FYI: I'm getting one assertive billy-goat station wagon!!

[elagache]

Thanks X-Air and belated thanks Blick for your prayers and support,

Definitely have to take things one day at a time.

Edouard

[Blicj11]

Thanks for continuing to let us know how things are progressing. And they are, so stay patient.

[Weatheraardvark]

I hope you are getting better.  I do appreciate everything you do for us.

[elagache]

Thanks Blick and Weatheraardvark for your thoughtful support!

I saw the surgeon yesterday and he was happy with how the nose was healing.  However, he still didn't have the biopsy report to determine if he had indeed removed all the cancer or another surgery is needed to remove the rest.  So I'm in limbo waiting for those results.

Nonetheless, I'm extremely thankful that this surgeon was so versatile that he could change the entire surgical plan less than an hour before starting.  UCSF has a reputation for being the best in the San Francisco Bay Area.  After a very rough start to these skin cancer treatments, I'm extremely grateful to be now getting this level of care!

Cheers, Edouard

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat faithful,

For whatever reason, it took the lab a while to complete the biopsy analysis.  Thankfully, it is good news.  The surgeon was able to completely remove all the cancer and my nose should now be able to heal normally.  There will be one more surgery in about two months to thin the skin graft as had been intended for this past surgery.  That should resolve the remaining breathing problems and get my nose to about as normal a shape as is probably practical.

Back to a more normal life until then!

Thanks for your support!

Cheers, Edouard

[xairbusdriver]

Great news!! It is quite frustrating when I have to hide in the house while waiting for my nose to recover after getting all “bent out of shape”!!

[elagache]

Thanks X-Air for the encouraging words,

Great news!! It is quite frustrating when I have to hide in the house while waiting for my nose to recover after getting all “bent out of shape”!!

Honestly, looking in the mirror continues to be a disappointing sight.  However in the broad scheme of things, it is the functional aspects of a nose that remain most pressing.  We are starting the summertime low humidities here in California and that is causing my nose to dry out and become plugged with mucus.  We now have 3 humidifiers going in the house and I need all of them for me to be reasonably comfortable.

Too bad we cannot exchange humidities from east and west.  That would make everyone a lot more comfortable!

Cheers, Edouard

[Blicj11]

Too bad we cannot exchange humidities from east and west.  That would make everyone a lot more comfortable!

Having just returned from a trip through parts of Pennsylvania and New York, I agree with this.

Sure glad to get the good news on your biopsy.

[Steve]

Having just returned from a trip through parts of Pennsylvania and New York

And you didn't stop to say "Hi" 

[Blicj11]

I wanted to! Next time.

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat community,

In principle, my next surgery wasn't very high in the pecking order of facial reconstructive surgery needs.  So while the earliest it could happen was in early August, I expected to be waiting in line for more urgent cases to be taken care of first.  So it was quite a surprise when I checked in with UCSF facial plastics and found they had an opening almost exactly 2 months after the last surgery: Tuesday, August 9th.

It has not been an easy summer because at just about the time I was planning on getting the shingles vaccine - instead I got the darn disease.  While it was a moderate case, I did have to cope with a bit of postherpetic neuralgia.  I'm now in the rush to get ready for the next surgery.  It is suppose to accomplish the goals intended for the June surgery: thin the skin graph so it looks like a normal nose, and in that process, realign the cartilage so that both nostrils flow normally.

It is hard not to have mixed-feelings about this procedure.  On the one hand, I'm really tired of all these surgeries.  On the other hand, I don't look or feel normal.  It seems like a mighty tall order to put things right in one surgery.  All I can do is prepare as best I can and hope for the best!

Edouard

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat faithful,

It isn't a happy thought, but these surgeries are becoming something of a routine.  Issues of anesthesia have been straightened out so I can home the afternoon of the surgery.  There were no surprises in this surgery, so the "debulking" was accomplished as a planned.  The doctor finally explained exactly what "debulking" was.  The skin on the forehead had some fat not present in the skin of a nose.  The surgery was remove that fat allowing the skin thin down to the shape of a normal nose.

Also, on the agenda was to straighten out the graft on nose which was twisted to the right and too far down.  All this was hoped to realign the cartilage so that both nostrils could flow more normally.  To my delight, the realignment appears to have been on the mark.  I immediately noticed a dramatic improvement when breathing through my nose. While I'm still struggling with some congestion, I can control it with much less effort - a very good thing!

The unfortunate downside is that all this adjusting involved pulling and twisting the skin - something like pulling fabric around to reupholster a seat.  So my whole face is stressed and the nose is once more swollen.  It will take a few weeks for all of this to calm down.

Not surprisingly, this pulling and twisting required strong stitches that will have to be removed next week.  After that I expect the doctor will want to wait at least a month to see how the nose heals from this surgery.

Still as hoped, this surgery was a significant step in the right direction.  With a little luck, perhaps it will be the last surgery needed.

Edouard

[xairbusdriver]

Sounds like the doctors plans are coming together! We all know you've been a very patient patient! So that light at the end of the tunnel is just the exit and not a train?! Thanks for sharing the good news!!

[Blicj11]

Thanks for allowing yourself to be vulnerable by keeping us in the loop with all of this. We are so pleased to hear things went as well as they did this week. Keep praying, and don't fall down on your face!

[elagache]

Dear X-Air, Blick, and WeatherCat faithful,

Thanks for the encouragement and prayers!

It has been back on the caregiver's marathon since Tuesday afternoon.  I've been rushing about trying to catch up on all those things only I can do.  It is hard even to find time to apply cold-packs.

. . . . don't fall down on your face!

Uh yes, I am following this sage advice!  However, there are issues that are unavoidable like tossing and turning in bed.  Since I have a lot of numbness in the skin graft, there is a risk of doing some real harm.  Fortunately, our bodies have enough awareness to keep from smashing our noses against the pillow while sleeping!  Definitely a welcome feature!

Thanks again,
Edouard