Well, we went AGAIN today to see the surgeon who's supposed to put in the nerve block...
Only to be told "He's overbooked today and we want to take out time on him because he's a special case, can you come back next Thursday?"
At least this time he got to talk to the surgeon's assistant instead of just the receptionist, but jeez. We're really starting to wish they'd just GET IT OVER WITH ALREADY!
City of Heroes taught me that when the world is burning, you don't just stand by and watch, you grab a fire extinguisher and do whatever you can to stop it-even if it's not much at all. Sign the petition to keep City of Heroes alive HERE.
@MissKyo, Leader of the Teamsters coalition on Protector
Perhaps you should start charging him for your time lost waiting on him, or expenses for travelling pointlessly.
█ Players Guide to the Cities
Hummmm some of these gadgets and gizmos might be useful.
Steampunk Pack video
Kyo's right, they did delay me again. BUT, after talking with the surgeon himself, they DO have good reason! Two very important things:
1. I'm deathly allergic to contrast dye, so since they can't use it, the 20 minute procedure becomes a minimum 45 minute procedure.
2. The nerve in question is literally wrapped around several other very important nerves (including my balance center). So they have to be very careful what they hit. 
The receptionist is still a twit, but I'm willing to take my time and get this done right.
Quote:
Cheap, Fast, Good. Pick ONE.|
Originally Posted by SteampunkCharlie
The receptionist is still a twit, but I'm willing to take my time and get this done right.
|
Considering they're chopping into you, I know which one *I* would pick were I in your shoes.
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So I finally had the first surgery today. It went fairly well, just one minor screw up.
The nerve block is in place now, 8 positions stretching from the C2 ganglion up along the greater Occipital nerve, and into the balance cluster. While the doctor was placing it, he examined the cluster, and after a quick consultation with a radiologist, confirmed what the other specialists have been saying: my balance cluster is 40% destroyed.
Had one minor screw up, but it was quickly corrected. And this is where the doctor's skill really shined. While he was positioning the injector, he grazed the wrong nerve, and myheart stopped. They had me hooked up to several monitors, and soon as he grazed that nerve, the heart monitor changed from "beep...beep...beep" to "beeeeeeee."
Nobody panicked, he doctor just calmly said "Wrong nerve there. Hitting the defrib," and pressed a button.
When they laid me on the table (face down, strapped in, with my head in a brace), one of the nurses slid a pad with 2 metal plates under me, saying "This is the defriblilator, just in case."
Well, anyway, I leasrned it's nothing like in the movies. He pressed the button, I felt my chest tingle, and the heart monitor went back to going "beep...beep...beep..." like normal.
He talked with me fora few minutes, explained what had happened, and continued the procedure.
Yes, I was fully awake and conscious the entire time. The doctors and their assistants kept talking with me to make sure I was okay.
After the surgery was done, the doctor sat with me in the recovery room the entire time, discuissing what's going to happen, and keeping an eye on me.
He apologized several times, even though (in my opinion) he did great. He kept apologizing about the fact that from this point on, I'm pretty much stuck in the chair. But, I can honestly say, that's ok. My pain level right now is about a 2 (it was an easy 8 when I got there this morning), and should drop even lower over the next 24-48 hours.
2 weeks for this to fully take hold, and then the next surgery takes place. Yay.
-- Charlie
Quote:
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Originally Posted by SteampunkCharlie
...
Yes, I was fully awake and conscious the entire time. The doctors and their assistants kept talking with me to make sure I was okay. ... |
This would freak me out.
Glad to hear it turned out relatively well.
Your mood and reaction facing this are inspiring.
█ Players Guide to the Cities
Quote:
And please, please, PLEASE spread the word. This is the chance of a lifetime for Charlie-it's the best (and cheapest) van we've been able to find so far, and if we miss out now we don't know when another one will come along.
| We've found a van that we might be able to afford, it used to be an ambulance and is already wheelchair accessible. If we can get together $900 by Friday we can have it, but it'll require lots of help spreading the word and raising the money. If we don't get it by Friday we'll put all donations towards the next cheapest/workable van we find. Visit http://charliesvan.chipin.com/a-tran...an-for-charlie for more! |
City of Heroes taught me that when the world is burning, you don't just stand by and watch, you grab a fire extinguisher and do whatever you can to stop it-even if it's not much at all. Sign the petition to keep City of Heroes alive HERE.
@MissKyo, Leader of the Teamsters coalition on Protector
Quote:
Step 1 : Getting the money - DONE ! (*)|
Originally Posted by DJKyo
And please, please, PLEASE spread the word. This is the chance of a lifetime for Charlie-it's the best (and cheapest) van we've been able to find so far, and if we miss out now we don't know when another one will come along.
|
Step 2: Getting the van
Step 3: ?????
Step 4: PROFIT !!!
(*) If you want to send more money Charlie's way, I'm sure he won't mind...
Keep NCSoft from shutting down City of Heroes : http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes
aww I didn't see this earlier. Can the chip in be reopened? I'd like to chip in. Sure the van is paid for but if I can chip in $20 to make sure it has a fresh oil change or spark plugs or some gas or something. A little cushion on the van fund as it were.
-Kult
Lookin' good, Charlie. Keep us posted.
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