagine re-stitching the wound would be a major job - but that's easy for me to say.   

'Normal' is a relative term but if you mean looking the way you looked prior to your surgery, I'm sure you'll qualify very soon. 

Hang in there - and keep your plumber's number on Speed Dial.  :)

Jim
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.

wendysig

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #207 on: May 18, 2008, 04:28:36 pm »
Hi Debbi -

I'm so sorry to hear this happened again!!!  I guess Willie is getting lots of hands on training for being a personal nurse.  I hope you are feeling okay and  am gald to see you can still laugh at yourself.  Sorry about your dishwasher leak too.  I guess all of us have had that experience one way or another.  One day my husband wanted to see what was going on inside the dishwasher while it was running.  He opened the door, but somehow kept the button pressed so that the dishwasher thought the door was closed.  The entire kitchen looked like it had taken a shower, which I guess it had.  Wish I'd taken a picture of that!!!

Hope everything is OK.  I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you.

Best wishes,
Wendy
1.3 cm at time of diagnosis -  April 9, 2008
2 cm at time of surgery
SSD right side translabyrinthine July 25, 2008
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Extremely grateful for the wonderful Dr. Choe & Dr. Chen
BAHA surgery 1/5/09
Doing great!

Debbi

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #208 on: May 19, 2008, 07:48:00 am »
The Monday update ... still having discharge - emailed a photo to the doctor.  He wansts to give it another 24 hours and if it is still oozing, back to the hospital, probably for 48 hours.  UGH!  Please keep fingers crossed that it clears up before tomorrow as I REALLY don't want to go back to the hospital again...   

I am trying really hard not to feel discouraged, not sure I am succeeding.  I will make it my mission to find something good today...

Debbi - feeling a bit down in NJ...
Debbi - diagnosed March 4, 2008 
2.4 cm Right Side AN
Translab April 30, 2008 at NYU with Drs. Golfinos and Roland
SSD Right ear, Mild synkinesis and facial nerve damage
BAHA "installed" Feb 2011 by Dr. Cosetti @ NYU

http://debsanadventure.blogspot.com

Kaybo

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Re: Debbi Bifulco Update
« Reply #209 on: May 19, 2008, 07:53:52 am »
Debbi~
This stinks...so sorry.  It almost seems the better we are doing the more challenges thrown our way!
Go dig in the dirt & then take a nap!!  I bet t hat will help!!   ;)

K
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!