Hi all,

I apologize for the delays....I asked my mom to post for me while in the hospital to let my friends know I was ok, but she "couldn't figure this out".

I had my 2nd lat-flap surgery in Denver on 3/21. I came back here to Albany, NY on April 11 after 4 weeks in Denver.

This was my 5th (and final?) surgery for bilateral TOS. I so hope I am done with surgery! This procedure was done by Dr. Steve Annest (vascular surgery) and Dr. William Brown (plastic surgery). These two guys saved me, I am sure of it. I get teary-eyed talking about them...I mean, how do you thank someone for taking away that gnawing nerve pain?

The surgery went very well. I have 3 incisions - they opened the clavicle area again, there is one in my armpit, and on my back where they took the latissimus muscle. We were sure that scar tissue from previous rib resections was the problem...according to them it was "loaded" and there was a big rib stump left that they took out. Then they cleaned the scar off the brachial plexus and wrapped it with the lat flap. Dr. Brown actually had the resident take digital pictures (at my request), and he e-mailed them to me. They were breathtaking to look at, I think mainly because that was ME I was looking at!

This time I had to go home with one of the surgical drains, which was different than last time. After 12 days I was so afraid of the pain of it coming out, but Dr. Brown put a little lidocaine there and I never felt a thing. Just foolish for being so scared, I guess. The day before I flew home I saw him one last time and I have a fluid collection where the muscle was taken, so he tapped it. Again, with the fear....he did such a good job and I hardly felt it when he did it. The bummer is it's back again, but not so bad. My surgeon here is sending me to a plastic surgeon here because "he'd know better how to tap it". That's fine by me! I'd rather have someone 100% sure of what they were doing if they are gonna stick needles there!

Saying goodbye to the doctors was hard for me. I cried with Dr. Annest. I said to him, "I know I am just a patient of yours, but you'll NEVER be just a doctor to me..." We shared a big hug and some tears. I also told him I just don't know how to thank him for all that he's done for me. He said he'll never forget me...that I am their best result yet with this procedure and only the 3rd person they have done bilaterally. He said he may have patients unsure of what to do call me to hear my story and make a decision for themselves. I told him whatever I could do to help him, I would do!

The problem I am having now (4 weeks out) is vomiting. One of the meds is disagreeing with me, and I think I have it narrowed down. I also told my dr here yesterday I am going to start to wean the Oxycontin now too. I absolutely hate waking up feeling hungover and have to take more pills and fall asleep and feel hazy all the time!

I sure am taking it easy with the arm too. It's a little easier this time since it's my non-dominant hand too. I restarted PT here with the guy that I worked with after the last surgery...I figure I did so well with him last time, let's stick with a good thing!

Sorry so late getting this out, but I just now am comfortable typing with 2 hands again...

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask! I can even send pictures if there is interest in that too.

Jen

You are one brave girlfriend
5 surgeries...
It's incredible to hear what Dr. Annest did for you and treated you as an individual.
LOVE to hear that.
Not like so many cookie cutter surgeons.

I give you props for getting on that plane and dealing with your post recovery.
What is Dr. Anest perscribing for post op care, Pt, etc?
Do you have a Neurologist there that works with Annest for follow up and pain management?
XXOO

It's great to hear from you and I'm so glad you had such a good experience with the Dr. & surgery- and I hope you have a smooth recovery.

Jen, this is fabulous news! Thanks for posting, I know it must be painful. Don't you hate the oxy? I called them my "gasoline pills" cause they taste like that and leave you feeling like you drank some gas. That Dr. A is a jewel, isn't he?

All the best for a speedy recovery! Please rest well and let it all heal... it takes time.

Anne

Good wishes on your continuing recovery, and I hope there are no snags. So far it sounds really good, and I am sure it will continue.

Hugs.

Wow... 5 surgeries! You are brave! I'm scared to have even one operation(then again, I don't know if it would help me). I'm glad that your recovery has gone well so far, and i hope that it continues to go well! I hope they get that nauseated feeling gone. Good luck with the pT and the rest of your recovery!

That's great to hear! I have been waiting rather anxiously - it's really good to hear that all is DONE!

Was this your worst side originally - you've had 2 previous surgeries on the left, both in NY, right? Wow, that side's been through battle! Do they think scar matter will be a big problem again, or was there anything new they tried to prevent this?

Sounds like some interesting photos!

Hope the nausea stops soon if it hasn't already - what's the word on return-to-work?

Was our "favorite" nurse still at P-SL?

beth

I'm happy to hear about your recovery.

Dr. Annest? I live in CT and I'm thinking of going elsewhere, meaning out of state after reading this. Is your story on here somewhere?

Thanks~

To answer your questions

My right side was actually my worse one. That one has been operated 3 times ( rib resection, sympathectomy, lat-flap); the left was done twice - they just did the rib resection and sympathectomy all in one procedure and the lat-flap.

The purpose of wrapping the plexus with that latissimus muscle is to prevent scar tissue from growing all over it again, like it did after the rb resections. The effectiveness will only be shown with time, which I was willing to take the risk. They told me this will never be done routinely - its a big surgery and I really had no other options left.

Fortunately, the nausea is improving. I cut out the Skelaxin...but I am having tightness so we will have to figure something out just to help me through this. I am trying to wean off Oxycontin too...oh man I went through the big-time withdrawals just skipping a dose last weekend because I felt ok - like "I feel ok, so why take oral, long-acting morphine?" Big mistake! WEAN WEAN WEAN, lol.

I have to find a nursing job that has NO lifting. I am on lifting restrictions for a year, which makes it hard. My manager in the ICU is trying to help me find something in my hospital. The quicker I get something light duty (I applied for case management - keep your fingers crossed!) - the quicker I can have an income. We got invited to a wedding in Jamaica on my birthday and I want to GO!!

I forgot who the nurse was at P/SL...there was very good ones there and a night nurse who scared me. I think I was on a different floor then I was last time. It's kind of hazy, lol

Thank you all for your well wishes! I appreciate your thoughts

Jen

I am scheduled to have the latissimus flap on my right (dominant) side in December 2009. It was good to see a post from a Dr. Annest and Dr. Brown patient as they are the same doctors from which I will have surgery. This will be my 6th surgery. The last was in July by Dr. Annest for pectoralis minor and major--both sides. My right side gets worse by the day, so like you, I am ready to try my last shot. I am 63 years old so hopefully I will fair as well as you.

How did you go about asking the doctor for pictures. I would like to do the same myself.

Rita