Surgery Update:

I would first like to thank everyone for praying for me. In just a second I will update you about how the surgery went and what's ahead of me. I also want to "publicly" let everyone know how appreciative I am to have such a wonderful husband to take care of me during the time of my recovery. Jeremy did a spectacular job. I was impressed! He still continues to take care of me reminding me to take my medicine, putting drops in my ear, or putting ointment on my incision still. I have been truly blessed by his compassion and willingness to care for me at this time.

Anyway...

On Thursday, August 12 I went into the Cleveland Clinic for an outpatient procedure. I knew I had a cholesteatoma that they needed to remove, but there wasn't much I knew about it other than that. We got there around 10:30. Checked in. They took me back around 11. They did the standard pre-op things (weight, blood pressure, IV etc..). The doctors were phenomenal by the way. I told them of my awful fear of anything needle-like or medical. So, they gave me some wonderful calming medicine. WoooooHOOOO!! That was great. I mellowed out pretty quickly.
Around 11:45 or so they I walked back to the OR.

I don't remember much back there except for answering a few questions and such. I don't remember counting, or being told to close my eyes... I just remember laying down, talking about missing my massage that I had scheduled... and then waking up in recovery.

The surgery that was supposed to take 1- 1 1/2 hours ended up taking between 2 1/2-3 hours. Apparently the "extensive cholesteatoma" was more extensive than they first thought. In fact, when I went to my post op appointment... the dr. said that it was the largest inner ear cholesteatoma he has ever removed in his 40 years of practice. It was almost 2 centimeters. Which is apparently very large for an inner ear.

Praise the Lord that I went in when I did. The cholesteatoma had all ready started to eat into my mastoid (bone in the inner ear). It did NOT cause permanent hearing loss, or damage to my ear.

So God has been good. I praise Him for taking me through this with minimal pain. The doctor believes it was a successful surgery. I have an appointment September 1 to follow up and to have a CT scan (or MRI, he wasn't sure which he would have ordered) to make sure that all of the cholesteatoma was removed (if not, it could act as a "seed" and grow right back.) I also have yearly visits to look forward to for the years to come. Soooo... I will keep you posted on the situation.

Thanks again for the prayers!

Going out with a.... bang??

Well everyone, this is definitely no the way I pictured my summer going. I've been working a ton, not working at my house enough... and finishing the whole thing with an ear surgery to boot!

I guess each summer is different. I am certainly not trying to come across as whining either. In fact, I am quite appreciative that the Lord has provided so well for us this summer. God has allowed me to have more work than I know what to do with this summer. I have worked almost non-stop at BV, and half way through the summer I was asked if I could fill in at QDC. It's been great. We are well on our way through the Dave Ramsey plan.

Unfortunately, my plans for getting my house completely finished...well hasn't quite gone on. It started out very well at the beginning of the summer, and then we lost traction. Oh well... I guess we have time, huh?

Finally, the ear surgery bit. When we got home from Disney in June, I woke up one morning with an odd sensation. It felt like my ear was asleep. A little numb.. and hearing out of it, was a little more difficult than normal. Needless to say, I didn't pay much attention to it. It only seemed to happen in the mornings if I slept on that side. So... I tried not to sleep on that side... and carried on with life. Then, we went on vacation with my family in July. (Glorious vacation, I must add.) I woke up one morning, feeling the odd sensation, but the hearing difficulty did not subside. In fact, it was worse! Of course, I did what I do best.... sobbed. (What can I say? I thought Jeremy was watching the tv muted, only to find out he had the sound on, and with the wrong ear up, I couldn't hear it. Who wouldn't sob.) When we got home I made an appointment with my longtime ear specialist. A week later (today) I went to his office, he looked me over, ordered a CT scan, then said that I have what is called a Cholesteatoma. (EWww... good explanation on Wikipedia, gross picture. I'd like to think that my condition doesn't look nearly as awful.) The only way to get rid of it, is surgery. So next Thursday, August 12, I will be undergoing a repeat operation of a surgery from 10 years ago.

Needless to say, I ask for and covet your prayers. I tend to be slightly freakish with surgeries. Jeremy will be with me, so that will help. But, really I do appreciate knowing my readership (though small) is praying for me.

Thanks! I will keep you posted.

K