(Before I get started on today's events, I went back and read all my posts so far. I need to apologize to everyone for making them long-winded, wordy, boring, and mind-numbing. I'm surprised Google hasn't taken my blog offline for wasting internet space.)
My appointment today with Dr. Daniels was scheduled for 12:15pm. I took the whole day off from work, so I set my alarm for 8AM, thinking I'd get up and go run, and have time to make an omelette of some sort for breakfast etc. Well, I woke up wide awake at 6AM, and stared at the ceiling for two hours, thinking about my appointment. LAME.
My mother accompanied me to the Neuro's office today. She wanted to put the fear, as only a mother can, into the man that is going to cut my skull open. She was well behaved, no "DON'T HURT MY BABY!" or any such nonsense like that. Back to seriousness....
We decided for sure on the retrosiggmoid style of surgery, which is cutting a portion of skull from behind my head out, extracting the tumor, and putting it all back together, humpty dumpty style. The option of drilling behind my ear was ruled out because they typically take fat from people's stomach and putting it in the drilled hole. (I've already gotten several fat-donation offers...seriously, that is gross. No thank you.) I have like negative percent body fat, so that was a concern if we went that way. Also, drilling behind the ear is better for small tumors because the access hole is smaller than cutting out a portion of skull. Since my tumor is larger, retrosiggmoid is the best option. Also with retro, there is a slight chance of preserving some hearing, whereas translab (drill behind ear) you are guaranteed to lose all hearing on the tumor side.
In the MRI picture that I've posted, you may have noticed that the tumor looks 'lumpy'. Dr. Daniels said it may be because the tumor has cysts growing on it. That would actually be a good thing, because the cysts would just be popped and drained. This is easier and less time consuming than extracting a tumor. 'How do you extract a tumor' you ask? Well, funny you should ask, because I found out today!
Apparently they stick a probe-like thingy-doohicky into the middle of the tumor, and it sends out ultrasound waves that break down and destroy the tumor fibers. Then the doctor actually vacuums out the disgusting gel and throws it at the newest nurse in the room. Seriously, they do vacuum it out! Then they 'peel' the outside layers of the tumor off of the hearing nerve. If the tumor is 'sticky', he will leave a small layer on the facial nerve in hopes to have no permanent damage to the facial movement ability. The odds of permanent damage to the facial nerve is fairly low, about 10% for AN's, and less than 10% for Dr. Daniels because he said he's more conservative than most Neuro's. Meaning he would be more apt to leave some tumor on the facial nerve to preserve all functions of facial movement. So, you may have forgotten about it after reading all this blather, but I'm sure at first you were thinking, "What's with the Oreo and Milk reference on the post? Darin has finally lost his mind". Yes I have, but I do have a point...
I asked the Neuro to go over the MRI with me, so I could get a visual of what the big fiasco by my brain was. He said that while my tumor is 2.7CM at it's widest point, it is much less than that at it's opposite angle. He said it's shaped like an...an...wait..for...it....OREO! He also said that while the radiologist said my tumor looks like it has cystic growths, he thinks it looks too dark to be a cyst. It doesn't make too much of a difference to me, but it's easier on the neuro if it is cystic, because cysts are easier to remove than tumor, as explained earlier.
The biggest new news to me today, is that my balance nerve on my tumor-side has about 30% damage to it. During surgery the balance nerve is destroyed, so my left balance nerve will be the lone soldier keeping me from teetering over like Jacob after he gets off the tilt-o-whirl. Dr. Daniels said he was surprised that the balance nerve isn't more damaged, because with large tumors the good side usually starts compensating for the bad side for many years. Not so in my case. This means that after surgery I will feel like I'm on a tilt-o-whirl that I can't get off of. Pretty awesome, because Cedar Point is really expensive, so I get this for free! What a deal!
Dr. Daniels said that recovery time will be (approximately) 5 to 7 days in the hospital, with 4 to 8 weeks of physical therapy once a week. I'm actually looking forward to physical therapy, as I think it'd be a fun and rewarding job. I am totally bringing my resume!
(There seems to be ALOT of material here, so let me know if I need to clarify or explain in more detail anything. I also reserve the right to change and modify my views/opinions/explanations of the medical aspect of my tumor stuff. I try to get the facts right about the medical jibber-jabber, but it's possible that I've gotten something off.)
My appointment today was the last appointment before the big day. I asked Dr. Daniels if there is anything else, and he said, "Nope. See you at 8:15AM at Blodgett!". WHOA!!! It's really happening. I am supposed to be Blodgett at 6:30AM for pre-surgery stuff. I'd tell you more about that, but I guess I don't know more about that. I'm enjoying the summer so far, I went running this morning, and I played tennis with Luke this afternoon. Ben and I are also going to South Carolina to visit Karri, Siara and Morgan. Morgan is in a gymnastics tournament, so that'll be fun to see. Until next time...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I was feeling like I had an uncanny fascination with your tumor, some sort of draw to knowing about it, studying the picture, checking your blog incessantly to see if there were updates, now I know the pull...it's like an Oreo. As you may recall, I have a bit of love for Oreos, nothing obsessive or weird, I mean, who doesn't love that creamy middle surrounded by the crunch of the two chocolate cookies holding it together. I am one of those people who always eat my Oreos the same way, I pull them apart and eat the chocolate cookie side that has no filling on it, then I eat the other chocolate side with the filling...every time, no it's not weird. (cough) So, about your surgery, I'm glad you now know which way they're going in and a little more what to expect. As always, it is very interesting to hear about all this (Oreos involved or not). I'm praying for you:)
ReplyDeleteI just have to say, I knew Robyn would excitedly post on the shape of your tumor. She really does love Oreos, we even have an oreo magnet on the fridge in our apartment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. Seriously, your are not a boring writer! I think after the surgery you should really consider looking into a career in writing. You have a great style.
Oh, I guess you may want to do Physical Therapy. Well, I am sure being a physical therapist with one balance nerve would give you some great material to work with as an author . . . :)
Darin, your writing style is amazing. Someday you should write a book.....but maybe on a different subject, like "How I won a Million Dollars without even trying" or "How to buy and NBA franchise team for $7.50" something like that.
ReplyDeleteSeriously praying and all the prayer gals are too...... bless you
C'mon Nicholls...The Stearns are killing us on interacting with the blog!!!
ReplyDeleteF-I-N-A-L-L-Y.....we beat "Michigan" at something!!.......oh yeah, you know it...
ReplyDeleteWell, in defense of Michigan--I would say we just aren't as "wordy" as Iowans, but Darin's blog proves otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThe appointment yesterday was pretty amazing. I can't believe we talked with a brain surgeon--and I somewhat understood what he was saying . . . Darin's interpretation was amazing! I agree and think he should write a book, maybe on some subject that is important to the Nicholls, like ice cream.
First off, Oreos have played a big role in my life in the past week as well. My 1 1/2 year niece has discovered them and somehow know to pull them apart and eat the frosting, must be my brother-in-law. Well anyway, she's addicted to them. I prefer them with a lil peanut butter. I will never look at an Oreo the same after reading this post....
ReplyDeleteI concur, once again, with others. You're an excellent writer Darin. Maybe you should write a book about this whole experience or something. You are pretty inspiring. I'd like you to see my future home and I will hopefully be working there on Sat. Let me know if your free.
In my prayers,
Andy
Mark says
ReplyDelete"Besides beating Iowa at the unemployment game we Michigander's are pretty good at copy + paste.
And D how about a prize for a comment longer then the post.
The following is 100% true(Michael Moore is going to make a movie about it)."
Psychologists have discovered that the manner in which people eat Oreo cookies provides great insight into their personalities. Choose which method best describes your favorite method of eating Oreos:
1. The whole thing all at once.
2. One bite at a time
3. Slow and methodical nibbles examining the results of each bite afterwards.
4. In little feverous nibbles.
5. Dunked in some liquid (milk, coffee...).
6. Twisted apart, the inside, then the cookie.
7. Twisted apart, the inside, and toss the cookie.
8. Just the cookie, not the inside.
9. I just like to lick them, not eat them.
10. I don't have a favorite way because I don't like Oreo.
Your Personality:
1. The whole thing
This means you consume life with abandon, you are fun to be with, exciting, carefree with some hint of recklessness. You are totally irresponsible. No one should trust you with their children.
2. One bite at a time.
You are lucky to be one of the 5.4 billion other people who eat their Oreos this very same way. Just like them, you lack imagination, but that's okay, not to worry, you're normal.
3. Slow and Methodical.
You follow the rules. You're very tidy and orderly. You're very meticulous in every detail with every thing you do to the point of being anal retentive and irritating to others. Stay out of the fast lane if you're only going to go the speed limit.
4. Feverous Nibbles.
Your boss likes you because you get your work done quickly. You always have a million things to do and never enough time to do them. Mental breakdowns and suicides run in your family. Valium and Ritalin would do you good.
5. Dunked.
Every one likes you because you are always up beat. You like to sugar coat unpleasant experiences and rationalize bad situations
into good ones. You are in total denial about the shambles you call a life. You have a propensity towards narcotic addiction.
6. Twisted apart, the inside, and then the cookie.
You have a highly curious nature. You take pleasure in breaking things apart to find out how they work, though not always able to put them back together, so you destroy all the evidence of your activities. You deny your involvement when things go wrong. You are a compulsive liar and exhibit deviant, if not criminal, behavior.
7. Twisted apart, the inside, and then toss the cookie.
You are good at business and take risk that pay off. You take what you want and throw the rest away. You are greedy, selfish, mean, and lack feelings for others. You should be ashamed of yourself. But that's ok, you don't care, you got yours.
8. Just the cookie, not the inside.
You enjoy pain.
9. I just like to lick them, not eat them.
Stay away from small furry animals and seek professional medical help - immediately.
10. I don't have a favorite way, I don't like Oreo cookies.
You probably come from a rich family, and like to wear nice things, and go to up-scale restaurants. You are particular and fussy about the things you buy, own, and wear. Things have to be just right. You like to be pampered. You are a prim.
Mark, I think I'm a cross between a 2 & 4.
ReplyDelete(There is not a "prize" for having a longer comment than the actual blog... but you do receive the "most creative comment" award - even if it is plagarized).
Darin, I think the title of your book should be:
"I Survived the Oreo - One Bite at a Time!"
(Not to be confused with the saying "taking a bite out of crime" or "making your shoes shine" or "I've hit my prime".)