On Wednesday the 4th, I had my consult with the neurosurgeon who will be performing the permanent implant procedure. My wonderful St. Jude rep met me at the appointment and we talked with the surgeon together. She was very helpful in the discussion regarding number and placement of leads and pulse generator as well as providing excellent moral support.
The appointment started with a medical assistant taking vitals. I was then met by the Nurse Practitioner who did a basic physical exam and took a bit of medical history in regards to my headaches. The surgeon then came in and after a couple of questions, we were discussing the details of the surgery. I was so relieved there was no hesitation on his part as to whether or not to proceed.
He let me know that he would be out of the office for a couple of weeks for a conference (Otherwise we could have scheduled it sooner) Although the 51 days since my trial was removed has seemed to last far longer, I'm not complaining about the fact that I only have to wait two more weeks!
The plan is for two leads on the right side, one above and one at the level of the mastoid. The pulse generator will be placed on the right side in the infraclavicular area. He explained to me that a day or two before the surgery, I would be scheduled for a final pre-op appointment for last minute blood work, chest x-ray, etc. He let me know that he was sending the request to his surgical scheduling person and that she would be contacting me to finalize the date.
I picked up my visit summary paperwork at the desk on the way out, and they informed me that I should be hearing from the scheduler by the following Tuesday. She called me the following day! My surgery is officially scheduled for April 19th at 9:30am. My pre-op visit is the day before at 11:00.
It doesn't quite feel real yet. But, I'm sure that it won't for a few more days. My plans over the next couple of weeks include slowly getting my house cleaned for the recovery period, Gathering volunteers to help out after surgery, Stocking the house with groceries, and general pre-cuperation.
I can't help but feel that the support of everyone in my life has played a major role in getting to this point. So, a sincere thank you to all.
I'll post again after the pre-op visit.
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