Hi everyone.  As you know, my sister Pat had her second EDAS surgery last Thursday, June 3rd.  I spoke to my parents again, and they told me about a complication Pat had after the operation.  

Apparently, she had a build up of some fluid on her brain, which led to some swelling of her head.  Her speech was somewhat slurred as a result.  The doctors were not surprised and noted that sometimes this happens as the body's response to invasive brain surgery.

Pat was hooked up to a machine, which drained the fluid, and she is now off the machine and fluid and swelling are all gone.  She's still in intensive care, and her speech is reported to be normal now.  Tests done afterward appear to show no damage as a result of the fluid and swelling.

Hopefully she will be moved to a regular hospital room tomorrow (today, Tuesday) or Wednesday, and go home Thursday or Friday.  (My dad is hoping for Friday so she'll stay off the phone and computer and get some rest!)

Please continue to keep her in prayer, even though it looks as though the worst has passed.

Thank you,
Diane

Hi Diane,

I hope you get a nice summer vacation.  You sure deserve it.    Thank you for the update - I have Pat in my prayers.  

Janice

Great news
Hope Pat has a speedy recovery

Michele

My continued prayers...

Mar

Many prayers for Pat's recovery.I'm so glad that the complication has been resolved with no lasting affects.Thank you for the update!
Mary Grace

Hey Diane,

Thank you for the update.  Glad to hear everything is back on track!  I'm sure she'll be back "up and at 'em" in no time.

-DJ

Good news continued paryers!

Diane/Pat
   Great to here that every thing came out ok in the end, looking forward to hearing from you soon.  We are going to be off line for the next couple of weeks or so while we are moving so will catch up with you then.
Joe and TJ

Diane, Thanks so much for the update!  I have really been wondering how Pat has been doing.  I got worried when we haven't heard in a few days!  I am glad that the little set back is over and she is doing better.  Hopefully she is on the  road to full recovery!  I know it won't take her long!  She is such a go getter.  Tell her Laura said hello and that I have kept her in my prayers and thoughts!   [smiley=hiya.gif]

Okay, so we're not totally out of the woods yet.  I spoke to my Dad this afternoon.  Pat is in a regular hospital room, but she's not likely to go home until after the weekend.  She is upbeat and understands what's going on, but she is having trouble putting the words together to speak.

No one sounds too freaked out, but I'm a little worried, since I can't go see her or talk to her doctors myself or anything.  (I'm 3000 miles away on the other coast.)

Anyone have any experience with this kind of side effect after surgery?  I'd like to know what to expect.

Thanks,
Diane

Diane,

I had a very similar experience after surgery.  Everyone in the hospital called them "episodes" so that's what I still call them but I found out just recently that this probably occurred because of a small brain bleed.  There was also some talk about the brain getting used to the new blood supply or basically the new plumbing.  I still to this day don't really understand it but it all sounds (not to mention feels!) more serious than apparently it is.  I had great trouble speaking and it was very frustrating and scary.  I KNEW what I wanted/meant to say but it always came out wrong.  I also couldn't comprehend television shows or read a book.  It just wasn't sorting out correctly.

After being out of the hospital, I did have more "episodes".  I would say about 7 more within a one year span.  I haven't had any lately (knock on wood!).  I noticed that these seemed to happen when I overexerted myself, was overtired or I wasn't drinking enough fluids.  Especially the fluids!

Please let Pat know that I completely understand what she is going through and it will be okay!  I'm thinking of her!
Lisa

Thanks for the update Diane.  Please let Pat know we are still thinking about and praying for her!

I hope the next few days go well for her and she's able to come home soon!!

[smiley=hug.gif]

Hi Diane,


Thanks for the update on Pat.  My sister Patty had an episode after her second surgery - it did not last very long.  The doctor indicated that it would work itself out and it did - within a few hours she was back to making everyone laugh.  PatM will be there also.

I just wanted to share this story with you.  My son has been sent to Iraq two weeks ago.  Patty gave Scott a company hat a few years back.  He takes it to where ever he is deployed.  He likes to have his picture taken in different countries and forward a picture to her.   Before he went this time she sent him a new hat.  Scott sent me an email to read to her.  Patty's husband Shawn responded to Scott with the following.

"Interestingly, I once wished Patty's anesthesiologist good luck before one of Patty's brain surgeries. She told me it has nothing to do with luck. She said it's about training & experience. So, remember your training, rely on your experience & we'll see you as soon as possible."

We all reply on our doctors training and experience.  Tell Pat we have her in our prayers.  
Janice

Diane -

That happened to me as well...and when it did I was given a CAT scan and MRI and it was, indeed, a stroke.  It was VERY frustrating.  At first I couldn't even talk at all.  I knew what I wanted to say - processing the thought was not the problem.  It was just getting the words out - called aphasia (sp?).  As the days progressed I could get a word out or two.  By the time I left the hospital I was putting words together in sentences - not very quickly, but sentences none the less!  Eventually I got better - with some speech therapy.   Pat'll get there - just takes some time.   But I understand her frustration.

-Shari

Shari,
You got the spelling right. Tyler is still struggling with it. It really helps me to know it gets better.

Diane,
Tell Pat she is in all our prayers.

Rena

I just want to thank all of you for your prayers for me and my family........I had a few seizures after the surgery (which is not uncommon) and Dr. Connolly ordered MRI, CT scan and EEG......all tests were negative....so,  my speech was just temporarily halting.....in fact, my speech is still halting.......I get my sutures out on June 21st........Again, I thank you for the bottom of my heart for your prayers and kind thoughts....I am grateful to be alive........."True wholeness comes from having a love affair with life, living in harmony with inner wisdom, and coming to a full sense of awe at the miracle of one's own existence."  Psychotherapist M. Keith, O.S.F.  God Bless you all of you.  PatM  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

PatM -

Wonderful to hear the news from you!

Sounds like your doc must have discussed anti-seizure meds with you?

With hope for you to get strong and flowing in rapid time,

Jack
















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Hi Jack

Dr. Connolly did precribe anti-seizure medication---Depaokote---so, I am doing well-----feeling better every day........I am so grateful to Dr. Connolly and to Dr. Ralph Sacco, who is the head of the Stroke Division at Columbia Pres.......These two men have literally saved my life..........Dr. Connolly will take out my sutures on the 21st of June........Thank you for your prayers..........talk to you soon.......now, we go full steam with the Moyamoya Foundation.............Be well....regards to Linda.....Pat :-*

wooohoooo Pat, you made it out, glad to hear your doing better, each day will get better i'm sure, we will keep you in our prayers, and hope that you get stronger each day.

Hillary

Pat~
Keep on getting better!
I'm cheering and praying for you.
Love,
Linda

Pat,
I am so happy to hear you are on your way to recovery.  I have been thinking of you everyday.  Take care and rest up.  Glad you're back. [smiley=hug.gif]

Pat, So glad to see a post from you!  We are all so happy that you are back among us again!  I know you didn't have as easy of a time as you did with your first surgery, but hopefully, your speech will soon get back to normal and all of this will be behind you!  You have been in my thoughts and prayers.  Take care of yourself and don't try and go back to too much work yet!!! [smiley=hug.gif]

I am so thankful for this website and the community that supports the website.......DJ has done a fantistic job with this website........I just know that our family will be helping people for years.......God's promises anchor our lives........Pat [smiley=girlflash.gif] [smiley=cool2.gif] ;) :-* :-*