[Elfsea] I'm home

[Sharon R. Saroff]

Glad to hear that you are better.  I will continue to keep you in my
prayers for a speady recovery.

Sindara


At 02:11 PM 10/22/02 -0500, you wrote:
 >Greetings to all of you,
 >If you are not interested in medical information delete now.  I also decided
 >that I didn't want to repeat myself so here goes...
 >
 >Wow was that fast.  I feel fine except that I tire easily and I sleep a lot.
 >That's to be expected.
 >
 >First my neurosurgeon told me that my surgery was controversial in 2 other
 >doctors disagreed that I needed the surgery in the first place.  He decided
 >to proceed. And I'm glad he decided to listen to me.   He also said there
 >was no guarantee that this surgery would fix my headache.  But the mass
 >needed to come out.
 >
 >I told him I understood and was more concerned about loosing my eyesight
 >than my headache. Which could have happened if the mass would have been left
 >to it's own devices and grown to affect my optic nerves in the path it was
 >on.
 >
 >Surgery went fine and I was told it took about 2 hours instead of 3 as
 >projected.
 >
 >2 surgeons worked on me.  The Ear Nose and Throat surgeon prepared my nose.
 >(The path I requested, I didn't want stitches in my mouth... it's a tactile
 >thing.) He made a very small incision on the inside my left nostril to make
 >the opening wider. I have a very small nose. The stitches are so small you
 >can barely see them and there is a small amount of swelling on my left
 >nostril, but you have to know what to look for or you'd never notice.
 >
 >Next the neurosurgeon drilled the hole in my skull from inside and at the
 >top of the sinus cavity.  He said when he broke through the skull that this
 >"gelatinous mass burst out under pressure".  He sucked out all that was
 >there and said my pituitary gland fell back into place where it was supposed
 >to be.  He also said he didn't have to puncture the sack that the brain
 >fluid is contained in.  And said my pituitary gland looked great.  So the
 >drainage I have currently have isn't brain fluid it's nose snot.
 >
 >The neurosurgeon then made a small incision in my stomach and retrieved
 >fatty tissue to mix with the bone shavings from my skull to make a plug to
 >fill in the hole in my sinus.
 >
 >The ENT came back to close up and insert packing in my nose.   So I spent
 >the next 36 hours breathing out of my mouth.  I had a 2x2 folded up under my
 >nose a tape across my face.
 >
 >I can't blow my nose for 2 weeks or I'll literally "Blow my brains out!"
 >Hehehe.  And I have to clean my nose out with q-tips, hydrogen peroxide and
 >saline nose spray.  Saline is my friend.
 >
 >It was much fun having someone else pick my nose in intensive care.  So the
 >old saying, "You can't pick your friends nose"... no longer applies.
 >
 >I had 2 really great male nurses that cared for me.  They were attentive and
 >very professional.
 >
 >So far the only worries is my pituitary gland not functioning.  I'll go back
 >for testing in 6 weeks with the endocrinologist.  They'll be concerned with
 >the hormones that control kidney function, thyroid function and a few
 >others.  So far my blood work all comes back in normal ranges.
 >
 >I want to get a hold of the Pathology report for what came out of my brain.
 >At the time of my discharge it wasn't in yet.
 >
 >If you have questions call me.  I'm home recovering and my wonderful husband
 >is doing a really good job seeing I don't need anything.
 >
 >Our Baron Daniel says we can now use my skull for bowling as I know have 3
 >additional holes in my head.  And I can truly say "I need that like I need
 >another hole in my head!"
 >
 >Love to all my friends and all those who said prayers and words of kindness.
 >I thank you for caring and extending your feelings.
 >
 >Arabella - the very grateful to be alive and kicking and in awe of medical
 >science.
 >
 >
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 >Elfsea at ansteorra.org
 >http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/elfsea