Made it back to Singapore!! The first few days after the operation really was grim, not only was it like being hit by a freight train full of bowling balls but after being picked off the tracks, I was then transported in a cement mixer.
I thought I would have a bit of a reaction to the knockout cocktail; I get a hang over after a night drinking Alcohol free beer. When I came round felt like I was tied to a roller coaster in the arctic, I was very cold. All the medication to sort the headache out didn’t seem to work. What did the trick was good old fashion Ice pack on my head and eyes.
It turns out I met the anesthetist Architect brother 15 years ago at a stag night in Brighton!!
Dr. Freidman spent 2 ½ hours of the 8 hour operation opening my nut to expose the tumour. I was warned a number of times before that some tumour may be left behind to preserve the facial nerve, but all went well, Dr. Schwartz managed to get all of it out.
I walked on the second day out of ICU, though moved like I was just zapped with a tazzer gun. The Third day I was doing a pretty good impression of Michael Jackson thriller video. On the fourth day I was walking unaided but looking like a 1950s robot.
They did offer the use of a walking stick but I found it more of a hindrance than a help. I do take my hiking stick when I go out, it’s more as a warning sign, as people tend to give you a bit of a wider berth when they see a stick.
What I noticed:
My tongue on the AN side has a horrible salty metallic taste, I was eating dozens of extra strong mints to get rid of the taste. At first I thought it was the CSF leak, but after doing the head between the knees test, nothing dripped so it must be the taste nerve playing silly buggers.
My SSD is no different from before, for the first few days my tinnitus was disrupted by what sounded like a washing machine, but now its back to the normal rain forest at night noise which, strange as this may sound, I find it quite soothing.
My outer two toes on both side of my feet hurt like I dropped a heavy object on them, I can only assume it is because I am now walking in a wider John Wayne stance to try and stabilize myself when moving.
And despite looking really painful its surprising how pain free the whole thing is. It was the constipation a week after the operation that was crippling, felt like I was giving birth to a very large pineapple, and I needed to be carried off the loo.
Anyway pictures time.
Excuse the ear fluff here is my lucky horse shoe scar:
Excuse my six pack, here is my tummy cut, only about and inch and half, the Docs didn’t have to did deep to find a plentiful supply of lard.
Me arriving home the day of the discharge from hospital, we told my daughter Rain I had to go to hospital to remove a potato from my head, and here is the spud the doctors found in my head. ( LOL, who knows she may develop a potato phobia )
Me and Rain on the flight back to Singapore, I felt very sick while landing could be a new sensation throwing me a bit or it was just the tiredness after a 17 hour flight kicking in.
Thanks to everyone on the forum that gave me advice and direction and well wishes, I am very happy with the results. If there is one complaint I am a bit disappointed I did not loose more weight, the steroids made me crave for ice-cream and gummy bears, factor in all the hundreds of mints I had to eat. My tummy incision stitches had a hard time keeping things together after the first week at home.
It was great to meet up with all the LA ANers, I will be back next year for my annual check up so we will get together again, or if anyone is heading over to this side of the world, drop me a line.
Rick
