Friday, October 28, 2011

Update...

I had my followup visit with the surgeon today....

If anyone in the Chicago area ever needs this surgery - HIGHLY recommend Dr. DeJong. I could not have had a nicer experience and what a great staff! And one more time - nothing like having an entourage of super hot residents to look at!!!!

The tumor was not cancer - which was what I was expecting to hear - but it is still nice to have that confirmation. Tape is off now also. And Dr. Pittman still had the tumor pic on his cell so he sent it to us... Love it!!

By the way - the small yellow part is thalmus (?) - the tumor was descending into the chest - this part is for the medical junkies of the viewing audience.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

The details... (just for Aunt Janet)

The tumor is out - and life is returning to normal (ha).

The surgery team thought it would be funny to have the patient that is located the furthest away from Chicago to have the first surgical slot - so we had to be there at 6am - which meant a 3:45am departure time. Chris was awesome and let me sleep.

I don't remember much other than there were a lot of very cute, young doctors (I highly recommend teaching hospitals). I did manage to talk the anesthesiologist into taking a picture of my tumor before it went to pathology. He is supposed to be sending it to me - and it is very cool looking by the way - but I don't have it yet. Probably against some rule.

The other interesting part - there are no fun drugs for this surgery. No painkillers - nada. I have been taking extra strength Tylenol. The stitches came out at the hospital the very next day (which is why I had to spend the night). I actually have very little pain - just a lot of discomfort. And my throat is just now starting to feel better - it really hurt to talk the first couple of days. I take a lot of Tums to take over for the calcium loss - at least until the other parathyroids come back from their vacation...

I do go back tomorrow to have my followup with the surgeon and get the little tapes off my throat.

Chris took a picture of my throat - it would be perfect for a throat slasher victim for Halloween!