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List Friends: UPDATE ON MY DATE WITH THE BRAIN SURGEON: Procedure: Bilateral Pallidotomy Status: "Go" Date: Friday, November 21, 1997 Place: Herman Hospital, Houston, Texas RANDOM THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS: I'll have brain surgery -- hold the catheters -- a large order of fries and an IV to go. My insurance company appproved the operation a week ago. Last Thursday, I received a letter from the same company informing me that --- according to their information --- there was no need for me to stay in the hospital overnight. God bless managed care. The brain, how strange, stays mainly out of pain. My doctor claims there will be no pain. For me, that may be true. For him, I guess we'll find out the first time I reach over my head, grab him by the throat and yell,"Get me outta here!" Programs! Programs! Ya can't tell who's cuttin' and who's bleedin' without a program! There will be at least 12 people in the OR during the operation: surgeons, regular-grade doctors, MRI technicians, an anesthesiologist (for my twenty-minute nap while they drill a small hole in my skull), nurses, my personal helper/hand-holder for the day, and a guy from the Astrodome selling popcorn, peanuts,Cokes and hot dogs. How To Entertain Yourself While Someone Pokes Around In Your Brain I had been told that the actual operating-room time for a Pallidotomy was about three hours. Unfortunately, that applies to OTHER hospitals. Herman performs a version of the Pallidotomy that takes SIX HOURS in the OR! With me awake! I've decided to take two novels, a portable CD player, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Newsweek, several comic books and my laptop computer. Maybe we can also have a pizza delivered. Where's the best place for a family reunion? Herman's Day Surgery Waiting Room is going to be busy while I'm partying with the surgeon. Scheduled to appear: My wife, who has to deliver me to the hospital by 5:30 am; my father and step-mother from Dallas; at least two of my wife's sisters from Fort Worth; my daughter and son-in-law from Dallas; and my son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren from Brownsville. Every person with Parkinson's should be so blessed. Thanks for all your support. Will keep you posted on any developments. Stan Houston (54/7) [log in to unmask]