Author Topic: Had my GK today!!!  (Read 2712 times)

jps311

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Had my GK today!!!
« on: February 13, 2009, 07:04:15 pm »
Hi everyone its Paul,

So i arrived at the tufts medical center in Boston MA at 615 am and made my way through the GK process. Starting with the medicine and IV. Then i had my frame attached to my head. Which i must say it wasn't that bad. Kind of easy. Just a few pinches and that;s all. Had another MRI and found that my tumor grow more after only 3 months. So having the gamma knife will finally take care of this. God willing.

I must say this that i always felt that my dad was with me throughout this process. Not to forget i have a wonderful family and friends and anawesome wife. But knowing my dad was there really helped take some pressure away. Also thanks for all the input you all have shared with me over the last months. Getting on is the next step.

I feel tired from the meds and my pain is ok. Still ringing in my left ear but still have hearing there as well. I have a follow up appt. in a month and then propabaly another mri. Knowingly that it will be stopped growing and i will start to enjoy the baseball season and walks with my wife.

Thank you again, Paul

carter

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Re: Had my GK today!!!
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2009, 09:38:26 pm »
i am glad that your day was good.

i take it that your dad has passed?  family is good.

my parayers are with you ... and positive thoughts for teh tumor dieing
Diagnosed in fall of 2008 with 1.6 * 2.9cm AN on left side. 

Scheduled CK at Oklahoma Cyber Knife in December, 2008 and decided not to proceede on 2nd date that CK was scheduled.  I fired them.

CK performed at St John's Hospital (Tulsa)Jan 2009

sgerrard

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Re: Had my GK today!!!
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2009, 09:55:36 pm »
Got it done. Welcome back to the forum, postie Paul.  ;)

There will probably be at least one little bump along the way, just to remind you that you used to have an AN, but baseball will be more important - along with your wife, of course.  ;)

Steve
8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.

Tisha

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Re: Had my GK today!!!
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2009, 02:55:39 am »
Congratulations on the treatment!  Doesn't it feel GREAT to have it over with and not worry about that part of the journey anymore?  Let us know how everything goes.

Tisha
1.7 x 1.0 x .9 cm (diagnosed Oct 2008)
1.8 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm  (July 2010-swelling)
1.5 x .9 x .9 cm  (Mar 2013 - 5 yr MRI)
Cyberknife at Stanford, week of 1/12/09 -  Drs. Chang and Soltys

Jim Scott

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Re: Had my GK today!!!
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2009, 01:55:30 pm »
Paul:

Congratulations on completing the Gamma Knife procedure relatively unscathed, as it were. I can understand your relief at being past this milestone in your AN 'journey'.  Now, rest as needed and then, it's 'Batter Up!'.  :)

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.

ppearl214

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Re: Had my GK today!!!
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2009, 07:36:30 am »
Congrats Paul! You are the first AN'er that I know of that had GK at Tufts (not saying you are the first.... only the first one that I have heard) and tickled you are now a "Postie". Please keep us updated to your progress. Many have inquired to me about GK at Tufts and I'd like to follow along with your progress.  Continued wellness wishes to you and again, welcome to "postiehood!"

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

GRACE1

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Re: Had my GK today!!!
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2009, 08:16:53 am »
Paul,

From one GKer to another, CONGRATULATIONS!!!  The head frame is indeed not that bad.  Take care!!!!

Grace
Diagnosed 7/06: AN - right side: 1.3cm in transverse dimension, 6mm in AP dimension, and 6mm in cephalocaudal dimension.
GK 12/06- Wake Forest Univ Baptist Med Ctr
MRI 5/07- Some necrosis;  Now SSD
MRI 12/08- AN size has reduced 50%
MRI 12/11- AN stable (unchanged from 12/08)
Next MRI: 12/16

jps311

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Re: Had my GK today!!!
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2009, 05:22:13 pm »
Hi Phyl,

I will keep you posted if i get any of the post GK side effects. So far i have had none other than to be very tired. But i also had friends and family in and out all weekend.  As for tufts i would recommend it to any who wants GK or the surgery. I met 2 of the great Drs. there. My procedure was pretty painless. I am glad to be a postie but won't be happy till i see that first Mri that tells me that its stop growing or shrinking. Just being a cautious person. I am a results kind of guy. But so far so good. Hearing in tach and still have the ringing in the ear.

If any one has questions about tufts i will answer them as good as i can. My experience was great. Thanks Paul