MRI's and claustrophobia.

Oh geez.

Since I can't start my story with today, I'll start it with Monday.

I've been having pain in my axilla (aka my armpit... aka Bob's home 2.5 years ago). I told my doctor about it, said I wasn't sure if it was scar tissue irritating the nerve or new Bob tumors (he was resected, so there are lots of little Bob's that the hope was they would lose their blood flow and die, not regrow). Anyway, the doctor suggested an ultrasound.

Wednesday had the ultrasound.

I saw on the screen, the oval thing she was measuring.

Only I found out later, they were oval thingS. 2. They're about 1x2cm each. They are lesions (masses). Not cool.

My doctor wants an MRI. Of course I agree.

A referral snafu ties it up for 2 days, and they get me into the MRI machine at the hospital on Sunday (today).

Only it didn't get done.

I've had MRI's before. Even an MRI of my axilla!

But today I FREAKED OUT. I had the worst panic attack I have ever experienced. I was shaking so hard my arms were banging the machine. I seriously lasted only about 10 seconds in the MRI machine before they had to pull me out (or I would have been clawing my way out). Apparently I am severely claustrophobic.

They told me I needed to contact my doctor about sedation and then, once that's set up, to reschedule. I'm trying to figure out how much they would have to sedate me to get me in that machine for 30 minutes or more. It's a full chest MRI with and without contrast.

Anyway, a bunch of updates in one. I have plenty more about other life stuff, but this seems to be taking priority right now.

Ugh.

Healing

The incision is healing beautifully :)

I'm on a new medicine to treat the nerve problems. I got way too hypersensitive, it feels like my hand is on fire. Cold water helps, but it immediately returns when I take my hand out of the water :(

Doc says that happens when they manipulate a nerve... The trauma from surgery makes the nerve freak. It should heal over time... Hopefully soon, since my writing is at a standstill waiting on being able to use the computer keyboard (I use my Palm phone to do everything online - crazy, right?! No internet at home!).

Hoping it heals as well as the cut!

No pathology (I know, I'm going to have to call the lab myself to see wtf is going on)...

Kids doing fantastic. Audrey will be 5 (what!?!?) on 7/11... Oh my... I'm sure there will be a sappy blog post that day... I am so proud of that little lady ;)

The Hubs's still working like crazy. One day off a week and one half day off... He's next in line to get his store... Hopefully before August, since we don't want to move the kids once school starts.

I still can't believe I'm going to be a Kindergartner's mommy next year... My baby girl is growing up!

That's all for now - love to all!

Surgery Details

I'm finally getting around to it... Most of them are in my previous post, but here's the whole boring (thankfully!) story...

I checked in at 5:30am, and by 6:15am had finished the admissions paperwork. They were waiting for me, and immediately took me to the 2nd floor - the pre-op holding area. The Hubs and my grandmother, Nanny, had to wait downstairs...

I had to do all the normal prep stuff (minus peeing in the cup - yay for hysterectomies!). I had to take *everything* off and put on their weird hospital paper gown. I joked with them about the necessity of taking my undies off for an armpit surgery (its because in long surgeries bunched clothing can cause sores, bruising and other issues).

I got my IV. My least favorite part!

At this point it was around 7am.

They let The Hubs come up, to say goodbye.

The neurosurgery resident came by and drew on Bob (marking the surgery spot). The anesthesiologist came by, as well as the assistant. We went over the risks and my health issues. He told me he was also planning on giving me lidocaine during surgery for my PVC's. He was awesome. Then the doctor in charge of the OR came by.

I noticed they were looking around, and the dr left. Then the anesthesiologist said it was time to go, and started moving the bed.

For the first time in any of my surgeries, I started crying. The Hubs kissed me goodbye and headed downstairs as they rolled me into the operating wing.

Just about then the goofy juice kicked in... There were tons of drs and nurses gathered outside the OR's in various hallways... The anesthesiologist was wheeling me, and I laughed "one point for nurses, two points for doctors!"

Next thing I know we're in an OR and all the people I met are scrubbed up. I move myself to another bed, and they put the oxygen on...

I woke up pretty pain free in post-op. The first thing I see is my anesthesiologist, another dr and a few nurses standing around my bed looking up at my monitor. They notice I'm awake and the anesthesiologist says "Your heart was freaking out a little. Don't worry, we gave you something and it looks like you're doing fine now."

Everything else was uneventful. My doctor apparently said I did so well I could go home that day if I wanted. I'm sure it had a lot to do with the fact the hospital was full (neurosurgery had no beds).

Roughly 7 hours... Procedure time was 4.5 to 5. Looooong time, but pretty much what we expected. When we left, my grandmother took me to Walgreens... I wouldn't stay in the car (she mentioned something about hard-headed...). I promptly threw up a ton upon my arrival at home. Bad choice, apparenly :P

Most of Bob is gone - he had to leave a little... Which means Bob may be back.

He had to cut a nerve fiber that was too involved in the tumor. We won't know the permanent affects of that for a few weeks - that's when the nerve starts to calm down from surgery trauma.

Right now, I have a little incision pain. I am hypersensitive in my hand - the middle and pointer fingers hurt horribly with any touch or even a breeze. The entire underneath of my arm is DEAD numb... Like I can pinch it and feel *nothing*. Hopefully all that resolves.

Other than that, normal surgery recovery. Tired, some nausea...

But Bob's reign is over!

Now if I could just get the pathology report... Its not back to the doctor yet :( I'll post as soon as I know anything.

Bob is No More!

I'll post a longer update later, but here's the proof!

New Bob Photo

Here's a new pic of my neurofibroma/schwannoma (aka Bob).
Taken 6/6/2009.

Say Hello to Bob!

(terrible pic, but I can't get a better one...)

Yikes!

Time is going by too fast!

This week we have JT's IEP meeting, so he'll probably start school next Monday. I am SO nervous about that!

Then, my pre-op appointment is 3/9 at Vanderbilt, and surgery is on for Friday 3/13. I'm surgery #2, so I get there at 9am and surgery starts at 11am. It's a 5 hour surgery, so I'm a little nervous... Okay, a LOT nervous. But 'Bob' is making me feel SO sick, it is time for him to go!!!

I have been warned that I won't have much function post-op in my right arm. The incision may just be a 'Z' in my armpit - or it may go all the way up to my neck. It depends on if they can get it out using the smaller one. I also got the warning about the possibilities of negative outcomes... There is a vein and an artery on each side of the nerve, so if something happened (which it hasn't before, nor do we expect it to) I could lose my arm. Just about jumped out of my skin when he said that! They know about my morphine allergy, so hopefully no surprises for my nurses this time!!!

JT is counting to 13 (haha - just realized the relation to the paragraph above!), and Audrey has taught herself how to add... JT is still talking like crazy - my current favorite is (of course) Momma and 'Aw, man!' (just like Swiper!).

The Hubs's store did really well for the month of February - just hope that continues!

That's all for now, my hand REALLY hurts now when I type for too long.

Love to all -
Kate

So Much For That!!!

Today I met with one of the best Neurosurgeons in Nashville. (Don't believe me? Here's Dr. Howell's profile - of the Howell-Allen Clinic in Nashville). He was an awesome doctor - I would highly recommend him for anyone who needs a neurosurgeon in the area.

He said that he's not experienced enough with brachial plexus surgery to take this lump out. He insisted it must come out, and was concerned over its growth and new pain.

He promised he would find me the person he would want operating on his brachial plexus. He wants to try Vanderbilt, but mentioned that the surgery might not be in Nashville. He said he would 'have no problem calling across the country to find the right surgeon to do the surgery'.

I guess I didn't realize how complicated this really is. I thought surely this was a common neurosurgery issue, and they would schedule me right in and take it out, no problems (besides maybe some physical therapy, etc).

He's calling me back in the next few days with more information. I'm hoping to get this sucker out soon, but I'm not holding my breath. I swear, nothing is ever simple when it comes to my medical issues!!!