Date sent: 10/30/99 12:34 AM
All Hope Breaks Loose....
or Finally Some GOOD News....
So, after waiting all day for Dan to have his surgery, all night while he had his
surgery, we spoke to Dr. Black around 10:00 pm. He said it was very good news. He said
there is probably not even infection. What he found when he aspirated was blood and fluid.
So, the "mass" on the MRI was a "chronic hematoma", which, when all is
said and done, is sort of like a blood blister inside the head. He said there was blood
and fluid "oozing" since the surgery, it closes itself off and continues to ooze
slowly.
Questions:
Had there been "bleeding" since the surgery?
He said that they could tell from the imaging right after surgery that it was not
"bleeding", but this was a slow accumulation ("ooze", the technical
term...) over time. He was pretty certain that Dan will not need another procedure. They
did/will culture the aspirate and make sure nothing grows.
What did they do?
They cut along the former incision line, then made a small hole to aspirate from. He
said that they left a small plastic tube in place, which will stay there indefinately, in
case they ever need access to that opening again. I asked if they just laid the skin down
on top of that, he said yes.
Was this hematoma enough to have been preventing Dan's progress?
Absolutely, in two ways. First, the hematoma itself was causing pressure on the brain.
Second the associated edema was slowing down the healing process.
How is Dan now?
I saw Dan in the recovery room. His face is a little swollen from the anesthesia. His
head has the U-shaped tape over the skin flap, but not a full turban wrap. His speech
sounded rough from a tube being in his mouth (like trying to talk after having novacaine)
but his words were coming out much faster than right before the surgery. I could already
see improvements. He was talking to me, but was very groggy. Had some pain in his head and
was given morphine, which of course, knocked the pain, and his speech right out...
("You'll have to excuse me if I don't speak.." No problem!) His head is slightly
swollen at the incision line, but not as bad as the last time.
So, I am feeling much relieved, and yes, dare I say it, Hopeful... very Hopeful.
Shabbat Shalom,
Abi and Dan
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