3..2..1..Biopsy

[JannaLee]

Star honey,

I agree with you.  My surgeon is very brilliant with a knife.  From what I hear that first tumor was a real bear to get out because it was so big and because the nerves that work the left side of my mouth were wrapped all around it.  He left me with an artfully hidden scar and only the slightest bit of nerve damage.  No one has noticed it but me (when I put my lipstick on or smile real big).

He, nor my primary doc ever thought about "why" but I've run into my surgeon's office manager who says he is SOOOO proud that HE diagnosed my Sjogren's.  What a funny man. 

I figure, if it truly means a lot to him, maybe he will start to think a little bigger for the rest of his patients and this will make a difference in a life down the road.

There is nothing better than a good night's sleep.  This is healing to body and mind and hopefully will continue!

Thinking of you every minute,
Janna

[Starlore]

Wow that's great Janna! The hands of a good surgeon are an awesome thing...My ENT shared the same complications w/me as being on the table, but I don't know if he'll be doing it himself (think so) or whether it will be another surgeon entirely  Another of those questions I should've asked but didn't even think about, because this week has been such an overwhelming stress already--my job is totally insane right now & I'm completely worn to the bone.

You should've thrown a party for the Office Manager that figured out SjS! Thats a huge feat!

The results of my needle biopsy were "inconclusive", not sure what to make of that exactly, but my ENT suddenly wants to completely remove the node now, instead of just a piece. I wonder what made him change his mind since before he was against removing it?  Ah well...Now I just hurry up & wait some more.

[Starlore]

Well, its over...& oh god what a nightmare! Please humor me while I vent for a moment 

My ENT changed his mind prior to surgery & decided he wanted to take a more "superficial" node, so he took one of the cervicals or whatever from my neck just a bit below the submandibular. That was fine & dandy, & so was the surgery itself I suppose. Waking up on the other hand, was a whole new set of woes...

Probably about 5 minutes after regaining consciousness, I was throwing up. I figured this would happen since its pretty common to anesthesia, but I wasn't prepared for that to be the story for the next 24 hours. I literally couldn't get wheelchaired out of the hospital before I was at it again. I barely made it home & as soon as I got in the door, yep, back to the porcelain god. Not to be gross but I threw up over 17 times Friday evening alone. Everytime I tried to drink water, it came up before it made it down. Is this a 'normal' reaction to anesthesia? I expected a couple of times, but this was a bit much?

To make matters worse, I ended up w/one of the worst migraines I've ever had & the fact that I couldn't keep anything down meant I couldn't take my Maxalt to relieve the agony in my head. So now the tally was no Maxalt, no painkillers (they gave me Percocet & those make me sick enough on their own) & no antibiotics (Augmentin--you guessed it, makes me sick! Colitis for 3 months last i took it). So, I wallowed in my misery like a good girl, praying for a break in it all. My ENT prescribed some suppositories for the nausea finally, which didn't really work terribly well. Finally, yesterday, I managed to stabilize my stomach & drink & eat something. I was so dehydrated, that in all honesty I probably should've gone right back to the hospital, but I was so miserable I couldn't even entertain the thought.

As far as my wound goes, its not so bad--some achey pain in my neck/shoulder overall & the tip of my tongue is numb--but i think thats from the swelling pressing on the nerve maybe? I'll point it out to the ENT on Thursday when I get the stitches out, if its still an issue.

Anyway, I'm back at work now & debating whether to cut out early or not...Pretty weak & shakey, my head is wonky when I walk around & I'm a bit nauseated again. Maybe a fever, not sure. Better by far than previous, but not so good overall.

Thanks for letting me vent, I hate to complain since I know there are so many that have been worse off, its just been a long weekend & I wanted to shake a bit of it off so thanks for listening

[Scottietottie]

(((((((( Starlore ))))))))

Sounds like a nightmare! I've been like that after anaesthetics and it's horrible. (Not after every anaesthetic - but certainly some - and it seems to be unpredictable.)  I would think that throwing up would make a migraine twice as bad as usual too. Maybe a little bit of the throwing up WAS the migriane. My friend's son had to have suppositories for his migraines because they made him throw up so badly.

I hope you rest up and recuperate as much as you can and we're always here to listen to a good going vent!

Take care - Scottie 

[JannaLee]

Good grief!

They should not have discharged you in such a nauseated state!  This is shoddy medical care!  This is the anesthesiologist's job! 

If you ever go "under" again tell your surgeon and your nurse and your anesthesiologist you have TROUBLE  with nausea post op and could you please get the nausea medicine that can be administered by the anesthesiologist during surgery!

You could very well have become extremely sick from dehydration, bleeding, infection, etc from this terrible episode.

I think it imperative you listen to your body right now and GO HOME TO BED!

Wishing you a better day, and speedy recovery my dear Star!

Janna

[Starlore]

Hi Scottie  & Janna

Yeah I was thinking maybe it was one of the medicines in particular they used in the anesthetic 'cocktail', because last time I had it I didn't have any problems at all & that was just about a year ago. I think I'm going to start keeping track of what they've used, maybe to narrow down the margin of "ughhh". Maybe then if I ever have to have surgery again, (God I hope not!) the docs can figure out what will & won't work for me. I don't really blame the hospital because I only got sick twice while there...Once I got home tho', oh boy!

I've also read about some medicine they can give you a day or so prior to surgery to prevent nausea post-op...Funny, something told me to ask for that before my surger, but did I listen? Nooo lol! I'm pretty sure I've learned my lesson!

Till then, I'm feeling fevery/ill for sure, so I'm going to be a good girl & go home to bed. Somehow this doesn't feel like dehydration anymore ENT Thursday so I just have to hang in there!

Thanks for the concern as always!

[pudmott]

Starelore honey,
If that fevery shivery gets any worse don't wait until THursday. Call your doc or go straight to the ER. There is a chance you still could bea bt dehydrated as well which can exacerbate the fever and stuff and make it harder for your body to cope. You need to get something with a bit of glucose in it too. Maybe even some gatorade to replace the salts youhave lost when vomiting. Your electrolytes could be all out of wack. GO home take it easy and rest kepp up the fluids and take whatever it is you guys take over there to reduce fever.

Remember if it gets worse don't wait.

Pud

[Cheryl]

Star,
   I'm so glad this is behind you.   Please let us know about results when you hear.    Hang in there!
Cheryl

[lynnmarie219]

((((((((((((((((((Starlore)))))))))))))))


I'm glad its over but I'm sorry that you were so sick afterward and still aren't up to par! Please take good care of yourself and rest as much as you can.....and as Pud said, maybe you should call the doc tomorrow if you aren't any better instead of waiting until Thursday!


Please let us know how you are doing and what you find out.....sleep well tonight!

[Starlore]

Update: Saw the ENT yesterday to have the stitches removed & he said the biopsy results showed hyperplasia, so he wants to go back to the "watch & wait" approach to see what happens next & then more biopsies in the future. Ugh.    From what I've read hyperplasia of the lymphs is associated with Castleman's Disease, which just seems like another way of saying lymphadenitis, since nothing I've seen really pinpoints anything specific about it other than that there IS something going on & it causes big nodes. Hah, I figured that out w/out a biopsy lol! I'm just being cynical because I hate chasing my tail.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that its not lymphoma, but we all know how annoying it is to be back to square one w/more questions & no closure--something isn't right (or at least doesn't feel right), but of course, nothing can be done about it.
I'm very happy that the worst has been ruled out, even if just for a moment, its just so frustrating! I know that you all know what I mean so I don't need to elaborate.

I still feel a bit "off" but the ENT thinks the anesthesia affects are just dragging out so hopefully I'll be back to "normal" in a few more days. Time to follow-up w/the Rheumy & then get on w/my next root canal.

Thank you all so much for your concern & support thru this...

[Scottietottie]

Hi Starlore 

I totally understand your frustration but I'm also really glad that it's not lymphoma. That's good news at least. I hope you feel a bit better soon.

Take care - Scottie 

[pudmott]

Hey Starelore,
Im so glad that it is not lymphoma. I know its frustrating not having answers. Hang in there buddy.


Pud

[Starlore]

Ok here's something for you all to chuckle at!

Figured out the vertigo & feeling "ill" overall. Well, I was trying to clean up some of the mountain of crap & papers that has piled up on my desk & lo & behold, what do I find? My discharge paper from the hospital of course! I'd never seen it till now...& it stated "return to normal activity on Mon. Oct. 6". 

Silly me thought that "outpatient procedure" meant that you go home the same day so surely you can go back to work a day or so later...right? WRONG! My mom had signed my discharge papers & didn't realize I hadn't found it yet. So here I am, struggggggggggling to go to work every day & feeling like crap because of it, when I was supposed to be taking a week off to recover. Oh wow I feel stupid! So now the pending flare will kick my butt because I was dopey & stubborn & overdid it haha. Ah well, I couldn't afford the time off anyway, I have to pay rent!

Just thought I'd share so you could laugh at my folly! I know I am

[pudmott]

That is funny Starelore. I'm surprised the doc didnt tell you verbally though. Oh well Put some padding on that butt and hunker down for the impending flare. Lets hope it will bekind to you .


Pud