I have my surgery date!

[MissyB]

Hi All,

So excited my letter came today and I am going into hospital on Tues 31st March. Not sure when the actual surgery is but guess it will be Wed or Thurs next week. Just hope I don't get bumped for an emergency case.

I've been told I'll be in for up to 10 days so I guess I'll update when I get back home.

Thanks to all on this forum with my many questions and getting my head around needing a craniotomy.

Cheers,
Belinda

[vini]

hi Belinda

my very best wishes very daunting for you, but will be worth it I am sure, make sure you tell them if you swing to high pressure they will probably put you on a lumber drain to counter this, good luck we will all be here, keep us up to date, there are many types of craniotomy. did they say the type you need

again best wishes ((((((HUGS)))))))

[LauraL840]

Belinda,

You're in my prayers and I hope this is the end of the leaky road for you! If you've got someone who can update us for you, please make them! It will feel like FOREVER to wait to hear from you!

[Robbysmom5]

I am glad you finally have your date ... and very close! (Wow)
Best wishes Belinda!

[MissyB]

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. Laura I will get my hubby Simon to update you all. Hopefully by the end of next week.

Thanks
Belinda

[sadlisa]

Belinda,

How exciting! I look forward to hearing the outcome. Wishing you the best.

Thia

[MissyB]

Thanks Thia. Sorry Vini missed your questions, been running about organising like a headless chook. I've been told I'll have the lumbar drain in for 3-5 days and I'm having a right frontal cranitomy, taking a piece of bone in the forehead / top of head region about 7-8cm diameter to access the hole in the cribriform plate.

Chat soon,
Belinda

[MissyB]

Hi Everyone,

I'm still at home.....:(. Was supposed to be admitted at 1pm today but the hospital call this morn to cancel due to an emergency. I understand but still disappointed as was all packed and psyched to go. Anyway I'm back to waiting.

Ho hum
Belinda

[sadlisa]

Belinda,

Darn! You must be frustrated. Did they give you any idea when you will be rescheduled?

Thia

[MissyB]

Hi Thia,

No idea of when just yet, they were supposed to call me back this afternoon after speaking with the surgeon if I might still get in this week but not heard. I will call them tomorrow to see if any news. I know they plan the next weeks schedule on a Wed so I may be in for next week...... Trying to be positive and thankful that I'm not an emergency.

Chat soon
Belinda

[MissyB]

Hi All,

Well I was called by the hospital on Friday to say my date had been rescheduled to this Tues 7th April so fingers crossed. I have to call in the morn to check its still on but if you've not heard from me by Tues evening then you can assume I'm in. I'm praying it happens as I've been awful last 3 days. If I do go in will get Simon to post an update.

Cheers
Belinda

[curranmom]

Hopefully this will be your week for healing! Good luck and cant wait to hear an update.

Best of luck - Kim

[vini]

best wishes

keep us posted when and only when you feel up to it, rest both mental and physical is very important post cranial surgery

[sadlisa]

Belinda,

Thinking of you today and wishing you the best. Let us know how you're doing when you can.

Thia

[MissyB]

:( I'm still here, bumped again. They were trying all day to get me a bed so I only got caled a hour ago to say it was too late to go in. It's just such an emotional rollercoaster, gearing up for surgery and saying goodbye to my son. On the bright side they said their policy is not to bump more than twice so hopefully thrid time will be a charm. Back to the waiting list, awaiting a call from the ward with another possible date.

Stay tuned.
Belinda :)

[sadlisa]

So sorry. Arrrggg!

Thia

[MissyB]

Hi All,

Still home. I was supposed to be going in for surgery yesterday and I would have gotten in BUT... I've got a head cold and throat infection so they had to cancel.. I feel miserable from that but more so that my 3rd attempt failed because of me. My surgeon is away next week so I've been told I'm going in 28th for surgery on 29th. I'm glad for a rest, 3 weeks straight of packing then disappointment means I need a break.

My mum is flying in from Oz on 25th so will be here to help, she is staying til Aug when she was orginally planned to be here (july - aug) for holidays so pleased for her help.

Will let you know how attempt 4 goes.

Cheers,
Belinda

[vini]

hi bell the uk system is tough, but free ,so hang in there glad your mum is coming over, a head cold and brain surgery don,t mix, not your fault so let it go

[MissyB]

Yeah, UK health care is the same as Australia, free but take a dose of patience... its prob a little quicker down under... I'm certainly not complaining, I've a great surgeon here and I never got this sorted in Oz despite many neuro and hospital visits so I'm grateful for the answer........ I've been really ill with head cold past week, glad they put me off 2 weeks as I'm not 100% yet.

So new date again is 28th admit, 29th surgery.. Watch this space.. Also my Mum flies in from Sydney this Sunday, so excited and grateful for her help...

Cheers,
Belinda

[sadlisa]

Thinking about you and hope all goes this time. Give us an update when you feel up to it.

Thia

[spots]

Hi Belinda,
Hope all goes as planned this week, what a rollercoaster, eh? It will all be well worth the wait when you are looking back on it all feeling better.

Thinking of you,
Lisa

[MissyB]

Hi Everyone,

I'm back home, bumped again. I was admitted Tues and all ready for surgery this morning then they had an emergency in A&E with a brain haemorage (sp?) so I was told I had to go home. I'm going back in 2 weeks.

I really do understand why but it makes it no easier and my emotions esp as I was mins away from going under are shot to bits. I'm starting to wonder how much this op costs privately with BUPA (UK private hosp). My surgeon told me they only have 1 neuro theater so he was left with nothing to do as well, so frustrating for all.

Not much else I can do, just get on with life for another 2 weeks. On the up side I prob won't be half as nervous next time I go in as I will be thinking more about the possibility of getting bumped a 5th time.

Stay tuned.
Belinda;)

[sadlisa]

HOW FRUSTRATING! HUGS sent your way. I can't believe it. Let us know your new date when you get it.

Thia

[Robbysmom5]

Hi Belinda -
So sorry this happened again. I read your post just sympathizing with what you must be going thru. Then you're line below made me smile:

"On the up side I prob won't be half as nervous next time I go in as I will be thinking more about the possibility of getting bumped a 5th time."

Good luck in 2 weeks!!!

[healing@last]

Hi Belinda

I've been following your frustrating journey to surgery - I know from personal experience here in Oz that it is much better to wait and get the best possible doctors doing the surgery, no matter what emotional and physical torture it is at the time. When they've operated and got it right, it will have been worth the wait! You are lucky your mum is coming out to help. I ended up having to fly to the US for a fix job in a terrible state after the Aussie doctors - despite their best intentions, punctured me again during my blood patch - and was very pleased to have my mum & dad there to pick up the pieces after the procedure - they live in the LA area.

Hoping it all goes to plan this time.
Tracy

[MissyB]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I received an apology letter from the hospital today but it was for the 2nd bump on 8th April so I guess that means I should be getting more letters ;)

Anyway just going to get on with things, as I mentioned my Mum is here so at least I can spent more time with her before I go in. Tracy I'm def going to wait to get it done at this hospital as my surgeon is lovely and highly recommended so eventually will be worth the wait.

Chat soon
Belinda :)

[MissyB]

Hi All,

Just wanted to add some info I found out while in hospital:

1. My surgeon believes my hole in the cribriform plate is from my car accident in 1989.
2. They can only see the hole in bone not in the dura so they will only find out how big that is when they go in. Can't wait to find out the answer to that one.

Cheers,
Belinda

[MissyB]

Hi all,

not sure if i am doing this right so here goes.
belinda finally got her surgery on wednesday 13th and she is now recovering in hospital. the surgeon said that the hole wasn't as big as he expected and he is very happy with how the operation went. she is in a lot of discomfort at the moment but definately improving each day. obviously there is a lot of swelling and bruising also which was a bit scary for our son but he coped quite well.
will keep you posted as and when.

thank you all for your support.
simon (hubby)

[Robbysmom5]

Hi Simon - Thanks for the update. Very glad the surgery went well and I'll say a prayer for Belinda to feel better soon!

[vini]

hi simon very best wishes I may have a similar problem to your wife, so thanks for the update hope she feels better real soon n/b the cognitive problems may take a lot longer to recover from, and may seem worse a bit ,to start with, but may improve right away, total rest is so important with brain injury/ surgery, headway in the UK have some good info packs should you need any help

kind regards vini the kiwi

[sadlisa]

Simon,

Thanks for letting us know how things went. I look forward to hearing the outcome.

Thia

[MissyB]

Hi All.
Just to let you know that Belinda is recovering quite well at the moment and getting better each day. She was sat up on the side of her bed when i got there tonight which was great to see. She is more tired than anything as hospital is to noisy for decent rest. She is still in a lot of pain and discomfort but that is to be expected i suppose.
Her staples and her lumbar drain might be coming out tomorrow which is good news.
Catch you all later.
Simon

[LauraL840]

Thanks again Simon for updating!

[MissyB]

Hi Everyone,

It's me! I'm back home today and feeling not too bad considering the op was only 8 days ago.

As Simon said the hole in the Cribriform plate was a bit smaller than they thought and the hole in the dura was only 3-4mm wide. They also decided during surgery to take the muscel and skin graft from the right side of my head instead of my leg. Kinda pleased as it at least means all the swelling and pain is in one place.

I seem to have been recovering at a very good pace, was cleared by Physio on Tues to come home. Had been walking about since Sunday and feel ok on my feet but just taking it as it comes. My head is a bit up and down with pressure and the tinitus in my right ear is awfully loud but almost gone in the left ear, odd but its such early days so I'm not panicking about anything yet.

My head on the right side where they did the surgery is very swollen still and nice yellow / green shades over both eyes still. Staples only came out today, feels loads better with them out. Whilst my chewing is improving after having those muscels cut I still cant open my mouth very wide, cant even get a banana in and yawning is very interesting..... all in time.

Overall I still feel like me and have had no complications for which I'm ever grateful so I've just got to take it easy and recover to the best I can be. Got to call the DVLA tomorrow and find out how long I'm going to be without my beloved car, looks like 6 months.... Ok, off to lazy on the sofa, if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask absolutely anything.

Will post more (as my feeble brain remembers) later.

Love and thanks to everyone here who helped me reluctantly accept that this was the only surgery that would fix my leak.

Cheers,
Belinda x

[MissyB]

Hi All,

Been feeling a bit rough lately, the bone feels like it's sunk a bit and feels like its resting in an odd place. Not going to worry about it too much still early days.

Just wondered if anyone knows how long it will take for my hair to grow back, just the top fringe bits. Never cut it this short before and they took more than I expected so feeling a bit cold on top.

Cheers,
Belinda

[Robbysmom5]

Hi Belinda - Sorry it has been rough and I really hope you feel better soon. I have read that hair typically grows about 1/2 inch per month.

[MissyB]

Thanks Jeanne,

I know its going to be a long recovery and I can't expect to feel entirely normal for some time. Thanks for the hair info, least I can look forward to about an inch in 2 months time.

Cheers,
Belinda