Ok I wrote a long post and somehow lost the whole thing so I will try again!
Thank you all for your support this week. My wife found it very helpful to read the posts here as she sent Debbie the updates. Debbie than you so much.
Surgery--9:30am to 5:50pm and it was an AN not a Meningioma. They say they got it all. The night of the surgery the 'team' of docs examined me and one didn't like the way I was raising my right arm. I complained that it was only because of the shunts and tubes that was making it difficult.Another doc on the team agreed with me but they decided to send me for a CT scan anyway and the results were good. Once some of the tubes were removed my arm movement was fiine.
Spinal taps--my neurosurgeon likes to drain a little fluid to prevent CFS leaks. He informed me there would be 3 taps before going home. First attempt by the intern team was not successful. they tried 3 times then I told them, '3 strikes and you are out!' ABout an hour later a senior member from the surgeon's team, Dr. George, came and infromed me he would make one attempt and I wont feel a thing. If he can't get it that would be that. One strike. He kept his word. All I felt was the injection to numb the area. The next day Dr.Jake, came and was just as good. First time they took 3 viles, next day 4 viles of fluid. The second tap left me with a slight headache and nausea. It didn't last long. That night my surgeon came in and said I was doing so well that I could go home the next day and no more taps.
Headaches--I've been pretty lucky, no real pain problems, some pain around the incision and that is pretty mild.
Wobbly--I was up and walking around as soon as they gave me a walking IV stand. They were impressed. My balance was affected before surgery so I was probably making adjustments already. While I am not as good as pre-surgery I can get around well and can do stairs without problem.
Post anesthesia-- The tubes swelled up my tongue and I have blisters on my tongue as well. This makes it hard for me to eat anything dry-cereal, crackers etc. so far coffee is my best friend.
Head.
Meds--I am currently being wined off Dexamethasone, taking pepcid and have a supply of Tylonol #3 (w/codine) which I haven't taken yet at all!
Immediate results--I have absolutely no facial paralysis. I can smile, wink, blink, open and close my eyes etc. Everytime the docs came in it was show me your teeth, then follow this finger. and they would move therer finger from right to left. It got to the point when they came in I did it myself without them asking. I just smiled and watched my own finger. They all got a kick out of that. My hearing in my eft ear seems to be gone. They said during the surgery that the nerve was showing some activity but it was weak. Time will tell. I will have another audiology test in the middle of February. We will see then but for now my overall hearing seems the same as pre-surgery since I already had loss in that ear.
Enogh typing for now. Thanks again to everyone--especially Debbie for the update posts. This forum has been so helpful I can't even express it well. All I can sy is that I am crying now and I don't cry.
Thaks so much!!!
