Got in to see Dr. R Friday morning. He agrees that the Diamox is not doing the trick, so we're now scheduled for surgery on Tuesday. Spent most of the rest of the day doing all the pre-surgery stuff, so we can go in outpatient on Tuesday morning. They'll do a head CT first, with the lifesavers glued to her head, and then we'll wait for the Dr. R to complete his first surgery of the day.
This will be a peritoneal shunt, which is a tube under the skin from the back of her head to her abdomen. It's two pretty small incisions (and another hole in the head), so the biggest trauma will be the general anesthetic. She'll probably be back on the sixth floor for two or three days after, and then back home again.
All in all, I think it's a good thing -- we've been kind of 'on hold' while we waited to see what the Diamox would do, and so something that offers genuine progress is kind of a relief.
Marie is weathering the winter just fine, and while she shares all our concern for dp, she is otherwise in pretty good spirits. Ambrosya has joined our family/staff/karass, and takes care of Marie in the mornings so Connie can continue her education.
Last Sunday, the tempurature made it into the fifties, so we got in the car, ran some errands, and went to Red Lobster for lunch. It was nice to enjoy the weather before everything froze again.
Stay warm.
...our scenario surrounding the big C.
Welcome!
This weblog began as a way to keep loved ones informed as we learned about our diagnosis in March 2007.
"the sCenario" has evolved into a journal, a photo display, an historic record, a scrapbook, an inspiration, a place for loved ones to gather.
We hope you enjoy your visit!
--Kevin and Diana
6 comments:
Finally something I have some experience with as a nurse! We occasionally do these shunts on babies with hydrocephalus. It's pretty much the same problem, the drainage channel is blocked between the brain and spinal column so the fluid builds up in the ventricles. We drain it off into the abdomen where the body reabsorbs it like any other fluid. More fluid is made in the brain continuously, so there's plenty left to cushion the brain and spinal cord.
Recovery is very fast. We laugh because the neurosurgeons always wonder why the baby hasn't been discharged the next day (they are usually premature and have other issues that keep them hospitalized.) So Kevin is right that the anesthesia is probably the worst of this surgery.
With the babies, the results are often quick and dramatic. Their flexible skulls make the reduction in fluid almost visible. I expect with Diana you'll see results as a reduction in the symptoms instead, but I'm guessing it will also happen relatively quickly.
*crosses fingers*
Keep us posted.
Thanks Nancy! The question Kevin and I had yesterday while we were discussing this, was how the heck to they thread it to her stomach?
I am driving over Tuesday to hang with Kevin...perhaps joined by another sister as well. Sam, we will not be able to stay for scotch! Katie
Without going into too much detail, they basically make a channel under the skin with a blunt probe, I think. It separates the layers of tissue without cutting them. Then they thread the tube through and secure it through a tiny incision in the abdomen. It doesn't go into the stomach or any other organ as I recall. It just drains into the space in the abdominal cavity.
Donnamarie confirmed that results are almost immediate with adults, too.
I'm glad you will be able to be there Tuesday, Katie.
I will keep my ear to the ground tomorrow. I have to be in Iowa City the end of the day, so I'll check in. This is a very simple surgery (but that comes from a guy with only the conventional number of holes in my head). I'll funnel my karma your way.
I'll be done working tomorrow at around 3:00...maybe that would be a good time to bring some food to y'all at the hospital?
my love and thoughts will be hangin' with you as usual.
Thank you Nancy for the info re surgery. My fingers are crossed with yours.
I'm gonna head down to the hospital this afternoon (Tuesday), just to be there.
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