Da' further adventures of da' trusty billy-goat wagon!

[elagache]

Dear 65GS.com faithful,

I'm finally catching up and recovered enough to give an update from the surgery of last Tuesday.  There was a last minute change of objectives caused by 3 lesions that had never healed properly from the first surgery of January 27th.  I started to suspect they might be leftover basal-cell skin cancer and the surgeon had come to the same conclusion.  So he tried to excise them.  The lab results confirmed that they were indeed basal-cell cancer.  I won't know if all the cancer was removed until my appointment next week.

After that, the surgeon attempted to return to original purpose of the surgery.  He still attempted to thin the skin graft on the left side, but could only do so much because he had to remove skin on the right side with the lesions.  He even surgically tried to clean up the wound on my forehead from taking the skin graft back in January.  So I'm back to stitches all over my nose and a modest wound area on my forehead.

Expressing my concerns over the past anesthesia appears to have paid off.  They changed the anesthesia and that made a world of difference. This time I was able to come home the same day without any problems.  My legs were solid as soon as was I conscious enough to try to use them.

Overall the procedure appears to have been a real success.  Even with the limited thinning of the skin graft, I am breathing significantly better and I'm happy that those suspicious lesions are removed.  However, this might set the stage for yet another surgery since the main objective of thinning had to be curtailed.  Unless there is more cancer to be removed, I would expect that I will back in a healing and waiting position to see how much the nose will recover from this surgery on its own.

Thanks for your support!

Edouard

[cwmcobra]

Edouard,

Although the entire objective wasn't met, it sounds like you are happy with the progress and that's good!  We'll pray that the next go round, if there is one, will be the last.

Heal well!!

Chuck

[elagache]

Thanks Chuck!

Just got to let the process unfold!

Edouard

[option B9]

HI Edouard. Good to hear that the latest operation went well. My family sends our prayers to you for a speedy recovery.

       Tony 

[red65gs]

Edouard,

Glad to hear you are making forward progress. Sounds like some good developments in the whole scope. "Keep your head" up as my dad used to say.

[elagache]

Dear 65GS.com faithful,

For whatever reason, it took the lab a while to complete the biopsy analysis.  Thankfully, it is good news.  The surgeon was able to completely remove all the cancer and my nose should now be able to heal normally.  There will be one more surgery in about two months to thin the skin graft as had been intended for this past surgery.  That should resolve the remaining breathing problems and get my nose to about as normal a shape as is probably practical.

Back to a more normal life until then!

Thanks for your support!

Cheers, Edouard

[dsags]

FANTASTIC NEWS. Hoping for a full recovery of your breathing issues and everything else.

[Loren At 65GS]

Dear 65GS.com faithful,

For whatever reason, it took the lab a while to complete the biopsy analysis.  Thankfully, it is good news.  The surgeon was able to completely remove all the cancer and my nose should now be able to heal normally.  There will be one more surgery in about two months to thin the skin graft as had been intended for this past surgery.  That should resolve the remaining breathing problems and get my nose to about as normal a shape as is probably practical.

Back to a more normal life until then!

Thanks for your support!

 That's great news !

 Loren

Cheers, Edouard

[GS66]

Glad to hear you finally are getting some good news!

[cwmcobra]

Fabulous news Edouard!  Thankful that you're on the path to normal!

Chuck

[gssizzler]

Yes great news and positive for a change! Best wishes on a speedy recovery!

[Jimbo]

 

[elagache]

Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm and good wishes!   

Hopefully, this is indeed turning the corner!

Cheers, Edouard

[TrunkMonkey]

I am very happy to read this! May you have perfect recovery and soon!

[elagache]

Dear 65GS.com community,

In principle, my next surgery wasn't very high in the pecking order of facial reconstructive surgery needs.  So while the earliest it could happen was in early August, I expected to be waiting in line for more urgent cases to be taken care of first.  So it was quite a surprise when I checked in with UCSF facial plastics and found they had an opening almost exactly 2 months after the last surgery: Tuesday, August 9th.

It has not been an easy summer because at just about the time I was planning on getting the shingles vaccine - instead I got the darn disease.  While it was a moderate case, I did have to cope with a bit of postherpetic neuralgia.  I'm now in the rush to get ready for the next surgery.  It is suppose to accomplish the goals intended for the June surgery: thin the skin graph so it looks like a normal nose, and in that process, realign the cartilage so that both nostrils flow normally.

It is hard not to have mixed-feelings about this procedure.  On the one hand, I'm really tired of all these surgeries.  On the other hand, I don't look or feel normal.  It seems like a mighty tall order to put things right in one surgery.  All I can do is prepare as best I can and hope for the best!

Edouard