Update to Brain surgery thread.

[kmyers]

Good luck and prayers for the best outcome.

 

[mstem]

Prayers sent from Southside VA. Trust your Dr., everything will go just fine! Hope you are not missing from here very long.

 

[the ringo kid]

Good luck and get well... Just reading it scares the **** out me

Thank you. Also, the only thing im actually worried about--is spending the one to two nights in the hospital. Im worried for my cat Shasta who has been feeling a bit low lately. She gets scared easily now--since they built a playground behind my apartment and those kids do get wild. I dont have anyone near enough to check on her at least twice a day.

The only other thing I can think of that I worry a bit on is--if ill have a major headache after this? and if I will be allowed to take ibuprophen or something similar?

 

[the ringo kid]

Heck, put your trust in the Almighty, and we will all be asking Him, in the Name of His Son, according to His Will, to guide the hands & the eyes of those doing your surgeries and all of your care.

we all need 1)good docs, 2) good nurses 3) good medicines 4) the good Lord, not necessarily in that order.

Thank you and, I sure will. I THINK the surgery will happen at Spohn Shoreline? and they do have several members of the cloth who also spend loads of time there. I was there for a week about ten years ago--this place is top notch.

 

[the ringo kid]

I think you need to discuss this more with your doctors so you understand it better. Ask questions if you do not understand. Write down any questions before your next appointment. Have someone with you who might understand and remember more than you do.

I might mess with peoples' minds but a brain surgeon I'm not.

I did. I had my regular doctor come by after he closed shop on Thursday, he also thought it best I have the surgery. The only other neurosurgeon was alsopresant.He only works on Thursdays as he is partially retired. And another good thing is--is he will be presant when they do the actual surgery. I just dont know dates yet. This Dr--is not one who redily agrees for surgeries unless he cant see an alternative. I had a long talk with him about two weeks ago and before going to see the Neursergeon. This is one of the many reasons I like this dr as much asI do.He will not prescribe medicines and such as easily as other Drs do. The Dr I had before him-had me on eleven diff meds. Five of those meds only duplicated five others and one was not needed at all. After my first visit with him--he took me off six meds.

Anyway,I was glad he took time to come to be with me for this appointment. I was there for seven hours on Thursday.

 

[the ringo kid]

Wow Ringo! I pray every thing goes well.
If you find out the name of these procedures, I'd like to understand them better, to give me a better idea of what you face.
I know you will do well because of your strong attitude. Heck, I'm proof that people can live without a brain.

Keep us posted my friend.

Thank you sir and I sure will. I want to be as accurate as possible too. I tried doing research on the net onthis but got nothing of value and mostly gobbeldogook. Also,they gave me a DvD to watch so im sure it explains everything.Ill take notes and post what I can. Also, if anyone needs one of these dvds? I have two spares that I can send out. Just let me know and I can have them out within a few days.

Heh heh,strangely enough--ive never feared any surgeries ive had to have. When I was six--I spent a week in the hospital from double hernia. The only thing that scared me--was my room was directly over the morgue. That hospital was only three blocks from my house--so many of us neighborhood kids played in the area and knew where the morgue was.

WhenI had my gallbladder removed--I looked at it as a mini-vacation. Good thing was--some local station was also playing a marathon of Wild Bill Elliott, Tim Holt, Roy Rogers and Gene Aurtry "B" Westerns so,I watched them the entire time I was there.

 

[da gimp]

Thank you. Also, the only thing im actually worried about--is spending the one to two nights in the hospital. Im worried for my cat Shasta who has been feeling a bit low lately. She gets scared easily now--since they built a playground behind my apartment and those kids do get wild. I dont have anyone near enough to check on her at least twice a day.

The only other thing I can think of that I worry a bit on is--if ill have a major headache after this? and if I will be allowed to take ibuprophen or something similar?

Heck If'n I was worried about my pet, I'd take the critter down to our vets to board her, just to be on the safe side.....Make sure he has contact phone #'s for your kids/relatives.

On the medicines needed after surgery, they'll prescribe what you need, and tell you when to try the over the counter brands. The docs & nurses doing the surgery have helped many patients with the same thing, they'll be able to help answer any concerns you have, pre-surgery & post surgery, just tell them your concerns, tell them your symptoms..

By the way, get a lil note pad & write your questions down & when you get your list pretty much done......... ask the nurse case manager & doctor to answer your questions...........this is much better than to try just going on memory alone............ at our age memories aren't as good as they once were......& with the added worries of your coming surgery it only makes it harder to remember most things to ask them.

 

[the ringo kid]

I totally agree with the bolded. They are going to bend/staple/mutilate you a bit; ask anything and everything that will let you understand this procedure. Knowing what s going on will help put your mind at ease.

In 05 when the doctor told me I had Kidney cancer i asked a bunch of questions. When I went to the surgeon I had a heck of a lot more and my doctors were good about answering them.

Let us know before you go in and we will keep you in our thoughts/prayers.

Thank you sir and I sure will. I think the first steps are getting MRIs? and then ill have my first outpatient visit. Im guessing if everything goes smooth? I should have things started after next week. Ill have regular updates in this thread and also after I watch that DvD that also explains the surgery. Most of what I read on the internet--was mostly junk. Ill be watching the dvd on Monday and will take notes on things to post here. I think awhile back? someone had posted something on needing info on this so, hopefully I can help out as well.

 

[the ringo kid]

Prayers for the best outcome possible, Ringo.

3 years ago this June my brother had an 11 hr brain operation. His skull is still as thick as it ever was.

Im hoping hes as good as new. I noticed that his was done on the side.A local Channel six meteorologist had his done on the left side--samething it looks like. I think ill see if I can speak with him too. His was done about two weeks ago and he was back at work soon after.

 

[the ringo kid]

Oh my goodness!! Well you certainly have my prayers and positive thoughts for a good outcome and a rapid, complete and pain free recovery. You will remain on my prayer list until I see you post up that it's all done and all is well.

I WILL be thinking of you. Try to stay positive and for cryin' out loud follow the doctors orders!

Thank you sir. Also, you bet ill do as he says.They told me one of the worst things I can expect if things dont go like they should? is an infection from the stimulating device. I told him that I do wish one thing to be effected--that is--somehting that will make my metabolism go into maximum overdrive. They both laughed at that.

 

[the ringo kid]

Thank you sirs and I owe you an apology Texas star.Im still not able to do something we discussed a few months ago. My computer is its way to Dell,to find out what went bad in it. I just bought it in August and its already toast.

 

[the ringo kid]

Ringo
I had neck surgery last July. They worked on my for 6 hours and I spent one night in the Hospital. It was no fun but I am feeling fine now and am glad I had it done. I did see a second Neurosurgeon to make sure I really needed to have the surgery. We live in a great age as far as having medical care. My father suffered with the same maladies I have but I have been able to have surgeries to cure me. My father suffered. I am sure you will be fine and I am pulling for you.

Thank you and,im glad your doing better.The total time for expected for mine is about six hours spread over three days? Day one is outpatient then ill be one to two nights for step two and then last step is outpatient. Corpus only has two Neurosurgeons left. We had four-but two retired due to current ACA healthcare mess and one is partly retired but still works one day of the week.I got lucky that his day is Thursday-so he too was presant when I was with the Neurosurgeon and my regular Dr. I had three Drs for the price of one. Anyway,they all agreed I needed surgery so--im stoked for it.

Ill be posting regularly on this also because someone several months ago posted needing info about this kind of surgery. I have two spare DvDs on this if anyone is interested in watching one? I have no probs on sending them a copyif wanted?

 

[the ringo kid]

I imagine the one percent chance of death is largely a result of anesthesia incidents and various infections more so than the procedure itself. I hope you will be fine and imagine you will be.

That is one thing we touched on. Mainly,the one percent chance--is mostly due to the person having poor health problems like--poor heart conditions or diabetes and other majors conditions. Thankfully--im not bothered with anything of that nature-so they both said I shouldnt have anything to worry about. Ive not lost any sleep over anything discussed.

Im going to tell the anesthesiaologist that I want them to make sure I get whats needed. Back when my left foot was being operated on--I did feel loads of pain when they were still cutting into my foot. I wasnt able to speak but,I guess I was starting to squirm about and they must have realized I was prematurely coming about--and I guess they figured I needed more gas--and I dont remember anything else from that surgery.

I think they must have thought that since I did feel pain--that I might sue them? so they never charged me for the second foot surgery. I never thought about suing them anyway but--I kept my mouth shut over it.

 

[the ringo kid]

My prayers are also sent. You have more guts than I do. I don't think I could even TALK about drilling a hole in my head, let alone have someone actually do it.
Godspeed and quick recovery!

P.S. in case, after the procedure, you forget who's guns those are in your safe, they're mine, ok? Just PM me for my address.

I had a good reply and a gun story but--wifi is messing up so will have to repost tomorrow when I get to a better area with wifi.

Ill be back sometime Monday forthe rest of you gents.

 

[Wyatt p. Tato]

I will pray for you Ringo. It most likely sounds worst than it is. Just last week I had my second abdominal surgery in a year for the same problem, they didn't fix the problem and had to redo it. Any surgery is hard. They messed up my throat with the breathing tube this time.

 

[the ringo kid]

My prayers are also sent. You have more guts than I do. I don't think I could even TALK about drilling a hole in my head, let alone have someone actually do it.
Godspeed and quick recovery!

P.S. in case, after the procedure, you forget who's guns those are in your safe, they're mine, ok? Just PM me for my address.

Thank you and,I tried giving a better reply yesterday but wifi was messing up. Anyway,you guys have more guts than I can--ill be sleeping and hopefully not awaking sometime during the drilling.I had both feet operatedon back about five years ago.First one went perfectly--I started waking upwhile I was being sawed intoon the left fot.I wanted to scream and such asI felt every bit of it--but I guesssed they noticed I was squirming a bit and gassed me some more. I noticed I never recieved a bill for the second surgery.I guess they figured Imight sue---but I never gave it any thought.

On the guns--short story. My idiot brother--had a severe case of the stupids and GAVE away all my dads guns--including that Winchester I wanted. My grandfather captured that Winchester off of one of Pancho villas bandits he killed. That bandit took that rifle when they raided Colombus New Mexico. Because of my brothers stupidity--he's permanently off the list of those who will get what I have--so you have one less person to compete with.

 

[the ringo kid]

Brain surgery? Now I know why you befriended me! That's OK, you can discontinue our friendship as soon as you're well.

Seriously Carl, prayers and blessings sent your way.

You might not have to worry about that.Imay not be able to remember how to get on the net.

 

[the ringo kid]

Wishing you the best, my thoughts are with you.

Thank you Snubby. I also look forward to---after my bills are settled--to getting you to makeme two holsters.I need two--one for each sside-since I now have two Heritage Arms SSA Rough Riders. Being a Westerns fan,I wanted to go around looking a bit like Wild Bill Elliott. He wore his two revolvers butt-forward.

 

[the ringo kid]

Wishing you luck here. My x BIL had two surgeries. Came through just fine. Try not to worry too much about it, you'll come through it just fine.

Glad to hear about his good news.Truthfully, the only other thing im worried about--is my hospital bill. It'll be an expensive over night or two night stay.Last time I was in--I was in for five days--paid roughly five hundred out of pocket. I want to buy another gun in August and hope the funds will be there?

 

[the ringo kid]

Carl, as others have suggested, make a list of questions and have someone attend your next Dr apt with you. Two heads are better than one, (Ok that was a poor gag but it was the best I could come up with) that way they can help remember all the questions and answers. Wishing you a quick and speedy recovery.

Hi sir,I did.I also had my reular Dr there as well as a semi-retired Neurosurgeon.The semi-retired guy only works on thursdays and I was in luck since I had my appton that day.Anyway,they all did agree I needed it Some of the problems that is happening that I needed addressed are:
Memory loss-short term.
Im losing the ability to hold a glass without spilling its contents.
I can no longer handwrite ligible letters. Just ask Ron--he was the recipient of one of mine.
Im also losing balance and am getting stints of disorientation.

I dont know what all surgery can fix?but do know at least a few symptoms will be gratly reduced. The surgery ill have is of the kind where--at a later date--they can upgrade on.There is another surgery where no upgrade is possible--but I dont know the name of it.