Yippie!!!!

[shonnatx]

;D
Haven't been on the site in a while and couldn't get my login to work so had to re-register. Just wanted to update everyone on my progress. Had surgery Oct 12, 2007 to remove T4-T5 ependymoma at Zale Lipshy Hospital in Dallas. My surgeon is Dr. Howard Morgan who is excellent by the way. Spent 5 days in hospital and then home for home health PT for one week. Needed walker for about 2 weeks, but now I am walking on my own. I have the buzzing, tingling skin sensation on the whole left side from rib cage down. I take Darvocet and a muscle relaxer prn. I went for my follow-up MRI last wednesday and there is NO TUMOR!!! My doctor has released me to go back to work part-time (I work as a certified registered nurse anesthetist at a surgery center). So anyway, just so thankful that I had a relatively good outcome. My symptoms are much worse than they were pre-surgery, but not as bad as they could have been. I am also so thankful for this web site. I don't know what I would have done without all you guys when I first got my diagnosis. What a wonderful group of people we are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stargirl65]

Congratulations!!! I am glad to hear everything is going well and you are starting to get a "normal" life back. I hope things continue to be positive.

[paul55]

Hi Shonna

So glad to hear you made out well!!! And welcome to the club! You are a survivor! Congrats. Sounds like Dr. Morgan is a great surgeon.

Best of luck moving forward.
Regards
Paul

[kayakbanker08]

I had the same type of tumor T-1 & T-2 removed at UVA Medical center in Charlottesville, VA. on 12/12/06. Very similar results. Had almost no problems prior to surgery and now numbness that is some better but started chest down. Now in legs, feet and pain in the right arm that comes and goes along with stiffness and back and shoulder pain. When temp. changes or weather systems change it gets much worse. I have not seen anyone since the surgery. Going back next week for second MRI since 12/06. Should I be seeing someone? Taking medications? I have tried massage which helps some and try to walk a couple miles a day but nothing compared to how active I was prior to surgery. I went back to work...office job...TOO soon in 10 weeks...wonder if that was a mistake...stress, etc...seems to make things worse??? C

[8338]

Hi,
Welcome to our little family!
I had the same kind of tumor (just a little higher from t1-t6). It was 98% removed by Dr. Jallo and the last mri back in Dec. showed no sign of tumor! I am numb from the chest down and both legs and both feet. Of course I have a numb butt and have to look down before I sit :-)
People usually think I have knee problems because I walk with a cane and then I tell them I have a spinal cord injury and what it was. Boy what a shocked look on their faces, ha,ha.
I joined an open gym program at my pt place. I work, my myself, on all of their machines. I especially like the eliptical. I have worked up to 30mins. It has definetly built my muscle strenght in my legs. Even though I can't feel my legs, the muscles move them along. Keep excercising!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, even if you have to sit and push off on something. I'll check in again.
Barb

[Joel]

Hey:
I will add that your symptoms sound very typical for this surgery. Don't push yourself too much physically, but it is so very important to be very proactive with physical therapy. Don't sit around. Walk, go to the gym, get some 5 lb. weights to use at home, etc. And do it regularly, but again, to overdo it. But I think most of the old-timers will agree that frequent physical therapy and exercise is about the best thing you can do to overcome some of these symptoms.
Joel