Re: Surgery this Tuesday

[Guest guest]

Hi, Annie --

You are going to feel SO much better on Wednesday. The waiting

really IS the hardest part. This is going to be okay. Here are

some answers to your questions:

1. Immediate Recovery: Some doctors put a cup-like thing over the

ear to protect it, then bandaging around the head to hold it on.

Our doctor created a neoprene bandage holder-onner that velcros open

and closed. He uses it to hold several 4 " x4 " pieces of sterile

gauze over the ear. This was worn round the clock for 2 days, and

now our son (who is 6) is without it during the day, but is bandaged

back up for nighttime so his ear won't get folded over. No, the

head won't have a full turban-like bandage. Just sort of an ear-

warmer headband type bandage. You will have to change the dressing

at home 1-2x/day. Ask the hospital to give you at least 1 day's

supply of dressing materials, and then if they don't give you extras

for the whole shebang, ask specifically what you should buy. Try

for a " no stick " (not fluffy, more like the pad in a band-aid) pad

for right next to the ear. Peels away pretty easily. (We just

spent $45 on dressing stuff at a medical supply drugstore.)

He might fiddle with the packing, might not. My son didn't even know

it was there until we pointed it out this morning (6 days later).

Back to school: Our doc said one week. Others say longer. Depends

on your doc, but your son is likely to seem ready to you well before

that. They bounce back so fast.

Playground: Sorry, not a good idea. No swings. No jumping, no

physical exertion for a month (says our doc). So I stay

away, 'cause what fun is a playground if you can't do that?

However, if your son is happy in a sand pit, go for it.

Pain: My son only made two references to pain, and at that, only

needed regular Tylenol. Discomfort from the headbandage and ear

packing are more likely. Note, if he mentions ear pain, he might

must mean the head bandage is too tight. I suspect discomfort from

the packing is also likely.

2. Followup: We only go once -- doc will remove the packing and

peek in to see how it's doing. Our doc said, " Looks like hamburger

in there, which is just exactly how it's supposed to look at this

point. " Didn't go back for another 3 months.

3. Hearing: Hearing from that ear depends on how many bones are

lost to the ctoma, and whether the doc can leave the eardrum in.

He/she will likely try to reconstruct at some point, but every

person is different. I expected our son to have pretty much no

hearing at all, but was pleasantly surprised.

4. Swimming: Expect no swimming for 3 months. That's what our doc

said. Longer possibly if a CWD. Depressing, isn't it? My son's

restriction is until mid-July, at the END of our vacation. Stinks

and upsets me, but we will cope.

5. Appearance: I don't know about CWD, but CWU looks perfectly

normal. His ear sticks out a *little* more than usual, and there is

a very thin scar in the crease behind his ear, but otherwise,

normal. Doesn't look like enstein or anything. :-)

6. Recurrence: Our doc would not give me any statistics. Every

person is different, every ctoma is different. My son's recurred,

but that doesn't mean your son's will!

7. Other Ear: Also never heard any statistics about 2 ears vs. 1

ear incidence. For what it's worth, I'm not concerned about that,

but we'll just be mindful in case something seems weird over there

in the next few years. Take one thing at a time, try not to worry

about what " could " be.

Best of luck to you and your son. Remember to breathe ... :-)

Alice

>

> Hi All,

>

> I am getting very nervous about the upcoming surgery on my 3year

old

> son, Zack. The docs think that his c-toma is congenital due to it's

> extensive size. They think that it has affected all the hearing

bones

> and exposed the facial nerve. (ugh).It seems to be contained in the

> middle ear and mastoid.

>

> Can anyone out there help me with the following:

>

> 1. Immediate recovery. Will his entire head be bandaged up or just

his

> ear? Will he be able to fiddle with the packing? When will he be

back

> to school? Is play ground a no no? Will he be in pain or just

> uncomfortable?

>

> 2. Follow up. What are the weekly check ups all about. Wll they

> manipulate the packing and if so do they need to put him out every

> time? He is only 3 and I'm sure won't sit still.

>

> 3. Will he be able to hear at all from that ear now or down the

road?

>

> 4. Has anyone had a CWD or CWU right before summer and what is the

> prognosis for swimming?

>

> 5. Will his ear appear normal from the outside?

>

> 6. What is the chance of this coming back?

>

> 7. What is the chance of this effecting his other ear? The stories

are

> beginning to really get to me.

>

> Help. Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated. Annie

[Guest guest]

Doug,

Good luck.

May God that you know and love keep you in tact. I will put your name in our

book of prayers... I am a left hander and had problems with my shoulder in the

90's and I could not write with my left hand. My right is like your left.

God bless you.

Sr. Volz, C.R.

uca79iii <uca79iii@...> wrote:

Well gang, the ruptured disk in my neck is getting extremely painful

and now I can't use my right hand. This typing with the left is for

the birds. I am right handed and can't even hold pencil for tne

numbness. UGH!

I will be having disk fusion surgery Tuesday. I had C-4 through 6

fused in 2000, the culprit now is between C-6 & 7. Well, like they

say, " BEEN THERE DONE THAT "

My wife, and mother in law will have a break for a few weeks while I

have no speaking voice. My mother in law has 40% of her hearing left

in one ear and I won't be able to speak. Oh boy, are we going to have

fun LOL!

Most of you know that I am a church music minister, have a degree in

vocal music and I must have my singing voice! There is a chance I

might permanently loose my singing voice but it didn't happen last time.

One thing I WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT is my asthma thanks to Xolair

Doug

Group founder

Co-owner-moderator

Pain in the neck (grin)

[Guest guest]

>

> Doug,

> Good luck.

> May God that you know and love keep you in tact. I will put your

name in our book of prayers... I am a left hander and had problems

with my shoulder in the 90's and I could not write with my left hand.

My right is like your left.

> God bless you.

> Sr. Volz, C.R.

>

>

Thank you Sister May God bless you too!

Doug

[Guest guest]

Doug,

Prayers going up for you and toes and fingers crossed.

You will be on all of our minds Tuesday, Please know we care!!

Hugs !!!

Donna (Washington)

----- Original Message -----

From: uca79iii

Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 5:38 AM

Subject: [ ] Surgery this Tuesday

Well gang, the ruptured disk in my neck is getting extremely painful

and now I can't use my right hand. This typing with the left is for

the birds. I am right handed and can't even hold pencil for tne

numbness. UGH!

I will be having disk fusion surgery Tuesday. I had C-4 through 6

fused in 2000, the culprit now is between C-6 & 7. Well, like they

say, " BEEN THERE DONE THAT "

My wife, and mother in law will have a break for a few weeks while I

have no speaking voice. My mother in law has 40% of her hearing left

in one ear and I won't be able to speak. Oh boy, are we going to have

fun LOL!

Most of you know that I am a church music minister, have a degree in

vocal music and I must have my singing voice! There is a chance I

might permanently loose my singing voice but it didn't happen last time.

One thing I WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT is my asthma thanks to Xolair

Doug

Group founder

Co-owner-moderator

Pain in the neck (grin)

[Guest guest]

Doug,

Best wishes on the surgery!! I just saw the Ortho last week and he put me on

600 Ibuprofen 3x daily. It's great for killing the pain but doesn't do much for

the nerve problems. I've got tingling in all 5 fingers on my left hand and

numbness on the left side of my face. It's off for an epidural next week and a

trip to Northwestern U for a 2nd opinion before I consider surgery. Mine is

C5/C6 and a right pain in the neck LOL. I hope all goes well. Rest up and get

healthy!

uca79iii <uca79iii@...> wrote:

Well gang, the ruptured disk in my neck is getting extremely painful

and now I can't use my right hand. This typing with the left is for

the birds. I am right handed and can't even hold pencil for tne

numbness. UGH!

I will be having disk fusion surgery Tuesday. I had C-4 through 6

fused in 2000, the culprit now is between C-6 & 7. Well, like they

say, " BEEN THERE DONE THAT "

My wife, and mother in law will have a break for a few weeks while I

have no speaking voice. My mother in law has 40% of her hearing left

in one ear and I won't be able to speak. Oh boy, are we going to have

fun LOL!

Most of you know that I am a church music minister, have a degree in

vocal music and I must have my singing voice! There is a chance I

might permanently loose my singing voice but it didn't happen last time.

One thing I WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT is my asthma thanks to Xolair

Doug

Group founder

Co-owner-moderator

Pain in the neck (grin)

[Guest guest]

>

> Doug,

>

> Best wishes on the surgery!! I just saw the Ortho last week and

he put me on 600 Ibuprofen 3x daily. It's great for killing the pain

but doesn't do much for the nerve problems. I've got tingling in all

5 fingers on my left hand and numbness on the left side of my face.

It's off for an epidural next week and a trip to Northwestern U for a

2nd opinion before I consider surgery. Mine is C5/C6 and a right pain

in the neck LOL. I hope all goes well. Rest up and get healthy!

>

>

>

Thanks ,

My C5/C6 are already fused. Ibuprofen??? It tears up my degsetive

system to take the over the counter strength. Hurts just to think

about it LOL!

Another opinion is always a good idea. This time, I didn't think I

needed one. The pain has been so bad that lately I have been taking 2

darvocet and someimes codine. I am not gonna get hooked. My doc only

gave me 5 codine tabs and 40 darvocet.

I AM quite blessed to get my hospital expenses completly covered.

Like I said, I have been though this before. It's just gonna be

inconvient for me or a " pain in the neck "

LOL

Doug

[Guest guest]

doug,

i'm sure you'll be good as new! my thoughts and prayers will be with you on

tuesday.

my friend is also havnig a similar (??) surgery on tuesday - it must be the

day!

best of luck to you -- i'm sure we'll be HEARing from you soon!!!

hugs,

heather

uca79iii <uca79iii@...> wrote:

Well gang, the ruptured disk in my neck is getting extremely painful

and now I can't use my right hand. This typing with the left is for

the birds. I am right handed and can't even hold pencil for tne

numbness. UGH!

I will be having disk fusion surgery Tuesday. I had C-4 through 6

fused in 2000, the culprit now is between C-6 & 7. Well, like they

say, " BEEN THERE DONE THAT "

My wife, and mother in law will have a break for a few weeks while I

have no speaking voice. My mother in law has 40% of her hearing left

in one ear and I won't be able to speak. Oh boy, are we going to have

fun LOL!

Most of you know that I am a church music minister, have a degree in

vocal music and I must have my singing voice! There is a chance I

might permanently loose my singing voice but it didn't happen last time.

One thing I WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT is my asthma thanks to Xolair

Doug

Group founder

Co-owner-moderator

Pain in the neck (grin)

There is work that is work and there is play that is play; there is play

that is work and work that is play. And in only one of these lie happiness.

-- Gelett Burgess

---------------------------------

Be a chatter box. Enjoy free PC-to-PC calls with Messenger with Voice.

[Guest guest]

Prayers are being said for a successful operation and speedy

recovery.

uca79iii <uca79iii@...> wrote:

Well gang, the ruptured disk in my neck is getting extremely painful

and now I can't use my right hand. This typing with the left is for

the birds. I am right handed and can't even hold pencil for tne

numbness. UGH!

I will be having disk fusion surgery Tuesday. I had C-4 through 6

fused in 2000, the culprit now is between C-6 & 7. Well, like they

say, " BEEN THERE DONE THAT "

My wife, and mother in law will have a break for a few weeks while I

have no speaking voice. My mother in law has 40% of her hearing left

in one ear and I won't be able to speak. Oh boy, are we going to have

fun LOL!

Most of you know that I am a church music minister, have a degree in

vocal music and I must have my singing voice! There is a chance I

might permanently loose my singing voice but it didn't happen last time.

One thing I WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT is my asthma thanks to Xolair

Doug

Group founder

Co-owner-moderator

Pain in the neck (grin)