So my Brain Tumours back...again

Very sorry to hear that WWJ (Always wanted to call you that) I've got a lot of respect for you and you're one of the more recognizable ATS members to me.. Partly because you are a fellow Brit and have been here longer than me but also because you have contributed greatly to a numerous amount of my threads and always in a positive manner even if you did disagree with the sentiment I was putting across!

If I see your name above a comment on mine or someone elses thread I always make sure I take it in and re read it a couple of times because you have a lot of wisdom to offer!

I get the strong feeling you're gonna be fine based purely on your attitude, maybe even because of your positive attitude!

Keep the bulldog spirit and keep on fighting my brother!

All the best! x

reply to post by woodwardjnr


Your hair will cover that scar in no time. How ya feeling? Healing well I'm sure.

reply to post by TechUnique


Cheers mate, the respect is mutual. I haven't seen much of you around lately. In fact I haven't seen a lot of the old UK posters around that much. I guess we can get a bit drowned out on this site from time to time.

I'm bearing up well, still a long road to go, but was bargaining on England last night to keep me going till Brazil, so that was a small psychological boost. Lol

Take it easy and hope to see you around a bit more.

Night Star
reply to post by woodwardjnr

 

Your hair will cover that scar in no time. How ya feeling? Healing well I'm sure.

I'm not too bothered about the scar or hair. I'll just shave it all off when the scars healed. My hair doesn't really grow normally after the radiothapy 12 years ago. I just tell people I was involved in an axe attack.

SOUR SOP JUICE and SOUR SOP TEA. Sour sop has been found to be 10,000 times more effective in killing tumours than chemo without side effects

Brain Tumor Home Remedies

Woody, great to see the surgery turned out so well. Pretty neat job, by the looks of it.

Keep us updated and stay in touch. Main thing, you've got people here who are supporting you and thinking of you and all the positivity helps, right?

I'm just a U2U away if there's anything I or staff can do, or if you just want to write. Feel free to use it.


Best regards,

Mike

reply to post by woodwardjnr


So glad you are doing so well. Your humor is intact I see from the posts on this thread. Axe attack, lmao. Will you need any additional therapy? What a trooper you are! Such a relief.

reply to post by Iamschist


Yeah, I'll be going back on the chemo in the next month or two I imagine. It'll probably be a case of starting so the timing gives me a good Christmas period. I'm taking every day at a time at the moment. I tried to explain how I've been feeling to people and the best I can do is describe it as it feels like I'm recovering from being beaten up in a fight. Even though I've never been in a physical fight.

I'm starting to get a lot more restless, which is a good sign. Too much time in bed takes its toll, I need to get myself back together, get back some physical fitness.

woodwardjnr
reply to post by Iamschist

 

Yeah, I'll be going back on the chemo in the next month or two I imagine. It'll probably be a case of starting so the timing gives me a good Christmas period. I'm taking every day at a time at the moment. I tried to explain how I've been feeling to people and the best I can do is describe it as it feels like I'm recovering from being beaten up in a fight. Even though I've never been in a physical fight.

I'm starting to get a lot more restless, which is a good sign. Too much time in bed takes its toll, I need to get myself back together, get back some physical fitness.

Physical fitness while getting chemo??????? Good God, I was so weak and tired, my physical fitness was getting my butt out of bed, off the couch and off a chair. LOL Depends on what kind of chemo you get though. Do whatever you can, just don't push yourself too quickly. Taking one day at a time is the best thing. HUGS!

Woooooddyyyyyyy.
Darn it!
I only just saw your thread.

I wish I knew earlier. You know you are often in my thoughts over the years.
I am so pleased the surgery went well. The scar is sexy, don't you hide that war wound babe, wear it with pride.

i'm always here to babble with anytime.

ALL my care and healing energy zaps heading your way sweet sweet guy.

Zazz.

reply to post by woodwardjnr


I am sorry to hear of what you are facing. I wish for you the best and hope all goes well for you.

I will keep you in my prayers.

reply to post by Cancerwarrior


Between you and Woodwardjnr we could start a club. My mother has fought melanoma twice and is currently cancer-free. 5 years ago I had a spot show up on my spinal cord which was swollen. They wondered if it might not be melanoma or some other form but a couple months after getting a laminectomy the spot disappeared. Man, was I ever grateful!
I'm really sorry to hear you're going through this Woodwardjnr. I also have an acoustic neuroma that has started growing again and doc wants to use the gamma knife but odds are 1 in 3 of losing my hearing. I love music too much so I refuse to go through it. It's really the only thing left I can enjoy very much.
Best of luck whatever you elect to do. It makes my pain easier to bear knowing I'm not the only one dealing with issues like this. Keep fighting brother.

Eta: finished reading the thread - holy crap you are one brave dude! My hat is off to you. Brain surgery while awake? I don't know If I'd have the guts to. So glad to hear it went well - judging from your writing your brain is just as good as ever and that is AWESOME!!! Keep being my hero.
Cheers,
ATA

Awake brain surgery

I went into hospital on the Tuesday. I was to have the surgery on Thursday. I was met at the neurology ward by Helen the main anesthetist for the op. She had a huge smile and was extremely friendly. I think they specially select the anesthetist to make sure they are extremely personable for these awake operations.

for the next 2 nights I stayed on the ward, I was constantly being visited by surgeons, neuropsychologists and neurophsiologists. You feel like your in safe hands at every level. I had scans done again to get a more up to date image to work with.

The operation was scheduled to start in-between midday and 1. At about1215 pm, a hospital porter came to take me to the operating theatre.

I was pretty scared, but there's nothing you can do, you know you've just got to do it, your in safe hands, what's the worst that can go wrong?

So the first thing was to be taken into the anesthetists room, where I was to lie down on a bed with a gel like mattress and place my head on a a gel like doughnut, lying on the left side down with arm over my head, propped up by pillows.I had a bunch of extremely attractive and friendly group of female anesthesits padding me down so I was comfortable. My left hand was placed over head on a pillow and canulars were placed in both arms, so the different drugs could be administered during the operation.

In my left hand was a powerful anti epileptic drug, to ensure I didn't start flapping about during the tinkering, in my right hand the opiate based sedative "happy juice", was to be administered.

Once the sedative kicked in, I was ready to go. It felt like being a bit drunk, but also not having a care in the world. Just want to get on with it, let the docs do what they want.

Its strange seeing an operating theatre. My past two operations I'd always been asleep before seeing an operating theatre.

So first thing you notice is them injecting your head with local anesthetic. Not really that painful. Then once they check your ok and can't feel any pain they start the saw. It's not too bad, like a dentists drill , reassuringly painless, it's obviously a bit weird, but your just lost in this hazy bubble, looking at all these people in scrubs looking at you. I joked that it reminded me off those alien autopsy videos.

From this point, I was to be in permanent vocal communication with the anethietists, we talked for hours about random stuff. I think I made a few inappropriate comments, like a lecherous drunk a few times, but I kept talkin and talkin. I'm not a big talker, im known as being quite quiet, so to keep rabbiting was tough in itself.

Then I had to start the tests. This was basically just me reading two news stories on laminated cards. One oabout Obama getting face book account, one about Kate Middletons family crest for the royal wedding. I had to read theses over and over again. It was quite hard to hear in there, so I had to shout out reading these two articles.

The surgeons were mapping around the tumour to see if they could remove areas of normal brain around the tumour site. They did this by using electrodes to turn off the brains signals in these areas. So to see how far they could go, I would begin reading normally, then they would turn the electrode on and I would be totally incapable of speaking. I would be reading presisdent Obama, fine then the electrode would come on and I would, be like "P p p. Totally incapable of getting the word out, desperate to say it, but impossible to do so. Once the electrode was turned off, my voice went straight back to normal.

This process was the hardest part. You were concerned, you might be left being unable to speak. Not enough to freak you out too much, the comfort of both the anethietists and the anesthetic keep you pretty comforted.

The worst part was needing a wee half way through. I didn't want a cathater before hand, but with I I had of done. I was so desperate though, so they got me of those cardboard potty kind of things. I had to get one of the pretty anethietists to come and position all the bits in the right place. This was a bit embarrassing, but the desperation was too much. Then I couldn't pee, because of the situation. I get stage fright at the best of times. Having so many people surround me, made it almost impossible. Every now and then I'd just close my eyes and squeeze a bit out to much relief.
Then it was back to the talking. Struggling to find new conversations and going over old ones. I was getting tired, I wanted it to be over. I needed a pee.

Then that was it, the surgeons began stitching everything back up and at 5.30pm I was wheeled out the operating theatre to the recovery unit. 20 minutes later I was back on the ward with family. I burst into tears. It was like a pressure valve just firing off. I was still under the effects of the sedative and everything had gone so quickly. Met the surgeon on the Monday back on the ward on Thursday, it had all been such an overwhelming experience.

I didn't sleep a wink that night. I was pumped with steroids during the op and it was noisy and bright on the ward. The old guy opposite me kept waking up, not knowing where he was. The nurses kept having to explain. Then he'd start wondering who the nurses were and what they were doing.
The guy beside me thoughtfully left his tv on all night and the other guy was writhing around in pain.
I just lay there like I was trapped in a scene from 'one flew over the cuckoos nest'.

The day after I was discharged, my parents picked me up and took me home. I couldn't wait to get home and just lie in my quiet bedroom.

Thanks for the up close and personal account of what it is like to have brain surgery. Can't imagine many things as scary. I would tell you how brave you are, but I know there was really no choice. I think it is amazing that you are seemingly without deficits. You type as you did prior to the surgery, with honesty and humor, not to mention impeccable grammar, you are English after all, could not expect less.

Have you started chemo yet? Will it be the same regimen as you have endured before? How is your meditation going and did you find it helped you with the stress prior to the surgery?

Your emotional reaction is no surprise at all. What a champion you have been all along through all of this. Not surprising given what i know of you, your personality and character.

reply to post by Iamschist


Hey you, thanks for the kind words. I start chemo in a few weeks going back to the type I had back in 2002, still taking my time to recover. Probably could be doing more, but inherently lazy.

The meditation definitely helped before, during and after the operation. Not saying being heavily sedated with opium based medicine didn't help a great deal.

reply to post by Iamschist


yeah I know, I am a total chicken.. that would take something I do not have in me!

reply to post by woodwardjnr



Well good luck to you and I am glad you are doing ok still... just know that I am praying for you lots and lots! Hopefully chemo wont be too terribly bad...

reply to post by OpinionatedB


Thanks very much, considering everything you've been through recently, I really appreciate your kind words. The chemos not too bad , its once every 6 weeks, so get some "off" time.

reply to post by woodwardjnr


Ohh thats not too bad. When my daughter had to do chemo they did chemo twice a week every week for about 4 months straight, they alternated days of chemo with radiation twice a week but radiation only lasted about 3 months... 4 days a week every week she had to do that for months...

you are so so so lucky! they must have been able to remove your whole tumor! Thats great news!

And I am sorry... I know you don't feel lucky! its just... it seems like wonderful news!

reply to post by OpinionatedB


Despite everything I do feel lucky. It was a great option that' has bought me some more time. I would do it again and recommend it to anyone it's offered too. The other options were much worse. They said they removed a substantial amount, I think its impossible to take the whole thing. They have mentioned doing radiotherapy again at a lower dose, but the area has been pretty traumatised recently, so I think its a last resrort. Cross that bridge when it comes. Try not tothink too far ahead.x