POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: Basquo on April 09, 2013, 10:05:46 pm
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I swore that this would be the year that there would be no unexpected medical bills...in fact it's been two more than two years since my last ER visit, and everything seems normal and under control...
...but I got the diagnosis today: my soft tissue neck mass has turned into a parotid gland tumor and it has to come out. So a month from today I'm having a partial parotidectomy. I'll be geeting Jan and Jen with a 7-inch scar running down my face, under my ear and then back down my neck. SEXY!
Fortunately, 80% of the time these things are benign and non-recurring, so I'm hoping for the best. I simply do not have the desire to deal with a round or two of radiation therapy. And ironically, the stress of waiting for this diagnosis has been making me crave cigarettes, but I have held out.
I used to joke about my Franken-feet after those surgeries, but this is going to be some serious stitching above my shoulders.
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Yikes! Hoping for a good outcome in all this. What a year...!
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Sorry to hear this. All the best for a speedy recovery and no need for radiation.
Ted.
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Sorry to hear this, Cr8ton. I hope it all turns out alright.
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Damn buddy!! Sorry to hear this. But you'll still be hot and sexy, even with another battle scar.
Take care
Wolfie
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Sorry to hear about this latest challenge, Basquo. Fingers crossed that it all goes well.
I guess you could always pass if off as a dueling scar. In any case no scar is gonna seriously diminish the outstanding heat you radiate. Really.
Best regards, bud.
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Good luck, Creighton -- hope all goes well.
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very sad news hope the whole thing goes smoothly.... ...why a Partial??? surgery.....
Nick
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I'm sorry your dealing with this and my thoughts are with you . Hugs .
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Oh Creighton that sucks. I'm sorry you are going through that, Im thinking of you.
I didnt know you had quit smoking, good for you! How long has it been?
-W
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Aye mate. You'll be sexier than ever. A handsome Pirate of the Parotidean you shall be. And, you can simply lean in and assure your newest friends with " I won. "
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Thanks everyone for the well wishes! Rest assured, I am in no pain or discomfort, and I am doing the surgery at my old hospital where they have a reputation for making sure you are quite
painless loaded Comfortable.
Nick, my fabulous new doctor is only doing a partial parotidectomy because the tumor is in the very tail end of the gland, just at my jawline. He doesn't want to remove the whole gland because the end result is the same: if it's malignant, I'll have radiation therapy and still get to keep half the gland. The complication is the major facial nerves that run through the parotid. He has to operate around those and that's what makes it a 2 to 3 hour surgery. He can't just whack off the bottom (insert something here, please!)
Will, I quit smoking in October. I've taken it up a couple of nights since then, but always just for the night and not the next day. In fact, I bought a pack a month or so ago when I was having a bad night, smoked 2.5 cigs, and threw the rest away. Actually pulled the sticks out and ran water over them first to be sure I wouldn't try to fish them out of the bin later.
And Em! you remember my seafaring days! You took an awesome photo of me wearing the Jolly Roger in Montreal, and that same summer I acquired the Brown Pearl though a hand of Fate, and I still captain her to this day (though she is landlocked most of the week, commisioned to Home Depot cargo runs for the missus.)
I don't think this is going to be a cake walk, but I think my prior surgeries have left me well-prepared. I won't be mobility impaired this time, except for the ROM in my neck. I am nearly always upright when awake so I won't have to worry about keeping anything elevated...and with any luck, my painkillers will keep me plenty elevated!
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Hey Creighton, I hope all goes well during surgery and you have a full and speedy recovery. And congrats on quitting smoking! Be well dear man and you have a great man in Santi by your side. Hugs.
Jody
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Sorry to hear this Creighton, Jen and I will help Santi look after you, have no fear, and a man with a scar is very sexy indeed.
Big hugs
Aroha always
Jan :-*
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I admire your fortitude and wish you well.
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Just an update--the surgery was lengthy and the recovery gruesome, but the tumor was benign and I'm finally back home recovering and wallowing in pain and misery.
Let the opiates commence!
Thank you all for your support. It's been a long month and a long day. I'm having trouble hitting the right keys.
Hugs,
Creighton
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Oh glad everything went well Creighton. Get lots of rest.
-Will
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great news Creighton!
sleep well. :)
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Good to hear you are going to be OK and that yo are on the mend . Hugs .
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Creighton - Glad things went well today - Let Santi take care of you... Get plenty of rest and prepare yourself for a lovely visit with nurse Jan in a short while...
In the meantime, enjoy the painkillers ;)
Thank you also for your help last month - it was very helpful and went a long way toward helping my brother to have a more comfortable stay at the hospital.
Love you and hope to get to see you and Santi again soon.
-Phil
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Good result , rest well.
m
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Thats really good news.Take it easy and rest up.
Britchickx
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Hey Creighton, it is great to hear it was benign, the uncertainty is so stressful. Hope your recovery is speedy and complete.
Jody