Start chilling that champagne....

[figmo]

The neurologist Warren saw Monday mailed a letter to him and a neurosurgeon in Redwood City recommending surgery!!! He also filled out the forms to have Warren's new MRI sent to the outside-the-HMO neurosurgeon (in case the HMO guy won't operate).

Comments

[delennara.livejournal.com]

I really hope he will get what he needs soon.
Adn I hope that you don't expect too much from it. Best, he will stay as he is (or very slightly improve), and not grow any worse. Most of the damage done is done and won't get away with surgery. I hope the doctor explained that to you.
And of course surgery has the risk to do more damage.
I am sorry, to say such things while you are so euphoric, but better to know that before.
But of course, surgery is the right thing.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I have heard from others on the arachnoid cyst mailing list the results from surgery can be pretty dramatic.

Some things I'm expecting:

• His daily seizures will end.
• His neuropathy will go away.
• Once there's nothing putting pressure on his hippocampus, he'll start being able to remember things and learn again.
• Since he'll be able to remember, his habit of putting things "away" and then forgetting where "away" is will end.
• He'll have more energy once he recovers from the surgery.
• His libido might even increase. (I'm not sure how I'l deal with that. ;-) )

Other folks who've had this surgery report similar results.

[delennara.livejournal.com]

Ummm...I really hope for you that they are right. But the only thing you can EXPECT is that it won't become worse. Pressure on structures in the brain often means that they don't get enough oxygen anymore. Which means that the cells die. Brain cells don't usually regenerate.
What often happends is that other structures take over lost functions, or that he can learn ways round his problems. Maybe the most recent new problems still are reversible.
But please don't expect too much. You still can hope for nice surprises, but if you think his problems woudl just vanish, disappointment is sure.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

A friend I made through the arachnoid cyst mailing list just had hers fenestrated in February. She describes the "before" situation as "like trying to think in a tunnel" and is much pleased with the results.

I'm sure there is some permanent damage, but what I'm seeing on the MRIs is a brain that's being more pushed out of the way than totally crushed.