Most of you who have been reading about my mom's health over the past almost three years know that one of the main things that seemed to cause most of her health problems is that she has Hyperparathyroidism. In short, Hyperparathyroidism (<-- that is a different link) causes a person's body to produce too much calcium, which results in a condition called Hypercalcemia. Hyperparathyroidism can cause such things as kidney stones, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart problems, and ulcers. My mom has or had the first four.
A tumor of sorts was found several years ago...I know at least more than two, because it was almost three years ago that she started getting sick VERY sick, which means by then it was WAY out of control. I'm guessing at least five or six years ago. Her calcium levels were also higher than they should have been, but not dangerously so at the time. Had she kept herself under her doctor's care and gotten her calcium and bone density levels checked frequently, she might have avoided several of the health problems and surgeries that she had to undergo. I didn't know that any of this was going on until she got very sick two years go. But there's nothing we can do about the past, so we have to take care of the here and now.
Initially, she had a nuclear x-ray performed in which nothing was found, so the surgeon (her ear, nose, and throat doctor) had no idea where to look for the tumor. This is what scared us, because not knowing where to look makes the surgery VERY complicated and it's almost like doing exploratory surgery. That is why kept putting off the decision to have surgery, which was, in itself, very dangerous to her health.
However, my mom recently had an MRI and a small adenoma (7mmx3mm) was found on the left side of her neck. An adenoma is a benign tumor of normal tissue that secretes hormones. The surgeon is HOPING that this is what they are looking for, but it is VERY small in comparison to what it should be. At least he knows where to begin looking.
After deliberating for a long time about this because of the fear of complications and then my mom having a heart attack...well, due to this finding, she is going to have part of her parathyroid removed this Wednesday, October 3rd. She was cleared by her cardiologist in April and we finally decided to go ahead with the surgery around August or September. On Wednesday the 26th, she had her pre-op appointments with the surgeon and her primary care physician and was officially cleared.
She also had blood work done that same day and most of her levels are MUCH better...calcium still on the high end, but better than it has been, "bad" cholesterol still a BIT too high, and "good" cholesterol just a BIT too low, but wow, comparing those levels to those of the last few months, and then the last few YEARS...the changes we have made (diet, exercise, meds), have REALLY helped.
So the surgery...I am not exactly sure when she is to have it, other than the date, and "probably sometime in the afternoon." The next step is to talk to a nurse via phone, who is going to call on Monday to get the rest of my mom's medical info.
I am so so so so nervous and scared. If it were more routine...if they were SURE of EXACTLY where they needed to go, I wouldn't be as worried. But if the tumor isn't where they think it is, they'll have to go and explore (by incision of course) the other side of her neck, which of course is even more risky; having to open up both sides of her neck. Speaking of risks...
The risks can include...of course the basic ones:
1. Reaction to anesthesia
2. Infection
3. Bleeding (however, a drain will be placed in down her throat to make sure to catch any excess bleeding)
Then the more serious risks:
1. She could end up having her calcium levels drop TOO low, in which case she would immediately need IV calcium and be on calcium and vitamin D supplements thereafter.
2. Injury to the nerves in her voice box and vocal cords. The surgeons will put a tube in her voice box to make sure that they do not come too close to it, but there is always a chance. This could cause speech complications.
3. If I'm understanding it right, the surgeon removes only PART of parathyroid...I think there are four parts and he will remove three. However, there is a chance that if he isn't able to find the problem, he might have to remove it all and implant half of it in her arm . Her arm? Yes, her arm. This way, if she needs further operations, they don't have to go back through the neck. It's weird, I know. I don't even completely understand that.
4. At worst, one or both of her vocal cords could collapse and she would have to have a breathing tube for a short time. The surgeon said that there has only been one case in his experience (but how many of these operations he's done I don't know) that a patient had to wear a breathing tube for about a month, and she had advanced cancer and the surgery was VERY complicated. So if this did happen, she SHOULDN'T have to wear one for very long.
The operation is only supposed to take 3 or 4 hours and the hospital stay is typically one day unless complications arise, then maybe two at most. Afterward, she will be hoarse for a while, but if all goes well, that will be the only discomfort...plus I'm sure her neck and throat will be sore. She'll also have to wear bandages for a bit of course.
She has been through SO MUCH and has been SO strong these past two years. What's even more incredible is how strong her BODY has been through all of this. During her first major illness, she came close to dying.
Over the past almost three years she's had...
-A kidney removed (kidney stone formed b/c of the hyperparathyroidism and left the kidney "dead")
-gallbladder removed
-a HUGE abscess in her leg that became infected and had to be drained (for which she had physical therapy to be able to walk again)
-she suffered from a compression fracture in her back (tiny fractures in some of the vertebrae in your back, caused by Osteoporosis, also common with Hyperparathyriodism...also for which had physical therapy AGAIN to be able to walk AGAIN)
-Most recently a minor heart attack , followed by two Angioplasties in which she had stents inserted into her arteries. She also has Coronary Artery Disease.
I've gone into all of these in great detail in previous blogs if you have any desire to learn more about her experiences. I have been SO proud of her through all of this. I honestly think I would have given up. I don't know how she's done it.
This surgery is probably the least complicated of ANY of those, but BECAUSE her body has been through so much, I worry that it will not be as resilient as someone's body who has not had all of those problems. I hope I'm wrong. She is a fighter and I have to believe that her body is strong and healthy enough to handle this surgery, provided there are no complications. Still, there are always risks and I don't know what I'd do if the worst happened. My mom just means the world to me. I love her SO MUCH and she is my best friend; I don't know what I'd do without her.
I guess that's it. As usual, I was just going to briefly let you all know that my mom is going to have the surgery this Wednesday, but...you all know me. Please keep my mom in your thoughts and send good wishes this October 3rd.
Thanks for reading; it means a lot to me.
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