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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)