My Story 2
Martin's Story
My son's experience
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A scalpel in hand, the surgeon cuts from the front of my ear up to the top of my crown and down to my hairline. They need this approach for cosmetic reasons. He then pulled and cut the skin right back to my eye and secured it. He took a drill and made a few holes in my skull. An electric saw was then guided into place removing an egg shaped piece of my skull about four inches long and three inches wide. This is removed and placed into a dish. You would assume you could see the brain, but no, there’s a membrane covering it. They cut through the ‘Durra’ as it is called, and very carefully secure it to the sides of the skull. The brain is exposed pulsating in all its glory.
The Operating Room has a lot of fascinating machinery, but what stands out most is the Microscope Apparatus the surgeon uses. From this level it gives the surgeon pin point accuracy. They can work in a space as small as this ( ) Amazing.
The surgeon knows from the angiogram and CT scan results exactly where the aneurysms are located (in a membrane called the arachnid) which separates different parts of the brain, so he’s not really cutting into the brain, it's more like peeling apart the segments of a grapefruit. So in they go, where no man has feared to tread! Where did I get that from lol .
Anyway, they go in for the aneurysm that’s bursted. Down a bit more there you go, they have to position a steel clip right at the bottom of the aneurysms. Got it ! Clean out as much of the haemorrhage as possible because the blood from the haemorrhage acts like a foreign body and can cause major problems latter on.
Back a bit, round a bit, next a tiny cocktail sausage shaped bulge just waiting for the right time to burst, and if that happens your history. Remember the size they are working in ( ). Very good hand eye coordination is needed for this job. In addition, its very time consuming, it has been three and a half hours now I’ve been asleep.
Now I hear you say is he having an out of body experience, how does he know what’s happening ? Ok, I admit it; I saw it on the TV awe-inspiring.
However, what if I had an out of body experience?
Would it be like being the invisible man . Can you imagine me floating outside 10 Downing Street and its 3 .59AM ? I float through the door glide up the stairs into the main bedroom, and here’s Tony and Cheri. I float over to Tony’s side, shake his shoulder. TONY who is the Prime Minister? Eeeerrrr Gordon Brown ? only joking. Go back to sleep Tony !
The two aneurysms have now been clipped and all the blood cleared out everything looks ok.
Time for another angiogram to make sure there are no leakages from the repaired vessel. Everything looks like perfect beautiful you would never know that this vessel had ruptured excellent. They then sowed back the durra a very exact process that takes a bit of time its got to fit like a glove. I’m sure I could come up with a better comparison.
The skull is then put back in place and very small metal brackets are screwed in to the skull to keep it in place. It has taken five and a half hours to complete.
What can I say the expertise of the surgeons is an exquisite first class job the whole team know there stuff . Thanks for giving me my life back.
I hear someone call my name; I assume its one of my girl friends which one ? ^(^
Walter I hear from a distance Walter your ok the surgical process was a success its all over. Where am I, what's going on . I feel like an elephant has accidentally sat on my head and its still there. Wow that was some dream.
Walter have a lick of these ice cubes, they will clear your throat, it’s very dry is it ? Yes wow my mind is starting the recovery process slowly I start to remember the past events wow, I have made it through the complicated operation.
Mr Barlow appears, he has a smile on his face. Walter every thing certainly went to plan a complete success. The aneurysms were both clipped no major problems we are all very happy with the result. You are on the way to recovery room just take it easy you're on very strong medication you will be very sleepy for the next few days.
Next thing I remember Walter, Walter here are your tablets, how’s the pain do you need painkillers .
I opened my eyes where am I ? Everything is very hazy. I believe I’m in a new ward alot going on across from me. The nurses and a doctor were doing something to a man I believe it’s a man a lot was happening.
In and out of conciseness. Next I hear my sisters voice, I hear both my sisters I see Martin Paula, but it was like dreaming to know what I mean? Anyway, next thing I know I’m back in ward 63 and I’m looking at Lorna’s face. Lorna how can you be hear I must still be dreaming. No here is Martin and Paula there’s a crowd I can't remember them coming in but its now making sense at last.
My head still is very painful no improvement since the operation. They did say it would not improve much, that’s right at least the major problem is fixed.
Dad would you like a icicle? My throat was very dry and the though of an icicle was appealing. But I was sure I must be dreaming everything seams strange I have no strength. I am just lying there, no it felt like my head was pulling me to the pillow. My family is there, but I wasn’t I kept falling asleep in and out a lot of faces drifting in out.
Remember its 135 Miles to Aberdeen, Martin, Paula, Dawn and my Sisters Nan and Irene, had to find accommodation and do all that traveling and I’m not even taken them on what can I say. Thank you all You made me pull through. ^(^
My sister Irene I hear her saying look at all that wires 29 of them. I remember now instead of stitches like a normal wound the surgeons use stainless steel. It leaves a better finish, who’s a pretty boy then?
Anyway, I open my eyes. Its morning time 8.00AM Well Walter your doing very well here are your tablets.
I looked down at my arm it feels sore. Like a needle sticking into it. My arm was swollen and red around where the drip went in. We will have to change the place of your drips, your arm is tissuing. She then changed the drip ouch that hurt. She must genuinely think I moan all the time every time I see her something is up, I am always complaining.
I consider to myself Walter toughen up it’s a favorite expression I have, but I can't.
My mind is a lot clearer today a lot of my family duly stayed in Glasgow last night its good to see them. What day is it today I wonder I asked a passing nurse Sunday, she says .
Can I get up to the toilet? Yes we will see if you can manage. Hold on a minute till I get wheelchair.
She was back in minutes. Ok take it easy as she assisted me into the chair. My head felt very heavy what a strange experience it was like a weight hanging there. The pain was still the same, no let up how long will it last, I wondered?
I was taken into the toilet and assisted to stand up. The first thing I saw was the mirror what a shock, the staples have been removed. Amazing I can’t remember anything about that, strange eh. My head looked not as bad as I though it would from then on, I started feeling a lot stronger and more awake. The whole day past bye very quickly.
My immediate family went back to Aberdeen on the Sunday night. The ward was very busy and the man in the next bed had a problem. There were doctors running up to his bed side, and they must have been there for at least an hour before they managed to get him stabilized.
For the next 24 hours, the only thing I can remember about is my tablets every four hours I remember being wakened up sometimes it was annoying. What's your name, who’s the Prime Minister every four hours. A lot of my workmates came in to see me on the Monday night we had a good laugh they left me a present guess what it was. A gold bracelet ? No. A Rolex watch ? No. They left me a garden gnome a 3ft high garden gnome, and I haven’t got a garden. Still can’t work that one out.
Its Tuesday lunch time and a friend of mine Ronnie and his wife Anne have come in to see me, Martin had phoned him from Aberdeen. I noticed he was looking rather worried, wonder why I considered, next thing a nurse is by my side. Checking my pulse what's your name err something not quite right err Walter, I believe I said and the prime ministers. I could see him in my mind but what was his name. Next thing nothing no pain yes no pain just blackness………………………
NO PAIN .........
Next thing PAIN......Big time. I’m looking up at Mr Barlow and he gets a complete shock. I can see by the surprised look on his expressive face. Ah you're back with us can you move your legs ? I move my legs no problem. Very good he says. Walter you have had a very close call. He was dressed in his surgical gear, and he was doing something to my neck. Walter the vessel that we clipped has had a reaction because it has been exposed to your blood and touching it can cause the vessel to constrict stopping flowing blood getting into that part of your brain in some cases it leads to death.
We tried to open the vessel internally with a probe, but it was no good it was closed to tightly, and if we continued it would have burst our only option was to put you on a intensive course of drugs. They have three different reactions designed to try to keep the vessel open.
What has happened is called Vasospasm and the odds are against you this time it can be a difficult problem to deal with . You will be on these drugs for three days and you won't feel very good however you’re now awake, which is good you have had a very quick reaction which is reassuring .We will monitor you closely in the Intensive Care Unit.
A man came up to the bed and said his name was Tony. Yes Tony no joking.
He told me that he would be looking after me in the I.C.U. He also told me that he was very good at his job very highly trained, so the only thing I had to do was rest and try to recover. Now I will do my job will you do yours ?
Next Week
Intensive Care Unit
Martin's Story My son's experience