IMAGE: My skull, sliced open, brain removed, view from the inside looking toward the hole in my head
Some of you might remember that last May I suffered a SAH, was airlifted to Stanford, had a seizure and surgery and totally dodged a fatal bullet.
Lucky me, my surgeon is the best in the country, maybe the world, Gary Steinberg. He invented modern brain surgery.
In June they determined there was infection and opened me up and then later in November they went in again and removed the bone flap, which was necroptic and septic and icky, they tell me.
On March 31 the will insert a bone flap made of polyetheretherketone. I hope this will be my last surgery. The post-op pics of staples and stitches and such are not pretty but this pic is COOL, I got it on Monday!
Note the crescent shaped area where my temple should be, that 4cm x 6cm area will be filled with a computer created filler piece. 
Does that hole in my head make my ass look big?
= new reply since forum marked as read
OK, while we seem to be on a similar medical timeline, yours is uh...a bit more dramatic!
finally doing my leg surgery next Thursday, no foreskins so far either 
just going to remove some scar tissue and see if that gets things going again.
that is a way cool image, I need to see if I can get a digital copy of my stuff
What would MFM say?
Seriously, what would he say?
I'll be thinking of you Thursday.
Your positive outlook probably helped in your healing. Best wishes on your next and LAST surgery!
Outlook and attitude are everything!
Take your heathen mysticism elsewhere 
And it's like it's right there in front of me.
Somewhat unsettling!
And thanks, Obama!
Covered California, though imperfect, paid the lion's share of the close to a million dollars in costs.
Yes to subarachnoid hemorrage, followed by a debridement with PICC line, then a bone flap removal.
The cool part was how good I felt the day after the necroptic dead chunk of skull was removed. In the recovery ward they thought I was high because I was so exuberant and happy.
When there's something dead in yer head it brings ya down!
on a lighter note, It is a good thing they removed the "necroptic dead chunk of skull" next to your brain, or you might have had an overwhelming urge to vote Republican.
These trips into the operating room must be getting boring to you by now. So. Here's what I'm prepared to do: crossing all fingers, arms and legs as often as possible for good luck so that you won't need another operation.
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I got some Stanford swag on sale in the gift shop, too, and several staff and I are on a first name and hugging basis.
It's true!
My goodness you have had some amazing stuff going on, glad it is nearly over and you are doing so well.
Although traumatic anosmia sounds right too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyposmia and can be caused by head trauma.
I had a girlfriend who at age 20 came off a motorcycle, banged her head, and lost her sense of smell, too!
Best of luck for your final (we hope!) surgery and recovery!
We cannot afford to lose you..........you are important!
There's much work to be done, I'm done with this world yet, dammit!
the unforeseeable future and beyond.
ETA: Glad everything is okay.
Haha, just kidding. Glad you're alive. Amazing what doctors can do.
& Rec !!!
left when you pull the trailer hitch, about that size, though you could file it down Some have your favorite sports team.
You might save a few bucks by getting one, probably cheaper than the one at the hospital. And if you don't like what they have on it, you could repaint it or glue on a pic of your favorite dog?
Sounds like you are in very good hands.
How did you get this SAH? It looks and sounds terrifying. Good thing you're an upbeat person, that helps with those way too many visits to the various medical establishments. If I could have taken an actual trip for each medical visit, I could have seen the world by now. Good healing vibes to you. 
Change in employment led to change from expensive COBRA to affordable Obamacare, but I failed to renew my medications.
One warm day after working too much and eating too little, after walking my girlfriend's dog downhill to the beach and back I passed out and the dizziness wouldn't go away.
Thankfully, it was a small, not massive, bleed and caught at the local hospital and communicated to the nearest high-end surgical center, Stanford University Medical Center.
Thanks.
The day I keeled over.
Have you seen them on my FB page? Loree and Millie?
I'll have to go say hi. 
BIG
So glad that you're doing better and sending good vibes for the healing.
Just in case...for the icky. Also goo, if needed.
I'm very fortunate in many ways.
Thanks, mountain granny!
IIRC, the odds called in my case were 1/3 don't make it at all 1/3 recover pretty well, 1/3 live but have losses.
My only loss is the sense of smell. I was able to keep my job but my girlfriend and I are now broken up.
The term "bone flap" is odd. I don't know if they remove it altogether and put it back, or if they somehow hinge it during surgery, but it's called the flap.
No glue was involved, there were little titanium stars and screws to hold it in. I didn't need a clip or a coil, they said they "wrapped" the damaged vessel, it was a really low level bleed.
In my case, the infection that followed was really the problem. I was approached after the second surgery and asked to participate in a C-Diff trial and I agreed, so I'm a few months into a three year study for a remedy for this terrible and persistent infectious disease.
I was happy to give back.
I hope we can stay in touch. Thanks for the offer!
well maybe space for rent... But then again solid social justice intentions, and liberal credentials don't easily show up on a brain scan. Oh well, if its vacant can I fit my hot tub in there? Otherwise....... best wishes man! keep making good use of that thing.
PS the temple should be wherever you are. om.
do what?
anyway ... Wowser, dude !!
and what exactly is poly double ether ketone?
oh ... who cares. I am just happy for you that this is all for real and you are on your LAST surgery. It WILL be a success. I just know it.
State of the art done at Stanford, all 3D and with shading and shadows and the ability to turn the image on the screen it's almost like a hologram or virtual reality.
The material, AKA "PEEK" was developed as a way to avoid using cadaver bone or bone grafts which can become infected or rejected.
This new material is resistant to infection and easy to make into the desired shape. They asked if I wanted to use my own bone and I said no thanks.
gulp.
I have no problems. I just thought I did. Nope, no problems here at all.
Best of luck with the surgery!
I have kept the medical stuff off my Facebook, mostly.
Thank you for the well wishes!
You're welcome.
I'm not alone!
We have the technology!
Remind me as we get closer so we can do a prayer thread for you in the Prayer circle.
Tuesday the 31st I'm going in for head surgery #4!
#3 went really well-- they're getting better at it!
we will do a prayer circle thread for you.
I think it will go very well!
I never knew how serious a problem infections are in hospitals.
In any event, you and I need to hang around for a while, right?
There's work to be done!
Who has time for this other shit?
What a doll, a DU treasure!
And thank you, bananas!
Best vibes coming at you, SKP.
Got to see this as it was linked from In_The_Wind's post.
I think your ass probably looks fine.
You are in good hands ... best wishes for a fast recovery! 
Your ass has always looked PERFECT, SKP!!!
here's some more:
And I've asked staff to take a picture of the actual implant unit before it's put in.
It goes in and is kept in place by titanium "stars" and screws.
Either way, recover well!
They're so nice. I've asked for a pic of the actual implant before they put it in, and they will try but need surgeon's approval.
They did send this pic, tho:
I Fucking Love Science!
Just roll 'em up and stuff 'em in there!
