[Cat-n-mouse]

Hi all-it's Catdog from the old forum,

Please join me in thinking about Erin and her husband at this
holiday time as he undergoes surgery this Tuesday in Denver.
Erin posted recently to let us know that she has
been a long time reader at the forum. She has been researching the TOS "monster" for her husband and wrote about the positive
experience she has had here gleaning info for him here. He has
already had two TOS surgeries and continues to have severe pain.

I just wanted to let Erin know that we are thinking good thoughts
about her husband's surgery with Dr. Brantigan. Some pain relief would be an
awesome Christmas present! I am hoping that they have a safe, smooth
trip and successful surgery during this crazy, stressful, holiday time.

Erin is caring, intelligent and very funny and has been busy
for months trying to find some pain relief for her husband. I admire her
resolve to find a solution for his pain. How awesome they
were able to find and consult with Dr. Brantigan and regain some hope.

Best surgery wishes!

[bettertoser]

I wish Erin's husband all the best! He is in FANTASTIC hands! Please let her know that he did my surgery almost 8yrs ago and I am doing great!

Keep the humor in this and the positive thoughts..they go a long way! Besides, Doc B has a very dry sense of humor and loves a joke as much as anyone!

My thoughts are with them.

[redjpwranglergirl]

Best wishes to Erin and her husband! I'm sure everything will turn out just fine.

[BarnBum]

Best of luck to Erin & her Husband! I will keep you in my thoughts....You are in good hands as Doc B. is a tallented and capable surgeon!

[Jomar]

I hope all goes well and a smooth recovery for him.

[dabbo]

best of luck to Erin's husband. i'll be keeping him in my thoughts. Heres to a successful surgery and speedy recovery!

[Erin]

Thanks to all you for your wishes. I just found the library here at Pres/St Lukes that has internet access and I signed onto Neurotalk and was shocked to see my name in the title. So thank you all, and especially CatDog and Mouse. You have been such help to me through this ordeal. My husband just went into surgery about 30 minutes ago and I've been told it's about a 4 or 5 hour procedure. We feel really confident with Dr. Brantigan. We met with him yesterday and he again told us how spectacular the diagnostics (the spiral CT) were in terms of diagnosing the rib regrowth. So that's always good to hear when the problem is so clear cut. That's not to say it's an easy surgery as he has to go in and remove the new growth and gingerly attempt to detach the nerve endings from the new bone. But we feel we're in the best hands out there and what more can we do. We also met yesterday with Jason Lund, the physical therapist who got us pointed in the right direction in terms of starting the glides right away, as opposed to surgeries #1 and #2where physical therapy was begun a month into recovery.

So please continure to keep us in your thoughts. I'm heading back to the waiting room to knit, read, do puzzles and eat candy, lots of it. I think when you eat candy during stressful times the calories are negated.

[bettertoser]

Erin, I'm so glad your husband is doing better! Doc B can find all sorts of things other docs can't! He won't let a job unfinished.

Rest, but keep busy and do the PT and don't let him limit himself. Doing things can help adhesions to not form and that's so important.

Things will get better with time.

Enjoy the time out there, maybe hit downtown for a few hours.

I had my second surgery about this same time of year, so check out Doc B's ties! He wears all sorts of dumb ones around the holiday's!

Take care and keep us posted!

Have a Happy Holiday.

[tshadow]

If Dr. B chose him for surgery, he's in good hands with a good chance of improvement. Rest on that knowledge.

God bless him and heavenly angels set round about his room as he recovers, we ask.

Best wishes, Tam