Surgery/Biopsy

Had surgery on Nov. 4th. After getting in late for the operation, surgery lasted about 4-6 hours (I don't really remember...) We were hoping they could remove the tumor. Unfortunately, the tumor is too intertwined with my nerves to be safely removed, so the doctors thought it best to only biopsy. They sent the biopsy to Stanford Med. I was in the recovery room at around 1 am and didn't get to my hospital room in the Nuerosurgery section till about 3 am. There I was told I had to stay flat on my back for 36 hours because of all the spinal fluid I lost during surgery. Needless to say, that sucked. My first roommate was pretty normal, but by about the third (I believe...) on the second night was a little more needy. She was an older woman who kept getting out of bed, walking around, removing her IV... apparently, the room I was in is where they put their more needy patients (as in mental issues) because the poor lady thought it was 1996. 

After that night, they moved me down the hall. My roommate there was nice and left after a few days so I had the room to myself. Once I was moved down the hall, they started to give me more solid foods. Apparently, my belly didn't really like that because part of my intestines didn't want to "wake up" and wasn't working. So, I had to have a tube shoved down my nose into my stomach to remove the food. That was seriously one of the most painful and disturbing things I've ever had to have done. Once that was done, I definitely felt better... I was up walking a bit, but not very much. At this point, my neurosurgeon decided I should got to "rehab". I said sure, why not? (I really didn't know what that meant, but whatever..)

So, after being in the main hospital for a week, I was moved to the inpatient rehab center. Probably the best thing I could have done for myself. I learned how to do things for myself with my limited mobility and got stronger and more able to get around. I had three hours everyday of a combination of physical therapy and occupational therapy. With the PT, we worked on getting stronger. With the OT, we worked on how to shower, cook, build upper body strength. I spent two weeks there and got out in time for Turkey Day.

I am now starting up with outpatient rehab since I am still pretty weak. (I'm using a walker and/or wheel chair to get around since I have muscle weakness from not moving around much and the tumor.) I'm also not allowed to drive myself around, something about all the drugs I'm taking and the braces I have to wear... whatever. 

I am going to Stanford Medical on Tuesday (leaving Monday, so let's hope the pass is pretty clear...) to discuss radiation treatment for the tumor. (I have what's called an astrocytoma. If you google it, don't get too freaked out. It's only in my spine, not my brain...) I will probably do Cyberknife radiation treatments. I'm hoping I can get it done here since St. Mary's has a cyberknife machine but I might have to continue to go to Stanford. In any case, we're really hoping this works and we'll do what we need to do...

So, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Also, thanks to everyone that sent cards or gifts or came to visit me. I really do appreciate the thought that went into doing that for me. ;0)