Oh, Stan!

What wonderful news!  I got goose bumps when I read of your success!  I
am SO happy for you!

Claudia

53/2mo/bunch of meds
[log in to unmask]
Stan R. Houston wrote:

> Dear Friends:
>
> FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO US COMPUTER MORTALS,  THE FOLLOWING WAS
> EVIDENTLY NOT
> POSTED IN THE LIST DIGEST ON FRIDAY, NOV. 21.
> SO I DECIDED TO RESEND IT.
> _________________-_______________________________
>
> It'a 2:00 am CST (Friday, Nov. 21) in Houston and guess who's not
> sleeping?
>
> You mean that guy over there in the corner who's losin' his religion
> and
> joining the Hole-In-The-Head Gang today?
>
> None other.
>
> Hermann Hospital has kindly invited me to a Pallidotomy Party starting
> at
> 5:30 this morning. They'll serve Demerol-on-the-rocks. I'll bring a
> brain.
>
> I spent five hours there yesterday for pre-op tests and meetings.
> Everything
> could have been done in thirty minutes. Rest of the time was spent
> waiting
> for the $%^^#@%$%^ surgeon to appear (four hours late) so I could sign
> his
> consent form.
>
> My neurologist, the surgeon, my official hand-holder for the day, and
> the
> drop-dead blonde anesthesiologist all led me though the procedures for
> today.
> Briefly, the facts: right-side pallidotomy . . . process starts at
> 6:30 am .
> . . enter OR about 9:30 after frame attachment and MRI  . . . exit OR
> five to
> six hours later (Hermann does brain mapping, that's why it takes
> longer.) . .
> . spend one night in hospital  . . . MRI on Saturday morning . . . go
> home
> Saturday afternoon if everything is OK..
>
> Based on all that I heard yesterday, the only things I anticipate
> being
> unpleasant are the insertion of a .45-caliber needle/suction hose in
> my arm
> (OWWWWWW!!!!!) and the ramming of a foley catheter into my bladder
> (You're
> going to stick that  WHERE???!!!!!!!) Otherwise, I'm not dreading the
> operation. Actually, it may help me catch up on my sleep. Last four
> nights,
> PD symptons have allowed me only three hours of ZZZ's a night. Foxy
> anesthesiologist told me she'll keep me dopey in a light sleep during
> the
> operation, then bring me up anytime the docs want to talk to me. She
> also
> said that anytime I want to take a break and sleep while the docs are
> busy
> watching Sally Jesse or Jeopardy, just tell her and she'll take me
> down a few
> notches.
>
> My alarm just buzzed, telling me it's time to pretend I'm waking up
> and
> rolling out of bed. Off I go to take a shower, wash what's left of my
> hair
> (semi-long style of 20 years abandoned for George Clooney/Brain
> Surgery
> haircut), dress and head for Hermann.
>
> At this moment, there's only one thing any of my friends could do for
> me:
> "BRING ME  A DRINK OF WATER!!!!!!!!!"
>
> Thanks again for all your messages, support and prayers. Next time you
> see me
> I'll be a new man. Well, maybe improved. I'll settle for that.
>
> Stan Houston (54/7)
> [log in to unmask]
> __________________________________________________________
>
> Well, gang, it's Saturday night and I'm  home from the hospital
> sporting my
> new George Clooney haircut (with a square bangage in the middle of my
> head),
> several expertly placed lesions on my right-brain globus pallidus, and
> the
> ability to walk again when my meds are  "OFF."  Apparently I've also
> lost all
> those painful dystonias on  my left side. Went six hours Friday night
> without
> any meds and no problems!
> My neuro was excited, I was excited, Shirley was excited,  and my
> blonde
> NEURO RECOVERY UNIT nurse Sunshine was excited.
>
> By all measures so far, my eight hours (YES!) in the operating room
> was well
> worth it.  Even if they kept waking me up every time I fell asleep.
>
> More later.  I need to get some ZZZZZZZZ's in my own bed.
>
> Stan Houston (54/7)