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jim and i
jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Haven't been on all week, my laptop got a spyware and waiting for son to fix. I have to use the desktop in the bedroom and can't multitask on it. :(

We recieved the CT on Jim's brain results yesterday. Good news is there is no tumors or lesions. Thsnk you God! Bad news, Jim has hydrocephalus (water on the brain). We have been refered to a neuro surgen to see if Jim qualifies for a stint to drain the fluid. Apparently they hospitalize for three days to evaluate if the stint will make a difference before they do the surgery. I am praying he qualifies because left alone it will worsen the balance problem and his memory and mental function will deteriate (alzhimers). We are waiting for the neuro surgeons office to call for appointment.

Please pray for good outcome.

Debbie

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  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #2
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    Prayers
    Hi Debbie and Jim-

    Congrats on the good news from the CT results. And you are in my prayers to be able to qualify for the stint and resolve that problem.

    Patti
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #3
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    Prayers
    Prayers going out for the doctors to make and suggest the right coarse of action and get the approval for the stint.

    Praise for the great news for no sign of tumors or lesions, something to celebrate for sure.

    johnvg
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #4
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    Debbie
    Well, I am happy to read that the CT scan does not show any tumors or lesions. I am hoping that they can alleviate the water with a shunt or other proceedure. Keeping you both in prayers.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
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    Thoughts and Prayers
    Coming your way...especially for a non-invasive treatment.

    John
  • Redbanker
    Redbanker Member Posts: 36
    #6
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    NPH
    Dear Debbie,

    I've followed your thread throughout the dark days you've been through over the last few months and always wanted to tell you that you were going to pull through this. But as I couldn't back that up with anything other than a strong belief, I sat that one out. I am so happy to hear that Jim is okay on the CA front.

    Now as to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. I've got some experience in this ailment since my dad received the same diagnosis. He was unable to pursue the shunt for a variety of reasons, but we were in discussion with Dr. Marmarou at Virginia Commonwealth Medical Center in Richmond. Dr M., sadly, the late Dr. M., was the expert in the adult manifestation of hydrocephalus--as you probably know, this is more generally a pediatric diagnosis. This is the place where all the early spade work was done and, depending on where you live, a place you might consider for further evaluation.

    The good news is that if Jim gets a shunt his symptoms will reverse just about immediately. It is incredible. And there will be no echoes, no little reminders. Very unlike the legacy of treatment for base of tongue and its relatives.

    Here's a link that might be of interest. http://tinyurl.com/VirginiaCU

    Hoping that you will continue to be surprised by good news and better results.

    Nancy
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #7
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    Redbanker said:

    NPH
    Dear Debbie,

    I've followed your thread throughout the dark days you've been through over the last few months and always wanted to tell you that you were going to pull through this. But as I couldn't back that up with anything other than a strong belief, I sat that one out. I am so happy to hear that Jim is okay on the CA front.

    Now as to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. I've got some experience in this ailment since my dad received the same diagnosis. He was unable to pursue the shunt for a variety of reasons, but we were in discussion with Dr. Marmarou at Virginia Commonwealth Medical Center in Richmond. Dr M., sadly, the late Dr. M., was the expert in the adult manifestation of hydrocephalus--as you probably know, this is more generally a pediatric diagnosis. This is the place where all the early spade work was done and, depending on where you live, a place you might consider for further evaluation.

    The good news is that if Jim gets a shunt his symptoms will reverse just about immediately. It is incredible. And there will be no echoes, no little reminders. Very unlike the legacy of treatment for base of tongue and its relatives.

    Here's a link that might be of interest. http://tinyurl.com/VirginiaCU

    Hoping that you will continue to be surprised by good news and better results.

    Nancy

    What you said
    +1

    This treatment, for aquired hydrocephalus, is a miracle.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #8
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    Debbie
    Hold off on getting the stint, if you read some of my post about 8 months ago I was losing my eye sight and having all kinds of problems in the head. The doctors at MD Anderson did a spinal tap, MRI and about 2 different CT scans and found I had excess fluid on the brain causing all these problems. They say they don’t know why I have this problem but at that time I also had a very bad Mastoid infection in the left ear. This was because I went swimming and salt water got into my inner ear through the ear tubes and none of my doctors detected it or said anything even thoe the MRI was telling them what the problem was.

    They did however put me on a medicine called Acetazolamide I took 750MG of it a day for 3 months and it cleared up the problem with fluid on the brain. I have now been off of it for 5 months and so far doing ok. Please ask them to let you give it a try before putting a stint in.

    Congratulations on the no cancer, thank you Lord

    Acetazolamide


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetazolamide

    Keeping you both in prayer
    Hondo
  • NJR
    NJR Member Posts: 82
    #9
    Options
    My Prayers
    are yours, however I will be honest. I am new to this so I am about 50 years behind on my Hail Mary's You might not want to mention my name when stating your case. I'd hate for the Big Kahuna to raise an eyebrow at Jim on my account!

    Best wishes to you both,
    Nick
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #10
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    Been thinking of you
    I am glad to hear this news. Sorry that he does have the water issue. I pray that it is something they can fix.
  • Jan Trinks
    Jan Trinks Member Posts: 477
    #11
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    You got 'em
    Debbie:

    Glad to hear no tumors or lesions! Praise the Lord! Will be praying he'll qualify for the stint. God Bless!

    Jan (Basketcase)
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #12
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    Jan Trinks said:

    You got 'em
    Debbie:

    Glad to hear no tumors or lesions! Praise the Lord! Will be praying he'll qualify for the stint. God Bless!

    Jan (Basketcase)

    best of luck to you
    hurrah for no brain lesions -- that is a big relief ! Sending prayers that the new issue will resolve itself (with meds like Hondo) or with a stent, if required. Hope you breeze thru any needed surgery, so you can get back to just worrying about the cancer.
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #13
    Options
    Redbanker said:

    NPH
    Dear Debbie,

    I've followed your thread throughout the dark days you've been through over the last few months and always wanted to tell you that you were going to pull through this. But as I couldn't back that up with anything other than a strong belief, I sat that one out. I am so happy to hear that Jim is okay on the CA front.

    Now as to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. I've got some experience in this ailment since my dad received the same diagnosis. He was unable to pursue the shunt for a variety of reasons, but we were in discussion with Dr. Marmarou at Virginia Commonwealth Medical Center in Richmond. Dr M., sadly, the late Dr. M., was the expert in the adult manifestation of hydrocephalus--as you probably know, this is more generally a pediatric diagnosis. This is the place where all the early spade work was done and, depending on where you live, a place you might consider for further evaluation.

    The good news is that if Jim gets a shunt his symptoms will reverse just about immediately. It is incredible. And there will be no echoes, no little reminders. Very unlike the legacy of treatment for base of tongue and its relatives.

    Here's a link that might be of interest. http://tinyurl.com/VirginiaCU

    Hoping that you will continue to be surprised by good news and better results.

    Nancy

    Thank you Nancy
    I will look at that link. I am in Florida. There is a specialty group here in Orlando that specializes in this area of adult hydrocephalus I am going to contact them on Monday. I am so happy to hear about the complete reversal of your dad's side effects, it gives me a better feeling of hope. Jim's memory and balance has gotten really bad and we are looking forward to getting back to a symblance of normal. Thank you again for posting.

    Blessings

    Debbie
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #14
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    acetazolamide
    Thanks everyone, appreciate the info and prayers. Hondo, I will ask about the acetazolamide, Jim would much prefer the meds to surgery.

    Keeping the faith,

    Debbie

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