Good news!
Well, relatively speaking at least - funny how one adapts to change. I saw the neurosurgeon today, and had a great meeting. I got home a bit late to pick Kirstin up, then discovered the car had a flat, so had to run (with the wheelchair) to the tram. We arrived at the hospital a few minutes late, but covered in sweat. At least, I was.
Two and a half hours later, our turn to see the doctor arrived. It became quickly apparent that he possessed all the things you'd like to have in a surgeon but didn't really expect - humility, optimism coupled with reality checks, and a sense of humour. Oh, and no awareness of either how late he was running, nor how long he was taking to make sure you were happy.
And so we came out happy. I've decided to have the operation in Grenoble, and the date that has been provisionally set for me is December 13th (Tuesday). I'll go into hospital the day before and after the operation will be in Grenoble for a few days, then south to Briancon (in the high Alps) for the intensive rehabilitation program.
I'd been resigning myself to the trans-labyrinthine approach, which requires the destruction of the hearing apparatus and the balance system (on the right side) since I'd heard a number of confirmations of the necessity of that for a tumour of this size (28mm, almost into the classical grade 5 category) but the neurosurgeon said that he felt my hearing was sufficiently good still that it would be worth attempting a retro-sigmoid approach that may save about 30%. Although ENT surgeons don't think this is worth it, because this does not leave sufficient hearing for speech discrimination, it does leave something to help you locate sounds (stereophony) and also hear 'alert' noises - a car coming towards you, someone shouting, etc. He will discuss this with the ENT team, and decide on what is best together.
Interestingly, the same incision in the skin is used for both: it is the entry through the bone with changes. So he envisages trying the retro-sigmoid first, but if it becomes apparent that it will not work, then simply drilling a new hole to do the trans-lab.
He expects I'll be home for Christmas!
Of course, the whole problem of where will home be is still weighing on me slightly. Life insurance to satisfy the mortgage lenders is still proving to be elusive, and I'm starting to run out of options. We'll see how things go in the next few days, when I should be receiving some calls to discuss.
So, all in all, I feel much better tonight than I have for a few days (where my sister and Kirstin, particularly, have had to deal with a rather surly companion). I got a good vibe from the surgeon (and how better would you assess a medical expert when you are not one?), I got a date, and a better than expected prospective outcome after surgery.
Thanks for all your letters and emails - they've been really encouraging.
Two and a half hours later, our turn to see the doctor arrived. It became quickly apparent that he possessed all the things you'd like to have in a surgeon but didn't really expect - humility, optimism coupled with reality checks, and a sense of humour. Oh, and no awareness of either how late he was running, nor how long he was taking to make sure you were happy.
And so we came out happy. I've decided to have the operation in Grenoble, and the date that has been provisionally set for me is December 13th (Tuesday). I'll go into hospital the day before and after the operation will be in Grenoble for a few days, then south to Briancon (in the high Alps) for the intensive rehabilitation program.
I'd been resigning myself to the trans-labyrinthine approach, which requires the destruction of the hearing apparatus and the balance system (on the right side) since I'd heard a number of confirmations of the necessity of that for a tumour of this size (28mm, almost into the classical grade 5 category) but the neurosurgeon said that he felt my hearing was sufficiently good still that it would be worth attempting a retro-sigmoid approach that may save about 30%. Although ENT surgeons don't think this is worth it, because this does not leave sufficient hearing for speech discrimination, it does leave something to help you locate sounds (stereophony) and also hear 'alert' noises - a car coming towards you, someone shouting, etc. He will discuss this with the ENT team, and decide on what is best together.
Interestingly, the same incision in the skin is used for both: it is the entry through the bone with changes. So he envisages trying the retro-sigmoid first, but if it becomes apparent that it will not work, then simply drilling a new hole to do the trans-lab.
He expects I'll be home for Christmas!
Of course, the whole problem of where will home be is still weighing on me slightly. Life insurance to satisfy the mortgage lenders is still proving to be elusive, and I'm starting to run out of options. We'll see how things go in the next few days, when I should be receiving some calls to discuss.
So, all in all, I feel much better tonight than I have for a few days (where my sister and Kirstin, particularly, have had to deal with a rather surly companion). I got a good vibe from the surgeon (and how better would you assess a medical expert when you are not one?), I got a date, and a better than expected prospective outcome after surgery.
Thanks for all your letters and emails - they've been really encouraging.
posted by Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson | 11:07 pm
7 Comments:
Greg, Thanks so much for all the in-depth information. That really helps me to understand what exactly is going on. We're thinking of you often and sending love and prayers. ~Jen
Okay Greg...? You found a Noble prize winner's speech on the whose-a-whats-it procedure thingy? Only you... You are amazing, either a doctor's nightmare or dream. And in the case of the later blog, it sounds as if you are a dream. So happy to hear you have found such a positive and hopeful surgeon. From watching my friend who battles non-Hodgkins lymphoma, the doctor's attitude seems to make all of the difference!
Well the best of blessings to you and the whole Lott/Gibb clan is sending the best of vibes to you. Mom and Dad Lott are constantly amazed at the positive attitude you both have and they constantly want to see if I have further updates. So love is coming in from Phoenix, Oxford and Surrey.
We are thinking of you!
Duffy and Julian
Gregarious Greg!
You're in my prayers...big greetings from chilly ol' Scotland.
Will get in touch properly soon but have rather a stressful amount of essays to be writing at the moment!
May God bless you and keep you strong though all of this
Lots of love to you and the wifey!
Miranda :)
Very good, very good. Thanks again for your detail, candor and humour. We pray for you as we read.
Scot and Carrie
Hey Greg, It's Melody, your cousin. You know, I heard about things down there, and your mom let me read your blog. How are you doing? What a crazy, crazy thing this is, but I am really glad to be able to read your account of what is going on, instead of getting it second hand, that way I can tell my family when they ask about you, and want to know what is going on. I wanted to let you know that you and Kirsten are both in my prayers and that I wish you the best of everything. I really hope that everything goes well.
thinking of you.
Thank-you so much for keeping us updated. You are a marvel. We are thinking about you, and praying for you as you endure this undesirable adventure. Lots of love from Georgia. ~Adrienne
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