[djvallejo]

WOULD LIKE SOME FEEDBACK AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A TRASNTERNAL STERNECTOMY TO REMOVE THYMOMA, THYMUS, FATTY TISSUE, ETC. WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PLASAMPHERIS. Thank you all (and this site) for providing me a vehicle to vent and get my emotions out!


After much deliberation I am moving forward with a Thymectomy this weekend. I did my homework and due diligence to finalize my decision. Visited two Neurologists, two opthamologusts, 1 neuro-opthamologist, one thoracic surgeon, a chiropractor and a "natural healing" doctor. I had read numerous threads on this site and have done extensive research on the internet.

My conclusions are as follows - felt the most peace with the surgeon and the second neurologist I visisted. I will be going in Friday 9/18 to start plasmapherisis prior to surgery which will be done on Mon 9/21. He will be doing a transternal sternectomy and says this method is the most full proof as he is able to really see what is going on inside. The Thymus along with a Thymoma and all fatty tissue will be removed. Says he doe this way b/c sometimes other procedures (lamproscopic, cervical, etc) do not always get all of the thymic tissue out.

I have full confidence in the surgeon I am working with. He came highly recommended and is a Heart and Lung Transplant surgeaon and Tampa General Hospital. Before making this decision I went through the research for going the natutal healing route but did not feel comfortable with what I was told. I wish I would have felt better about it b/c obviously I am going the most invasive route but really feel this is my least risky choice b/c of the need to get this Thymoma out of my body, among other things. Please pray for a very successful surgery and that my symptons start to subside or going into full remission afterwards. I know it may not be an immediate thing but I am hopeful I am one of the blessed ones that benefit from this.

I will keep you posted after I am back up and running.