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23819. wonkers2 - 3/19/2008 5:24:43 AM Jex & Ms. No, I'll be in the Bay area this Saturday through the following Thursday. Let me know if you'd like to get together for lunch or a beer and we can figure out how to get in touch. [I don't have an email address or phone # for either of you.] 23820. Ms. No - 3/19/2008 6:05:13 AM Hiya Wonk! I'd love to get together. Email me at bridgeburner99 -- that's a yahoo address. 23821. judithathome - 3/19/2008 7:48:32 PM The news at my son's neurosurgeon's couldn't have been worse yesterday...well, actually, it could have been and WAS since there were very graphic pictures, too.
We all have 2 arteries in our necks leading to either side of our brains...they supply all the blood to the brain. My son now has only one and it is crimped in one place...the other one is gone. You can see where it just went away...this huge empty space where a thick little artery should be. The doctor said it was caused by the last massive stroke he had. That part of the artery just died off.
So today Leslie is back in Dallas having an MRI (his daughter drove because he will have to be sedated and driven home after and I can't drive in Dallas) and after he studies that, the doctor will decide whether to do a stent or an angioplasty on the one remaining artery in Leslie's brain. The doctor was very strict in pointing out that this is a dangerous operation because when he does this surgery usually, there is always a back-up artery on the other side...which my son no longer has.
23822. judithathome - 3/19/2008 7:59:34 PM Someone asked me what caused the artery to disappear like that; it "blew out" with his last stroke. There is nothing to be done in that regard...the part of the artery that is left has curved around and attached to a vein and is circulating a little blood back on itself. The doctor said that is not unusal but it precludes any "hooking up" of that artery to the main artery that circles the brain on the top. That one is the "mover and shaker" so to speak, and the other two feed it...or in my son's case, the other ONE feeds it.
As to where its gone, I have no idea...like any vein or artery that "dies", I guess it just sort of dissolves. I wanted to ask the doctor where it had gone but the converstion moved on...
The doctor will call with the results before Friday. He flat out told us that there is a 10-20% chance the surgery on the other artery will not work or leave him worse off than he is now. So it's pretty nerve-wracking to sit here waiting to get the news.
That was the most harrowing trip to Dallas I've ever made...the weather was so bad. I guess it was sort of a good thing we had our minds on other things or we'd have freaked out for sure at the driving conditions.
23823. thoughtful - 3/19/2008 8:37:53 PM J@h, I'm so sorry to hear the news. I can tell you though that it is essential to get a very well practiced surgeon for this operation. My brother had one artery blocked 90% and the other 95%. He was getting so little blood to his brain that it was affecting his vision to the point that they pulled his commercial drivers license. He too had had a stroke. One doctor locally started the operation and closed him up again saying it was more than he could handle. So they sent him to NYC and the doc there did the surgery just fine. They put a stent in his neck. It restored his vision. So while the operation is serious, it has been done a lot, a practiced surgeon can do it very well and as even the statistics you site say, it comes out just fine the vast majority of the time.
Fingers crossed and sending good vibes your way. 23824. iiibbb - 3/19/2008 8:41:57 PM Sorry to hear the bad news. I hope the situation improves. Good luck 23825. arkymalarky - 3/19/2008 8:42:33 PM Damn, Judith. I'm so sorry to hear that. Please keep us posted. 23826. wonkers2 - 3/19/2008 10:18:06 PM Sorry about your son, Judith. We'll keep our fingers crossed. 23827. judithathome - 3/19/2008 10:28:45 PM it is essential to get a very well practiced surgeon for this operation.
Oh, this guy is good; he's rated as the best in this area...he was recommended by Leslie's doctor because he's so good and that's why we're driving to Dallas to meet with him rather than settling for a local guy.
Les just called and said he got through the MRI without sedation. This is a milestone for him because he is so claustrophobic. He sounded extremely upbeat, too. 23828. Ms. No - 3/19/2008 11:15:59 PM I'll be keeping Leslie in my thoughts, Judith. Hang in there -- you know I'm thinking of you. 23829. judithathome - 3/20/2008 3:28:31 PM He called last night and said the valium they gave him prior to the MRI made his headache go away completely. He's going to ask his regular doctor for some...ha!
He also told me he has been rethinking this operation and that if the doctor agrees, he will postpone the surgery (if the doctor says it's needed) until after August. He wants to wait until his granddaughter is born. That choked me up so badly...I'd fleetingly thought of that myself but hadn't said so to him.
This shows me his brave front in the face of this stuff is just that. He DOES have some concern about it...which he hasn't shown at all; just been anxious to get it done and get it over with.
I told him I thought it would be a good idea to delay it and give the new medicine a chance to work...the doctor changed it on Tuesday. Leslie agreed. I am so glad that he's not as gung ho to get this surgery done...I think the fact he may have found something to alleviate the headaches may have had something to do with his decision. Also, the doctor told him the surgery probably wouldn't stop them, anyhow. 23830. alistairconnor - 3/20/2008 3:37:16 PM I hope it all goes well for Leslie, Judith. Stay brave. 23831. thoughtful - 3/20/2008 10:37:26 PM I hate having to make decisions like that...you wish that there were a way to see into the future or try one thing on and if you don't like it, hit the 'undo' button, but unfortunately life isn't like that and we have to choose to do what we think is best given the limited knowledge we have, and then live with the choices we made, knowing that, at the time, it was the best we could do.
Wishing you courage, hope, wisdom and comfort... 23832. alistairConnor - 3/21/2008 12:51:02 AM Ah I've finally done it. I've slapped the little c--t.
I did it with love. I did it in a Chinese restaurant. I did it in front of his mother, and a dozen other diners who pretended not to notice.
Should have done it months ago, I suppose. Didn't feel I had a right to. Now I know I have a responsibility to. 23833. arkymalarky - 3/21/2008 1:11:14 AM Thing is, Alistair, it's a life-long one. In a way, by doing that you've made a life-long commitment to him. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just a thing with a troubled teen.
IMHO 23834. jexster - 3/23/2008 10:49:25 PM No/Honkers
4 choices...I'll have the menus for you tomorrow!
Not in order of pref cause I have none
Aqua - French seafood
Jeanty at Jacks - French
Kuleto - Italian
Tadich Grill - SF seafood
All are downtown, w/in walking distance.... 23835. jexster - 3/23/2008 10:53:37 PM All Google-able
Wonkers is now officially REMOVED from my
DENOUNCE AND REJECT list! 23836. judithathome - 3/23/2008 11:09:26 PM I'd vote for the last two on that list...but then, I'm not invited. :-( 23837. jexster - 3/23/2008 11:14:40 PM No you aren't 23838. jexster - 3/23/2008 11:16:51 PM Here ya go No and Honkers if you're around
This is the rendezvous, noonish..In fact, EXACTLY where I will be standing!
Entrance.Powell St. Bart
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