Surgery on or not?

After a long day of blood tests, a chest xray, a doctor visit, another blood test (they missed one), an EKG and one final doctor visit plus a whole lot of waiting, we found out that my Lipase levels were slightly elevated at around 400 (normal is around 50) but the doctors are very certain now that with my good health history (except for the tumor) that my Pancreatitis was caused by Depakote, the anti-seizure medication that I was placed on for the clinical trial. Now that I am off of it and feeling very good, the doctor says that he does not see any reason why I cannot have the surgery on Thursday. So we are GO!

Click to see pics from all angles

Tomorrow we have an early appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Lang, to talk about the surgery one last time and also so that he can place markers on my head that will be visible in my MRI tomorrow and used during the surgery along with the MRI as a sort of GPS system so that they will know exactly where they are in my brain. Five years ago I had longer hair and they shaved circles in to my hair so they would stick to my scalp and then before the surgery they shaved a strip where they were going to make the incision and I had all different lengths of hair up there. Well, not this time around.. Holly and I shaved it down to nothing with the clippers so that it'll all be even this time around. It's silly... we've learned so much from our experiences.

Wed morning is my last shower for a while as I can't moisten my head after the markers are put on because they have to stay on. So I need to get to bed as I have to get up quite early. For those interested, here is the schedule of events for tomorrow.


Date / Time Description Location Status
03/23/2011 07:45 AM  PATIENT CHECK IN  Brain & Spine Center  
   Brain & Spine Center is located in the Main Building on the 7th Floor near Elevator B.

03/23/2011 08:00 AM  LANG, FRED M.D.  Brain & Spine Center  
   Brain & Spine Center is located in the Main Building on the 7th Floor near Elevator B.

03/23/2011 12:30 PM  PATIENT CHECK-IN  Anesthesia Assessment Center  
   Anesthesia Assessment Center is located in the Main Building on the 6th Floor near Elevator A.

03/23/2011 12:45 PM  ANESTHESIA ASSESSMENT  Anesthesia Assessment Center  
   Anesthesia Assessment Center is located in the Main Building on the 6th Floor near Elevator A.

03/23/2011 04:30 PM  PREPARATION/CHECK IN FOR MRI  Outpatient MRI  
   Outpatient MRI is located in the Mays Clinic on the 4th Floor near Elevator T.
   Preparation Instructions:  Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

03/23/2011 05:00 PM  MRI, BRAIN W & W/O CONTRAST  Outpatient MRI  
   Outpatient MRI is located in the Mays Clinic on the 4th Floor near Elevator T.
   Preparation Instructions:  Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)


We're also having lunch with our friends Eric and Brea, who will be at MDACC for some follow up for Eric's cancer. The the family starts to arrive in the afternoon... my parents and Holly's mom and sister. Thanks again to everyone for your prayers and thoughts.

We love you!

-Roger