I will be heading back to Cleveland tomorrow. I am scheduled to have my left side STA-MCA bypass by Dr. Rasmussen at the clinic Thurs. morning. It is hard to believe that I had my right side done on June 17th. I went back to work on Aug. 29 and have been feeling really good and wonder sometimes is this really necessary ?  I know it is but when you are symptom free for so long you wonder sometimes. I will update my condition as soon as I can and want to thank everyone for their support and responses to my posts.

I returned home today from my sugery at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr Rasmussen and his team only took around six hours this time. I am very sore in my temporal area and my ear tube feels almost  swelled shut. Dr. says these will pass as swelling goes down in next few weeks. I now have left and right side STA-MC bypasses to take care of my MM. The road back to full strength and health will be a little slow but I know I can handle it with my wife and family's support. My drug therapy is a little changed this time...no Plavix, one 325 Aspirin and a daily dose of Dilantin 100mg for 4 weeks along with my multivitamin and coenzyme Q-10. Also I must get my glasses away from my temporal area. I may ssek out Lasik vision suregery to eliminate them.

Hi Larry,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Kim

Larry,
I am so Happy to hear your surgery went well!! I got Lasik and it has been a great blessing. I was amazed on how fast you could see and how fast the recovery was. The most important thing about the lasik is following the medication drops schedual so you don't get some of the side effects (ie halos around the lights). Also I strongly recommend the "wavefront" process that maps your eyes. The cheaper thing is the by prescription but I have a co-worker that is not happy with that out come.

Stay strong,
Becky

Hope you are doing better today and glad you emailed me about the lasik surgery options at the Cleveland Clinic. I am so very happy with my results at 3.5 yrs post lasik. It is the best thing since sliced bread! As I mentioned to you in the email, my only side effects have been 1-2 months a year (when we turn on the heater) I get some dry eye and use the over-the-counter rewetting drops. I eventually get used to the change in weather and all is normal. But, to be fair, during that time I also get dry skin (hands & face) so it makes sense that my eyes too feel the effects!

Hope your ear pain/pressure issues are resolving. Take care and get well soon!

diane

Good luck with your surgery at the end of Nov, Jen. I leave in two weeks for surgery in early December at Stanford. Please keep us posted.


Nina

To those who asked about second sugery. Yes the second seems to worse. I am still struggling with pain management meds. I am also taking Dilantin 100mg 3x a day for anti siezure. I wasn't on this medication back in June with my first surgery only while at the Clinic. I had trouble with Percocet the other day and had my wife take me to Forum Health's North Side ER. Doctor did CT scan looking for a bleed, bood work looking for Dilantin levels and basic stuff and EKG. All test came back good and I was given morphine for pain and some anti nausea medication through an IV line. Lucky for me ER Dr. Tishman knows Neuro Drs. At Cleveland and was able to call them directly for info about my case. I am doing a little better  now but am taking a Vicodin pill. My left side ear canal still seems blocked and I have extensive bruising on my left side neck. When I lay down I have lots of pain in the back of my neck. I feel like I was in a bad car wreck. I am hoping to get better each day as it took about 2 weeks last time befor i got off pain meds.

Wow, Lisa! My surgery is on December 7th!

Nina

Went to my local Ear and throat Dr. Yesterday. He looked in my ear and saw no build up but said I have a small bubble that will go away in time. He had me plug my nose and blow lightly and I heard a pop. He told me to do this about 10 times a day and if it isn't gone in about 10 days come back. I am either getting less pressure or I am getting used to it. I still have vertbrae pain in my neck.. I think they had me contorted during my surgey. I had similar pain back in June after my first operation. I am almost weaned off of pain medication containing narcotics. Trying to get by without any meds. using Tylenol sparingly.

Lary,
I am Happy to hear you back at work!!

My OB Doctor, and my Aunt who is a nurse (that drives to people's houses to give medicin and check up on there status) are also "facinated" with my condition. They have been tring to find out more about it and what could cause it.

I would see if you could get the theorys from your Plant Dr. Please also let him and you coworkers know that it is probably not the work enviroment. I pesonaly have never been exposed to that kind of stuff. I am just a "normal" 29 year old, and I don't think some of the other less then 5 year olds have been exposed to those kinds of fumes and stuff as well.

Becky