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Prayer thread for pr1nsis
Hello...starting a prayer thread for pr1nsis who will be heading into surgery at noon tomorrow!! Just wanted to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers...and that you are not alone, we are all there in spirit!
I hope you surgery goes well and that your recovery is swift and free of complications!
Carolyn
I hope you surgery goes well and that your recovery is swift and free of complications!
Carolyn
COMMUNITY LEADER
Thanks for the update.....glad u r feeling so well..remember tho, do not overdo it...and that is easy to do when u r feeling so good...and it is normal to feel great right after surgery and then to begin to feel badly again around the 2 to 3 month point...all part of the healing process.
Sending prayers ur recovery continues to stay positive : )
"selma"
Sending prayers ur recovery continues to stay positive : )
"selma"
Sorry i didn't post yesterday!
my doctor used a 'dura patch kit'. he said it was bovine that goes through this long synthetic process that removes any 'animal' product and it gets made into this patch 'stuff'. its gross to think i have cow by product in my body - but then again - its amazing what they can do!!
@lisa - i do have VERY thick hair. i actually went and got two inches cut off (although its still long - past the middle of my back) and asked that they think my hair (to make it slightly more managable after). it is a VERY small spot that they shaved and mine is already starting to grow back!!
overall - im feeling great... i had a 'bad' day today (neck sore from all the stretching ive been trying to do [as directed by my doctor]) and probably from getting my (21) stitches out yesterday.
this has been a pretty positive experience all things considered.
~jb
my doctor used a 'dura patch kit'. he said it was bovine that goes through this long synthetic process that removes any 'animal' product and it gets made into this patch 'stuff'. its gross to think i have cow by product in my body - but then again - its amazing what they can do!!
@lisa - i do have VERY thick hair. i actually went and got two inches cut off (although its still long - past the middle of my back) and asked that they think my hair (to make it slightly more managable after). it is a VERY small spot that they shaved and mine is already starting to grow back!!
overall - im feeling great... i had a 'bad' day today (neck sore from all the stretching ive been trying to do [as directed by my doctor]) and probably from getting my (21) stitches out yesterday.
this has been a pretty positive experience all things considered.
~jb
Thank you Carolyn. I will give it a look.
Thank you Jada, I am curious to know.
I've looked at the photos some of you have posted post-surgery. Scars aside - almost everyone looks like they have such thick hair!!!!! Mine is fine & thin. All of it pulled together is about half the thickness of one braid in my daughters hair (you know, one of two braids). I'm thinking even if they take a small swipe up the back of the head, it's going to look so silly. I'll probably go with a short short style and try to rock out the wicked-zipper look ; )
Lisa
Thank you Jada, I am curious to know.
I've looked at the photos some of you have posted post-surgery. Scars aside - almost everyone looks like they have such thick hair!!!!! Mine is fine & thin. All of it pulled together is about half the thickness of one braid in my daughters hair (you know, one of two braids). I'm thinking even if they take a small swipe up the back of the head, it's going to look so silly. I'll probably go with a short short style and try to rock out the wicked-zipper look ; )
Lisa
I'm glad that you got another surgery date so quickly!!! I'm equally as happy to hear that everything went well and that you are doing ok (considering the circumstances!)
Lisa- From my knowledge, they don't put anything there in place of the bone because the purpose of the removal is to create a larger area to lessen the overcrowding. The piece of skull they remove is right by the foramen magnum (the opening of the skull where the spinal cord comes through) so basically they just make it larger. It is in a place where you can't bang it etc..
This video shows where they take the bone out, it is about mid way through the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2uN6zDsV50&feature=fvw
I hope that you continue to see improvements!
Carolyn
Lisa- From my knowledge, they don't put anything there in place of the bone because the purpose of the removal is to create a larger area to lessen the overcrowding. The piece of skull they remove is right by the foramen magnum (the opening of the skull where the spinal cord comes through) so basically they just make it larger. It is in a place where you can't bang it etc..
This video shows where they take the bone out, it is about mid way through the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2uN6zDsV50&feature=fvw
I hope that you continue to see improvements!
Carolyn
thanks ray!! time and rest will heal the pain im sure... just gotta remember to go slow!!
how are you doing?!?!
how are you doing?!?!
Glad you are home, sorry you are having some pain issues and the scar is awful but they should heal. I hope things improve for you and you are back in good health soon :)
Ray
Ray
Hi Lisa!
I know they did put a little graft back there - but im not sure what its made of. I have my follow up next week (to have my stitches removed) I will ask then!
and like selma said - the hair part is determined by the surgeon. im blessed that mine only took a VERY small amount as my hair is to the middle of my back!!
I know they did put a little graft back there - but im not sure what its made of. I have my follow up next week (to have my stitches removed) I will ask then!
and like selma said - the hair part is determined by the surgeon. im blessed that mine only took a VERY small amount as my hair is to the middle of my back!!
Thanks Selma. I met with my NS Dr. Batzdorf this past Friday (he no longer does the surgeries) and he did cover how he likes to do it. I asked about the piece and he did say sometimes he will do the titanium piece, but it isn't usually necessary. I'm sure they have it down - but it just kinda creeps me out a little to not have something there. Probably just my "control issue" thing. I like things to be the way they're "supposed to be" ;)
Lisa
Lisa
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi...it depends on the dr, some do use a titanium mesh plate...some do not.....the piece removed is soooooooo small most do not feel it is necessary.
These r questions u have to ask ur NS when scheduling ur surgery.Just as some shave minimal amounts of hair, while others shave quite a bit.....
It is very important that u ask ur dr specific questions as they all tend to handle surgery differently.
"selma"
These r questions u have to ask ur NS when scheduling ur surgery.Just as some shave minimal amounts of hair, while others shave quite a bit.....
It is very important that u ask ur dr specific questions as they all tend to handle surgery differently.
"selma"
Welcome back Jada! Glad to hear they got you rescheduled so quickly after the postponement! I'm happy for you that all went well. Keep us posted on how you're feeling.
Do they put anything in place of the skull piece they remove? I keep looking for this "missing" piece of information ;) and haven't found the answer yet...
Lisa
Do they put anything in place of the skull piece they remove? I keep looking for this "missing" piece of information ;) and haven't found the answer yet...
Lisa
Hi everyone!!
I'm home!!
I had my surgery on the 1st of October and was released yesterday morning! I had a few rough nights in the hospital (some blood pressure dropping issues - happens i guess with some pain meds).
So I'm VERY sore and feel like i've been in a car accident (since i can't really move my head still). they said my surgery went well -no suprises... they took a small 2cm x 2cm square from my skull base, removed my C1, and placed the dural graft! although my incision looks AWFUL, the hairloss is no where as bad as i thought it would be (i will post some pictures for those who want to see!)
hope everyone else is okay too!!
~jada
I'm home!!
I had my surgery on the 1st of October and was released yesterday morning! I had a few rough nights in the hospital (some blood pressure dropping issues - happens i guess with some pain meds).
So I'm VERY sore and feel like i've been in a car accident (since i can't really move my head still). they said my surgery went well -no suprises... they took a small 2cm x 2cm square from my skull base, removed my C1, and placed the dural graft! although my incision looks AWFUL, the hairloss is no where as bad as i thought it would be (i will post some pictures for those who want to see!)
hope everyone else is okay too!!
~jada
I'm so sorry...if it's any consolation, that happened to me too. The only difference was I found out a day or two before...but still it was so disappointing...
I pray you get another date quickly!
Carolyn
I pray you get another date quickly!
Carolyn
Oh my....Was coming by to send good vibes and just read your post...what a deflation...I cannot imagine working yourself up and planning, only to have it cancelled. Big hugs to you!!!! Hoping the new date is soon.
Thank you everyone for the prayers!!
I was suppose to be at the hospital at 10am for surgery at 12pm. I was there at 9:40am and got all my testing done - and they got my IV in... about 12:40 the head nurse came in and told me my doctor has gotten 'tied' up and there would be no way he would get to me today and that it was CANCELLED!!!
so after many tears - I'm home... waiting for the phone to ring with a NEW surgery date... as if its not already hard enough to get yourself ready for brain surgery... but i guess i'll get to do it again!!
thanks again for the nice comments!!
~jb
I was suppose to be at the hospital at 10am for surgery at 12pm. I was there at 9:40am and got all my testing done - and they got my IV in... about 12:40 the head nurse came in and told me my doctor has gotten 'tied' up and there would be no way he would get to me today and that it was CANCELLED!!!
so after many tears - I'm home... waiting for the phone to ring with a NEW surgery date... as if its not already hard enough to get yourself ready for brain surgery... but i guess i'll get to do it again!!
thanks again for the nice comments!!
~jb
COMMUNITY LEADER
Sending good vibes ~~~~ and prayers to u and all in charge of ur care.
"selma"
"selma"
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